Does moving to close the gaps in the rows affect the prayer?

Q: A question about the gaps in the rows: does moving to close them affect the prayer or not?

A: Closing them is prescribed, and moving to do so is permissible and does not affect the prayer. If there is a gap in the row and a person pulls his brother closer to close the gap, or if a person comes from behind them and closes the gap in the row following them, all of this is prescribed. It does not affect the prayer; rather, it is part of the perfection and completion of the prayer, because the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded closing the gaps in the rows.