Is it obligatory for the imam to order the straightening of the rows? And what is the position of one who enters the mosque and finds gaps in the rows?
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The questioner : Some prayer imams do not pay much attention to applying the Sunnah in ordering the alignment and compactness of the rows. And when I enter such mosques that have such imams, I find large gaps between the worshippers. So when I order them to align or compact the rows so that I can find a place in the first row, some people complained to me. They said: Do not move them, for you may take them out of the khushu' (humility) they are in. What is the ruling on that?
The Shaykh : There is no doubt that the imam has a great responsibility in rectifying the conditions of the ma'mum (those praying behind him). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to look around and order the straightening of the rows, until one time he saw a man whose chest was protruding, and he said:Mishkat al-Masabih 1085 And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to walk along the row himself, straightening the chests and shoulders of the ma'mum, ordering them to be even. In the era of the Rightly Guided Caliphs, when the people increased, they appointed men to the rows to pass over them. When they came and said that they were even, they would begin the prayer with the takbir. When we know the care of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) for this, and the care of the Rightly Guided Caliphs after him, it becomes clear to us that the matter is not light. The imam has the responsibility for that. He is the one who orders; he orders compactness, he orders straightening, and he orders completing the first row before the second, and he does not begin the prayer with the takbir until they are even. Do you know this is the affair of the imam? As for if you come and find, as some people do now, yes, if you come and find that there are gaps among them, it is permissible for me to bring some of them closer to each other, whether I entered or did not enter, because if I do that, I am only doing with them what is prescribed (mashru'), as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did with 'Abdullah ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) when he stood to his left, so he took his head from behind and placed him, what? To his right.
And here is a matter that one must be alert to. Some of the brothers, may Allah reward them with good, love to apply the Sunnah. You find one who aligns in the row and then opens his feet until he touches his neighbor's foot. You find him from the bottom, as they say, wide, meaning his leg is very open, and from the top, there is a space between him and his companion's shoulder. This is a mistake. This is not from the Sunnah. Understanding the Sunnah in this way is a mistake. The Companions were ordered to straighten and compact the rows, so one of them would touch his heel to the heel of the other from the compactness. They did not say: "So one of us would open or spread his feet until he touches the heel of his brother." They did not say it this way. They did not say: "He spreads." They said: "He touches his heel to the heel of his brother" from the intensity of the compactness and not opening a gap in the row. And this is a point I love for my brothers who hear here or from the tape to pay attention to. I found in some places a row where you find it from the top, from the shoulders, spread out, reaching four fingers between one man and another, the shoulders are distant, and the heels are compact. And this is an understanding of the Sunnah contrary to the correct way. The intention is compactness. Yes.
The questioner : Is it permissible for me to ...?
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : If you enter the mosque, do I move the people?
The Shaykh : Move them, but look, do not move them if you see them just so that you make them very compact in order to enter. No, but if you find a gap, bring them closer, whether you have a place or you do not have a place. Yes.
The Shaykh : There is no doubt that the imam has a great responsibility in rectifying the conditions of the ma'mum (those praying behind him). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to look around and order the straightening of the rows, until one time he saw a man whose chest was protruding, and he said:
Servants of God, you must straighten your rows, or God will certainly put your faces in contrary directions.
عباد الله لتسون صفوفكم أو ليخالفن الله بين قلوبكمAnd here is a matter that one must be alert to. Some of the brothers, may Allah reward them with good, love to apply the Sunnah. You find one who aligns in the row and then opens his feet until he touches his neighbor's foot. You find him from the bottom, as they say, wide, meaning his leg is very open, and from the top, there is a space between him and his companion's shoulder. This is a mistake. This is not from the Sunnah. Understanding the Sunnah in this way is a mistake. The Companions were ordered to straighten and compact the rows, so one of them would touch his heel to the heel of the other from the compactness. They did not say: "So one of us would open or spread his feet until he touches the heel of his brother." They did not say it this way. They did not say: "He spreads." They said: "He touches his heel to the heel of his brother" from the intensity of the compactness and not opening a gap in the row. And this is a point I love for my brothers who hear here or from the tape to pay attention to. I found in some places a row where you find it from the top, from the shoulders, spread out, reaching four fingers between one man and another, the shoulders are distant, and the heels are compact. And this is an understanding of the Sunnah contrary to the correct way. The intention is compactness. Yes.
The questioner : Is it permissible for me to ...?
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : If you enter the mosque, do I move the people?
The Shaykh : Move them, but look, do not move them if you see them just so that you make them very compact in order to enter. No, but if you find a gap, bring them closer, whether you have a place or you do not have a place. Yes.