Does the row begin from the right or from behind the imam?
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Q: Does the row begin from the right or from behind the imam? And is it prescribed to balance the right and the left? Such that it is said: "Straighten the rows," as many imams do?
A: The row begins from the center, next to the imam, and the right side of each row is better than its left. It is obligatory not to begin a row until the one before it is completed. There is no harm if there are more people on the right side of the row, and there is no need for adjustment; rather, ordering it is contrary to the Sunnah. However, one should not stand in the second row until the first is completed, nor in the third until the second is completed, and so on for the remaining rows; because it is established from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) that he ordered this.
A: The row begins from the center, next to the imam, and the right side of each row is better than its left. It is obligatory not to begin a row until the one before it is completed. There is no harm if there are more people on the right side of the row, and there is no need for adjustment; rather, ordering it is contrary to the Sunnah. However, one should not stand in the second row until the first is completed, nor in the third until the second is completed, and so on for the remaining rows; because it is established from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) that he ordered this.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.