Explanation of the Book of the Adhan-09a
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The reciter: Abu Ma'mar narrated to us, saying: Abd al-Warith narrated to us from Abd al-Aziz from Anas that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sahih al-Bukhari 718
The Shaykh : His statement, "The chapter on straightening the rows at the iqamah and after it": Straightening the rows is done by speech and by action. As for speech, the imam says, "Straighten your rows," or "Be even," or something similar. But does he say it while straightening them, or if the rows are already even, does he not say it? The apparent ruling is the latter, because saying it when the rows are already even serves no purpose, and this is not one of the phrases of worship for which it is said that he should recite it even if the row is even. Rather, it is not said except for a reason: if he sees them crooked, he says, "Be even," and otherwise, he does not. Some of the common people used to think that this phrase was among the recommended practices of prayer, so you would find him praying with just one person and then saying to him, "Be even," while he is right next to him, and there is no need for this statement. And if the imam saw that they were even and did not say it, the common people would criticize him, asking, "Why didn't he say 'Be even' or 'Straighten up'?" As for straightening by action, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to straighten the rows, aligning the shoulders and chests, rubbing their shoulders and chests, and saying:Sahih Muslim 432a The hadith of al-Nu'man ibn Bashir (may Allah be pleased with him) also states: "The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to straighten our rows as if he were straightening arrows, which are the shafts of the arrow, and these must be exactly even, like a comb."
Straighten your rows, for I see you from behind my back.
أقيموا الصفوف فإني أراكم خلف ظهريThe Shaykh : His statement, "The chapter on straightening the rows at the iqamah and after it": Straightening the rows is done by speech and by action. As for speech, the imam says, "Straighten your rows," or "Be even," or something similar. But does he say it while straightening them, or if the rows are already even, does he not say it? The apparent ruling is the latter, because saying it when the rows are already even serves no purpose, and this is not one of the phrases of worship for which it is said that he should recite it even if the row is even. Rather, it is not said except for a reason: if he sees them crooked, he says, "Be even," and otherwise, he does not. Some of the common people used to think that this phrase was among the recommended practices of prayer, so you would find him praying with just one person and then saying to him, "Be even," while he is right next to him, and there is no need for this statement. And if the imam saw that they were even and did not say it, the common people would criticize him, asking, "Why didn't he say 'Be even' or 'Straighten up'?" As for straightening by action, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to straighten the rows, aligning the shoulders and chests, rubbing their shoulders and chests, and saying: