Is straightening the rows obligatory?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : Does his saying Sunan Abi Dawud 663Sahih (Al-Albani) indicate that failing to straighten the rows is forbidden?
The Shaykh : Yes, and for this reason the correct view is that straightening the rows is obligatory. But does the prayer become invalid if one leaves off straightening the rows? There are two opinions among the scholars: some said that the prayer becomes invalid if one leaves off straightening the rows, while others said it does not become invalid, because this is an obligation of the prayer. If the congregation is left off from the start, the person's prayer is valid, so it is even more fitting that the prayer not become invalid if one leaves off straightening the rows, which is an obligation of the congregation. However, the correct view is that they commit a sin.
Do not be irregular.
لتسون صفوفكم أو ليخالفن الله بين قلوبكمThe Shaykh : Yes, and for this reason the correct view is that straightening the rows is obligatory. But does the prayer become invalid if one leaves off straightening the rows? There are two opinions among the scholars: some said that the prayer becomes invalid if one leaves off straightening the rows, while others said it does not become invalid, because this is an obligation of the prayer. If the congregation is left off from the start, the person's prayer is valid, so it is even more fitting that the prayer not become invalid if one leaves off straightening the rows, which is an obligation of the congregation. However, the correct view is that they commit a sin.