Is the second row considered the first row relative to the third row?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question : Fifth. Completing the first row, then the next. This was the first row, but this is above the first row, meaning that even the second row should be filled before you begin the third row. But is the second row considered the first row relative to the third row, such that it falls under the saying of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) Muwatta Malik 3:3 or not?
Answer : It appears not, because the first row requires haste and early arrival, unlike the second row, where it may be required to advance to the mosque even if the imam is delayed.
If people knew what was in the adhan and the first row of the prayer and could only draw lots for it, they would draw lots.
لو يعلم الناس ما في النداء والصف الأول ثم لم يجدوا إلا أن يستهموا عليه لاستهمواAnswer : It appears not, because the first row requires haste and early arrival, unlike the second row, where it may be required to advance to the mosque even if the imam is delayed.
Source
قناة «فضيلة الشيخ محمد بن صالح العثيمين»، 1057هل أن الصف الثاني بالنسبة...📔 الشرح الممتع على زاد المستقنع - ابن عثيمين - مشروع كبار العلماء — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.