Chapter on the virtue of the first row and the command to complete the first rows, straighten them, and stand close together in them.
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The reciter: Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions:
He (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "Chapter on the virtue of the first row and the command to complete the first rows, straighten them, and stand close together in them:
Jabir ibn Samurah (may Allah be pleased with him) said:Riyad as-Salihin 1082 Muslim narrated it.
And Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Muwatta Malik 3:3 Agreed upon by al-Bukhari and Muslim".
The Shaykh : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful:
Al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said in his book *Riyad al-Salihin*: "Chapter on the virtue of the first row, standing close together in the rows, straightening them, and completing the first, then the next":
These are multiple issues regarding which he (may Allah have mercy on him) stated their rulings based on the hadiths he cited: The first hadith is from Jabir ibn Samurah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said:Riyad as-Salihin 1082: The angels have various forms of worship, and they (the angels) do not consider themselves too great to worship Allah, nor do they slack off: [Al-Anbya 21:20].
And consider his saying:[Al-Anbya 21:20]: He did not say "they glorify Allah in the night and the day," because they occupy the entire time with glorification, [Al-Anbya 21:20].
And among their worship in the presence of their Lord is that they straighten their rows in the presence of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), as He the Exalted said:[As-Saffat 37:165-166], and how are their rows? The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: meaning the first row, and they stand close together.
So when we straighten our rows in the presence of Allah in our prayer, we should be like the angels who complete the first row, then the next, and stand close together.
And completing the first row, then the next, as it is a sunnah of the angels in the presence of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), and something the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) encouraged, is one of the matters that people should compete for, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said in the hadith of Abu Hurayrah:Muwatta Malik 3:3 meaning of the reward, Jami` at-Tirmidhi 225Sahih (Darussalam) This indicates the virtue of the first row, and indicates that it is better to stand close together in the rows, and indicates that one should complete the first row, then the next: So these are three issues that a person should pay attention to: First: Do not stand in a row until the row behind you is completed, to complete the first, then the next.
Second: In prayer, they stand close together, attaching some of their heels to others and their shoulders to shoulders until the closeness is complete, because if they do not stand close together, do you know what happens?
The devils enter between them like the hazaf: like small sheep, and then they disturb their prayer. So if they stand close together, no space remains. But one must be careful about issues:
The first issue: The intended closeness is not the kind that disturbs others, meaning pushing someone until he is tired and hurt. No, this is not permissible. Closeness means that there is no gap between you and him. This is closeness. As for the kind of closeness that causes harm or disturbance to your brother next to you, it is not required.
Second: Regarding the first row, if people could not find a way to get there except by drawing lots, they would draw lots: Advancing to it is not by placing a handkerchief, or a prayer mat, or a book, or something similar, or by a person reserving a spot. I have even heard of some people here with us on Friday: a person advanced and found the spot empty, so he advanced and stood in it. Then his companion, who was accustomed to praying there, as if he had bought it from his own pocket, said: Why are you sitting in my place? He said: I did not sit in your place, I found an empty spot and sat down. He said: No, this is my place. It is my custom to put my shawl there, or to put this or that there. Glory be to Allah! Did you buy it with your money?! The mosques belong to Allah (Mighty and Majestic). Whoever comes first has the right to it, and no one has more right to a place than another, ever. And a person should avoid these matters. In fact, our Shaykh Abd al-Rahman ibn Sa'di (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "Reserving a spot is forbidden and not permissible". Even some jurists said: "It is directed that his prayer is not valid", because it is like usurpation, since he sat in a place he does not deserve. The first person is the one who deserves it. Did you buy it with your money or the money of your father that you inherited from him, so that you can drive the servants of Allah away from it and say: This is my place?! Glory be to Allah!! If you come first, may Allah reward you. If you did not come first, you have no place. For this reason, if I did not fear fitnah, I would come to all those who place something to reserve a spot and throw it into the street. But we fear fitnah, and enmity, and hatred, which we are in no need of. But the wise believer is his own adversary; he knows that he has no right except by advancing. I have been informed that some people, from now until the 'Asr prayer on Thursday, reserve spots for the Friday prayer in the first row. Why? You go to play with your family, or in your market, or in your farm, and reserve the excellent spots for whoever comes, who has more right to them than you. By what evidence?! The imam's place is known. Do not say: Why are you taking a place for yourself? My place is known. The mu'adhdhin, perhaps we allow him to be close to the imam. As for others, they have no right to any place.
So the saying of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him):Jami` at-Tirmidhi 225Sahih (Darussalam) means that they are the ones who advance and compete.
And reserving a spot has a harm: a person says: "That's it, my place is now guaranteed, and whenever I go to the mosque, I go." He is deprived of the good based on the fact that his place is guaranteed.
