Hadeeth: Where should the second person stand when there are only two persons praying together?

بـسـم الله والحـمـد لله والـصلاة والـسـلام عــلى رسـول الله، وبـعـد

Shaikh al-Albaanee said in “Al-Silsilah al-Ahaadeeth al-Saheehah” 6/174:

2590 - “What is the matter (in another narration: what is with you) that I made you stand in line with me and you moved back?”

This was reported by al-Haakim (3/534) and the second narration which is between the two parentheses is from him. It is also reported by Ahmad (1/330) on the authority of Haatim bin Abi Sagheerah Abi Yunus from `Amr bin Deenaar that Kareeb informed him that Ibn `Abbaas said:

“I came to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم (and he was praying in the last part of the night) and I started praying behind him. He grabbed me by my hand and pulled me (near to him) and made me stand in line with him. So, when he got busy in his prayer, I moved back. When he finished his prayer he said to me: “What is the matter that I made you stand in line with me and you moved back?” I said: “O Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم, how can it occur to a man to stand in line with you in prayer while you are the Messenger of Allaah and Allaah provides for you?” And this (saying of mine) amazed him and he supplicated to Allaah to increase me in knowledge and understanding…”

Imaam Ahmad reported the addition: “Then I saw the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم going back to sleep till I could hear him snoring. Then Bilaal came and said: O Messenger of Allaah! The prayer! So he got up and prayed and did not repeat his ablution.”

Al-Haakim said: “This is Saheeh according to the conditions of the two Shaikhs (al-Bukhaaree and Muslim)” and al-Dhahabee agreed with him. And it is as they said.

Al-Haithamee (9/284) said: “Ahmad reported it and its narrators are the narrators of al-Saheeh.” The last part of the sentence, in the du`aa for him, has also been reported from other ways (chains) which is more complete than this. That Hadeeth has already been mentioned prior to this Hadeeth (see al-Saheehah (2589)).

There is an important jurisprudential benefit in this (Hadeeth), which you don’t find in many of the books of Fiqh; rather, in some you’ll find (the opinion) which opposes this – i.e. the Sunnah is that the follower (the one being led in prayer) should stand on the right of the Imaam and in the same line, neither being ahead of him nor behind him. In opposition to what is mentioned in some of the Madhaahibs which mentions that the follower should be a little bit behind the Imaam, where the toes of his feet are in line with the heels of the Imaam or something similar to it. And as you see, this is in opposition to this Saheeh Hadeeth. Some of the Salaf (the pious predecessors) used to follow it (i.e this Hadeeth).

Imaam Maalik reported in his “Muwatta” (1/154) on the authority of Nafi` that he said: “I stood behind `Abdullaah bin `Umar in prayer, in one of the prayers, and there was no one with him other than me. So `Abdullaah moved his hand backwards and (pulled me and) made me stand in line with him.” Then he (Imaam Maalik) also reported (1/169-170) on the authority of `Ubaidullaah bin `Abdullaah bin `Utbah that he said: “I entered upon `Umar bin al-Khattaab in his house. I found him praying, so I stood behind him. He made me come closer to him to the extent that I was standing in line with him on his right. And when (Yurfa’) came, I moved back and we made a row behind him.” The chain of this narration is also Saheeh.

Rahter, this action is also proved from the action of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم in the narration about his sickness and his death when he صلى الله عليه وسلم came out while Abu Bakr al-Siddeeq was leading the people in prayer. He صلى الله عليه وسلم came and sat beside him on his left (i.e. Abu Bakr was on the right of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم).*

 Imaam al-Bukhaaree also mentioned it as the chapter heading. “Chapter: Standing together alongside the Imaam on his right when there are only two.”

--End of quote of Shaikh al-Albaanee.

*The Hadeeth in reference is as follows:

Narrated Al Aswad: "We were with 'Aishah discussing the regularity of offering the prayer and dignifying it. She said, 'When Allaah's Apostle صلى الله عليه وسلم fell sick with the fatal illness and when the time of prayer became due and Adhaan was pronounced, he said, 'Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer.' He was told that Abu Bakr was a softhearted man and would not be able to lead the prayer in his place. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم gave the same order again but he was given the same reply. He صلى الله عليه وسلم gave the order for the third time and said, 'You (women) are the companions of Joseph. Tell Abu Bakr to lead the prayer.' So Abu Bakr came out to lead the prayer. In the meantime the condition of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم improved a bit and he came out with the help of two men one on each side. As if I was observing his legs dragging on the ground owing to the disease. Abu Bakr wanted to retreat but the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم beckoned him to remain at his place and the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was brought till he sat beside Abu Bakr." Al-A'mash was asked, "Was the Prophet praying and Abu Bakr following him, and were the people following Abu Bakr in that prayer?" Al-A'mash replied in the affirmative with a nod of his head. Abu Muawiya said, "The Prophet was sitting on the left side of Abu Bakr who was praying while standing." [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (633, 681) & Saheeh Muslim (418)]