Follow-up: Does the imam say to the ma'mum before the takbirat al-ihram, "Stand in straight rows and be even," and "Stand in straight rows and close the gaps, and do not leave gaps for Shaytan, and close the breaches," and "May Allah have mercy on me and on you," and "Pray the prayer of one who is leaving," and "Straighten your rows, for Allah does not look upon a crooked row," and "Bring your hearts to the prayer"?
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The questioner : Some imams, before saying the takbirat al-ihram, say to the ma'mum: "Stand in straight rows, be even, and bring your hearts to the prayer."
The Shaykh : Well, well, "Stand in straight rows and be even" is fine, because the Sunnah has come with this.
The questioner : And "Bring your hearts to the prayer"?
The Shaykh : This has not come, and it is not befitting for him to say it, because no one is more eloquent in advising the servants than the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and among the Companions there were those whose hearts were not present in the prayer. For this reason, a man complained to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that his heart was not present in the prayer, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to him:Sahih Muslim 2203a meaning: the one who comes to people in prayer and whispers to them .
Meaning, 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 preoccupied with the world whose hearts wander, so I say to them: "Bring your hearts" for this reason. We would say to him: First, you have not examined their hearts, and among the Companions there were those whose hearts were not present in the prayer. For this reason, a man complained to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that his heart was not present in the prayer, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to him:
Meaning, 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 preoccupied with the world whose hearts wander, so I say to them: "Bring your hearts" for this reason. We would say to him:
First, you have not examined their hearts,
Second, among the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) there were those whose hearts would wander and be preoccupied, and yet the Messenger did not say: "Bring your hearts."
Likewise, his saying: "Pray the prayer of one who is leaving," this is also an affectation in the religion of Allah and has not come from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
The questioner : "May Allah have mercy on me and on you"?
The Shaykh : Likewise, "May Allah have mercy on me and on you" has not come.
The questioner : And "Close the gaps"?
The Shaykh : Correct, "Close the gaps" is correct.
The questioner : And "Straighten your rows, for Allah does not look upon a crooked row"?
The Shaykh : "Straighten your rows" is correct.
The questioner : "For Allah does not look upon a crooked row"?
The Shaykh : "For Allah does not look upon a crooked row" is not correct.
The questioner : "Do not leave gaps for Shaytan"?
The Shaykh : This is correct.
The Shaykh : Well, well, "Stand in straight rows and be even" is fine, because the Sunnah has come with this.
The questioner : And "Bring your hearts to the prayer"?
The Shaykh : This has not come, and it is not befitting for him to say it, because no one is more eloquent in advising the servants than the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and among the Companions there were those whose hearts were not present in the prayer. For this reason, a man complained to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that his heart was not present in the prayer, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to him:
That is (the doing of a) Satan (devil) who is known as Khinzab
ذاك شيطان يقال له: خنزبSo 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.
فإذا أحسست به فاتفل عن يسارك ثلاث مرات واستعذ بالله منه، قال: ففعلت فأذهبه الله عنيMeaning, 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 preoccupied with the world whose hearts wander, so I say to them: "Bring your hearts" for this reason. We would say to him: First, you have not examined their hearts, and among the Companions there were those whose hearts were not present in the prayer. For this reason, a man complained to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that his heart was not present in the prayer, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to him:
That is a Shaytan called Khunzub, meaning: the one 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.
ذاك شيطان يقال له: خنزب يعني: الذي يأتي الناس في الصلاة يوسوس عليهم فإذا أحسست به فاتفل عن يسارك ثلاث مرات واستعذ بالله منه، قال: ففعلت فأذهبه الله عنيMeaning, 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 preoccupied with the world whose hearts wander, so I say to them: "Bring your hearts" for this reason. We would say to him:
First, you have not examined their hearts,
Second, among the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) there were those whose hearts would wander and be preoccupied, and yet the Messenger did not say: "Bring your hearts."
Likewise, his saying: "Pray the prayer of one who is leaving," this is also an affectation in the religion of Allah and has not come from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
The questioner : "May Allah have mercy on me and on you"?
The Shaykh : Likewise, "May Allah have mercy on me and on you" has not come.
The questioner : And "Close the gaps"?
The Shaykh : Correct, "Close the gaps" is correct.
The questioner : And "Straighten your rows, for Allah does not look upon a crooked row"?
The Shaykh : "Straighten your rows" is correct.
The questioner : "For Allah does not look upon a crooked row"?
The Shaykh : "For Allah does not look upon a crooked row" is not correct.
The questioner : "Do not leave gaps for Shaytan"?
The Shaykh : This is correct.