So the important thing, may Allah reward you, is that the intended meaning of his saying:Muwatta Malik 3:3: is whoever advances by himself. Yes, if a person is in the mosque, meaning he arrived and is in the mosque, but he wants to move away from the first row to read, or pray, or review, or sleep (and there is no harm in sleeping in the mosque), this is fine because it is his right. But if he must reach his place before the rows connect, he needs to step over shoulders, .
And in this hadith, the second hadith of Abu Hurayrah: is evidence for the permissibility of drawing lots in the call to prayer, meaning casting lots. If two people dispute the adhan, one says: "I am the one who calls," and the other says: "No, I am the one who calls," and none of them is a regular mu'adhdhin, and they are all equal in the qualities required for the adhan, then we draw lots between them. Whoever the lot falls to is the one who calls. And unfortunately, you see some people now, a group of travelers or workers or something similar, each one says to the other: "You call, you call." O man, the adhan is good; no tree or stone hears your voice except that it will testify for you on the Day of Resurrection. How do you leave this bounty?! What is required is that you are the one who rushes to the adhan. We ask Allah for good for us and for you, and that He make us among those who compete in good deeds. Indeed, He is Able to do all things.
Is that all?
The questioner : Some people, when I tell them to advance, say: Is that all!
The Shaykh : I seek refuge in Allah.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : What?
The questioner : They drag their feet, and some of them spread their legs and take the place of others?!
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : So what is your opinion on this issue?
The Shaykh : My opinion on both issues is that they are all wrong. Our opinion, may Allah reward you, is that this is wrong. So you should do the sunnah and pull him to his place. If he is proud and arrogant, the sin is on him. Also, as I said, some of the brothers spread their legs. You find their legs aligned with the second person's legs, but their shoulder is far from his. This is also a mistake. Some people think this is from the sunnah, but it is not from the sunnah. The Companions, when they were guided, stood close together so that the shoulder touches the shoulder and the heel touches the heel, and everything is in its natural state. It does not mean spreading the legs. No, this is a mistake. This is an understanding of the sunnah that is not in accordance with its reality.
He (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "Chapter on the virtue of the first row and the command to complete the first rows, straighten them, and stand close together in them:
Jabir ibn Samurah (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came out to us (once) and said, "Why do you not stand in rows as the angels do before their Rubb?" We asked: "O Messenger of Allah! how do the angels stand in rows before their Rubb?" He (ﷺ) replied, "They complete each row beginning with the first and filling all the gaps."
خرج علينا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، فقال : ألا تصفون كما تصف الملائكة عند ربها ؟ فقلنا : يا رسول الله ! وكيف تصف الملائكة عند ربها ؟ قال : يتمون الصفوف الأول، ويتراصون في الصفAnd Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
If people knew what was in the adhan and the first row of the prayer and could only draw lots for it, they would draw lots.
لو يعلم الناس ما في النداء والصف الأول، ثم لم يجدوا إلا أن يستهموا عليه لاستهمواThe Shaykh : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful:
Al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said in his book *Riyad al-Salihin*: "Chapter on the virtue of the first row, standing close together in the rows, straightening them, and completing the first, then the next":
These are multiple issues regarding which he (may Allah have mercy on him) stated their rulings based on the hadiths he cited: The first hadith is from Jabir ibn Samurah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came out to us (once) and said, "Why do you not stand in rows as the angels do before their Rubb?"
خرج علينا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم ذات يوم ، فقال : ألا تصفون كما تصف الملائكة عند ربها ؟They exalt [Him] night and day [and] do not slacken.
يسبحون الليل والنهار لا يفترونAnd consider his saying:
They exalt [Him] night and day
يسبحون الليل والنهارThey exalt [Him] night and day [and] do not slacken.
يسبحون الليل والنهار لا يفترونAnd among their worship in the presence of their Lord is that they straighten their rows in the presence of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), as He the Exalted said:
(165) And indeed, we are those who line up [for prayer]. (166) And indeed, we are those who exalt Allah."
وإنا لنحن الصافون * وإنا لنحن المسبحونThey complete the front rows
يكملون الأولSo when we straighten our rows in the presence of Allah in our prayer, we should be like the angels who complete the first row, then the next, and stand close together.
And completing the first row, then the next, as it is a sunnah of the angels in the presence of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), and something the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) encouraged, is one of the matters that people should compete for, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said in the hadith of Abu Hurayrah:
If people knew what was in the adhan and the first row of the prayer
لو يعلم الناس ما في النداء والصف الأولand they found no other way to get that except drawing lots, then they would draw lots.
ثم لم يجدوا إلا أن يستهموا عليه لاستهمواSecond: In prayer, they stand close together, attaching some of their heels to others and their shoulders to shoulders until the closeness is complete, because if they do not stand close together, do you know what happens?
