The Phrases Used to Direct the Congregation Before the Takbir, Weighed Against the Evidence
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If the imam says: "Stand in straight rows, may Allah have mercy on me and on you, and fill in the gaps, and straighten your rows, for Allah does not look upon a crooked row, and fill in the gaps, and do not leave gaps for Shaytan, and be present in heart in the prayer, and pray the prayer of one who is bidding farewell. Are all these phrases reported from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), or what is the correct phrase that the imam should advise the ma'mum with?"The Shaykh: Start over from the beginning.One by one. The questioner: Some imams, before saying the takbir of ihram,He says to the ma'mum: "Stand in straight rows, be upright." The Shaykh: "Stand in straight rows and be upright" is fine; because the Sunnah has come with this.
The questioner: And "Bring your hearts to the prayer"?The Shaykh: This has not been reported, and it is not befitting for him to say it, because there is no one more eloquent in advising the servants than the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). And among the Companions were those whose hearts were not present in the prayer. Therefore, a man complained to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that his heart was not present in the prayer,So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to him: (That is a Shaytan called Khunzub,Meaning: who comes to people in prayer and whispers to them. So when you feel him, spit to your left three times and seek refuge in Allah from him,He said: so I did that, and Allah removed him from me).
If someone were to say: The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) had behind him Companions whose hearts did not wander, and I have behind me people who are preoccupied with the world and whose hearts wander, so I say to them: "Be present in heart." For this reason,We tell him: First: you have not investigated their hearts,Second: That among the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) were some whose hearts would wander and become preoccupied,And yet, the Messenger did not say: "Be present in heart."
And likewise his saying: "Pray the prayer of one who is bidding farewell." This is also an exaggeration in the religion of Allah and has not been reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
The questioner: "May Allah have mercy on me and on you"?The Shaykh: "May Allah have mercy on me and on you" has not been reported.
The questioner: And "Close the gaps"?The Shaykh: "Fill in the gaps" is correct.
The questioner: "And straighten your rows?"The Shaykh: "Straighten your rows" is correct.
The questioner: "For Allah does not look upon a crooked row"?The Shaykh: This is not correct.
The questioner: "Do not leave gaps for Shaytan"?The Shaykh: This is correct.
The questioner: And "Bring your hearts to the prayer"?The Shaykh: This has not been reported, and it is not befitting for him to say it, because there is no one more eloquent in advising the servants than the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). And among the Companions were those whose hearts were not present in the prayer. Therefore, a man complained to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that his heart was not present in the prayer,So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to him: (That is a Shaytan called Khunzub,Meaning: who comes to people in prayer and whispers to them. So when you feel him, spit to your left three times and seek refuge in Allah from him,He said: so I did that, and Allah removed him from me).
If someone were to say: The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) had behind him Companions whose hearts did not wander, and I have behind me people who are preoccupied with the world and whose hearts wander, so I say to them: "Be present in heart." For this reason,We tell him: First: you have not investigated their hearts,Second: That among the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) were some whose hearts would wander and become preoccupied,And yet, the Messenger did not say: "Be present in heart."
And likewise his saying: "Pray the prayer of one who is bidding farewell." This is also an exaggeration in the religion of Allah and has not been reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
The questioner: "May Allah have mercy on me and on you"?The Shaykh: "May Allah have mercy on me and on you" has not been reported.
The questioner: And "Close the gaps"?The Shaykh: "Fill in the gaps" is correct.
The questioner: "And straighten your rows?"The Shaykh: "Straighten your rows" is correct.
The questioner: "For Allah does not look upon a crooked row"?The Shaykh: This is not correct.
The questioner: "Do not leave gaps for Shaytan"?The Shaykh: This is correct.