The ruling on closing gaps in the rows

Question:
among Muslims, so it is obligatory to close the gaps between Muslims in the funeral prayer.

Answer:
Yes, indeed. It is obligatory that there be no gaps between the worshippers. It is not permissible for there to be gaps between them. Rather, in prayer, if a person comes and finds a gap, it becomes confirmed for him to close it, and this carries a great virtue. This is the best step a person takes: to take steps to close a gap in the row. This is confirmed. As for whether it is obligatory, I do not know, meaning, I do not know if it is obligatory, but it is a confirmed Sunnah with a great virtue. It is incumbent upon the worshippers, or it is obligatory for the worshippers, to close the gaps, for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to encourage closing the gaps and filling the holes.
And he informed that Satan enters through the gaps in the rows. So when the men join together, there are no gaps left for Satan. But some of the brothers misunderstand this; they think that closing the gap means spreading one’s legs and squeezing the person next to him. That is not closing the gap. Closing the gap is joining together: a person stands in a normal position, does not spread his legs to squeeze people, but he brings his brother next to him close to him, touching him. That is the meaning of closing the gap. As for spreading one’s legs and jumping a distance in the row, squeezing the person next to him here and there, that is an ijtihad (independent legal reasoning) in the wrong place. Yes.