The devils enter between them like the hazaf: like small sheep, and then they disturb their prayer. So if they stand close together, no space remains. But one must be careful about issues:
The first issue: The intended closeness is not the kind that disturbs others, meaning pushing someone until he is tired and hurt. No, this is not permissible. Closeness means that there is no gap between you and him. This is closeness. As for the kind of closeness that causes harm or disturbance to your brother next to you, it is not required.
Second: Regarding the first row, if people could not find a way to get there except by drawing lots, they would draw lots: Advancing to it is not by placing a handkerchief, or a prayer mat, or a book, or something similar, or by a person reserving a spot. I have even heard of some people here with us on Friday: a person advanced and found the spot empty, so he advanced and stood in it. Then his companion, who was accustomed to praying there, as if he had bought it from his own pocket, said: Why are you sitting in my place? He said: I did not sit in your place, I found an empty spot and sat down. He said: No, this is my place. It is my custom to put my shawl there, or to put this or that there. Glory be to Allah! Did you buy it with your money?! The mosques belong to Allah (Mighty and Majestic). Whoever comes first has the right to it, and no one has more right to a place than another, ever. And a person should avoid these matters. In fact, our Shaykh Abd al-Rahman ibn Sa'di (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "Reserving a spot is forbidden and not permissible". Even some jurists said: "It is directed that his prayer is not valid", because it is like usurpation, since he sat in a place he does not deserve. The first person is the one who deserves it. Did you buy it with your money or the money of your father that you inherited from him, so that you can drive the servants of Allah away from it and say: This is my place?! Glory be to Allah!! If you come first, may Allah reward you. If you did not come first, you have no place. For this reason, if I did not fear fitnah, I would come to all those who place something to reserve a spot and throw it into the street. But we fear fitnah, and enmity, and hatred, which we are in no need of. But the wise believer is his own adversary; he knows that he has no right except by advancing. I have been informed that some people, from now until the 'Asr prayer on Thursday, reserve spots for the Friday prayer in the first row. Why? You go to play with your family, or in your market, or in your farm, and reserve the excellent spots for whoever comes, who has more right to them than you. By what evidence?! The imam's place is known. Do not say: Why are you taking a place for yourself? My place is known. The mu'adhdhin, perhaps we allow him to be close to the imam. As for others, they have no right to any place.
So the saying of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him):
and they found no other way to get that except drawing lots, then they would draw lots.
ثم لم يجدوا إلا أن يستهموا عليه لاستهمواAnd reserving a spot has a harm: a person says: "That's it, my place is now guaranteed, and whenever I go to the mosque, I go." He is deprived of the good based on the fact that his place is guaranteed.
So the important thing, may Allah reward you, is that the intended meaning of his saying:
If people knew what was in the adhan and the first row of the prayer
لو يعلم الناس ما في النداء والصف الأولAnd the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) saw a man stepping over necks, so he said: "Sit down, for you have caused harm."
وقد رأى النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم رجلا يتخطى الرقاب فقال : اجلس فقد آذيتAnd in this hadith, the second hadith of Abu Hurayrah: is evidence for the permissibility of drawing lots in the call to prayer, meaning casting lots. If two people dispute the adhan, one says: "I am the one who calls," and the other says: "No, I am the one who calls," and none of them is a regular mu'adhdhin, and they are all equal in the qualities required for the adhan, then we draw lots between them. Whoever the lot falls to is the one who calls. And unfortunately, you see some people now, a group of travelers or workers or something similar, each one says to the other: "You call, you call." O man, the adhan is good; no tree or stone hears your voice except that it will testify for you on the Day of Resurrection. How do you leave this bounty?! What is required is that you are the one who rushes to the adhan. We ask Allah for good for us and for you, and that He make us among those who compete in good deeds. Indeed, He is Able to do all things.
Is that all?
The questioner : Some people, when I tell them to advance, say: Is that all!
The Shaykh : I seek refuge in Allah.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : What?
The questioner : They drag their feet, and some of them spread their legs and take the place of others?!
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : So what is your opinion on this issue?
The Shaykh : My opinion on both issues is that they are all wrong. Our opinion, may Allah reward you, is that this is wrong. So you should do the sunnah and pull him to his place. If he is proud and arrogant, the sin is on him. Also, as I said, some of the brothers spread their legs. You find their legs aligned with the second person's legs, but their shoulder is far from his. This is also a mistake. Some people think this is from the sunnah, but it is not from the sunnah. The Companions, when they were guided, stood close together so that the shoulder touches the shoulder and the heel touches the heel, and everything is in its natural state. It does not mean spreading the legs. No, this is a mistake. This is an understanding of the sunnah that is not in accordance with its reality.