The Importance of
gap in the ranks.” (Narrated by Al-
Straightening the Ranks
in Prayer…
Allaah, Most High says: { Oh,
you who believe! Fear Allaah
and make your speech
straightforward, that He may
make your conduct whole and
sound and forgive you your
sins. He that obeys Allaah and
His Messenger has already
attained the great victory }
(Soorah 33:70-71)
The Virtue of Straightening the
Ranks
When the Muslim prays in a
straight line, shoulder-to-shoulder
and ankle-to-ankle, Allaah and His
angels invoke blessings upon him,
as reported by ‘Aa`ishah (may
Allaah be pleased with her): “Verily,
Allaah and the angels invoke
blessings upon those who complete
the ranks.” (Narrated by Ahmad)
According to Al-Manaawi: “That is,
they (the angels) seek forgiveness
for (him and) his family.”
Ibn ‘Umar reported that the
Messenger of Allaah ε said: “A man
can take no greater step than that
which takes in order to close up a
hearts inimical to each other. It is
Bazzaar)
It is also narrated that the Prophet
ε used to ask forgiveness for those
in the front row three times and for
those in the second row once.
(Narrated by An-Nasaa`i)
Abu Hurairah reported that the
Messenger of Allaah ε said: “If the
people knew the import-ance of the
call to prayer and (praying in) the
first row, and they found no way to
get into it except by drawing lots,
they would have done so.”
(Narrated by Al-Bukhaari and
Muslim)
Its Importance
It is part of establishing the
prayer; Anas τ reported that the
Prophet ε said: “Straighten your
rows, for verily, straightening the
rows is a part of establishing the
prayer.” (Narrated by Al-Bukhaari)
Assuredly, when one sees a
congregation of Muslims praying
together, shoulder-to-shoulder and
ankle-to-ankle, it is a clear sign of
the mutual brotherly love and
respect which exists between them.
But when one sees them praying in
disarray, some in front of others,
and leaving spaces between the
worshippers, it looks as if they are
estranged from each other, their
authentically reported that: “The
Messenger of Allaah ε used to
straighten our ranks and one day,
he came out and saw a man whose
chest projected from the rows and
said: “Either straighten your ranks,
or Allaah will alter your faces.”
(Narrated Al-Bukhaari and Muslim)
Straightening the ranks
differentiates us from the previous
nations, and it is Allaah’s favour
upon us. The Messenger of Allaah ε
said that Allaah has favoured this
Ummah over the rest of mankind by
three things: Our ranks (in prayer)
have been made like those of the
angels. (Narrated by Ahmad and
Muslim)
Straightening the rows is a way of
repelling Satan and preventing him
from entering the rows and
distracting us from our prayers. The
Prophet ε said: “Straighten your
rows and place your shoulders
together (with those of your
neighbour) and be pliant in the
hands of your brothers and close up
the gaps, for verily, the devil will
enter a space between you as small
as a lamb.” (Narrated by Ahmad) -
and the further away Satan remains
from the worshippers, the more
their humility and submission will
increase; Allaah says: { Verily, the
Believers have succeeded, those
who are humble in their prayers
} (Soorah 23:1-2)
Its Ruling in Islaam
Al-Bukhaari writes: “Chapter: The
Sin of Him Who Does Not Complete
the Ranks…” He then goes on to
explain that straightening up and
closing up the ranks is an obligation
and that whoever does not do so is
a sinner. Ibn Hajr says: “It is likely
that Al-Bukhaari considered
straightening the rows to be
obligatory based on the command in
the saying of the Prophet ε :
“Straighten in your rows!” and in his
words: “Pray as you have seen me
praying.” (Narrated by Al-Bukhaari)
How Do We Straighten the
Ranks?
First: It is obligatory for the
worshippers to complete the rows
starting from the front. Allaah’s
Messenger ε said: “Will you not
form your rows as do the angels
before their Lord?” They asked:
“How do the angels form their rows
before their Lord?” He ε replied:
“They fill up the front rows and they
stand close together.” (Narrated by
Muslim)
The Prophet ε and his pious
Companions ψ have left for us a fine
example of how to straighten the
rows. Abu Dawood reports that the
Messenger the Messenger of Allaah
ε used to pass through the rows
from one side to the other; he used
to set chests and shoulders in order
and say: “Do not be irregular.” And
he would say: “Allaah and his angels
bless those who are near the front
rows.”
Zayed Centre for
An-Nu’maam Ibn Basheer τ said: New Muslims
“The Prophet ε used to straighten
our rows as an arrow is
straightened.” (Narrated by Muslim)
As for the Companions ψ,
‘Uthmaan τ used to send people to
make sure that the rows were
straight and he would not begin the
prayer until they reported back to
him, according to Imaam Maalik.
Anas τ reported: “The Prophet ε
used to say: “Straighten your rows,
for verily, I see you from behind my
back,” and each one of us would
place his shoulder next to the
shoulder of his neighbour and his
foot next to his foot.” (Narrated by
Al-Bukhaari) Abu Dawood narrated
this also, with the addition: “…and
ankle-to-ankle.”
/
So, dear brothers and sisters, let
us always bear in mind the words of
the Prophet ε : “It is incumbent upon
you to follow my Sunnah and the
Sunnah of the pious, noble Zayed Centre for New Muslims
Khulafaa` (Caliphs). Hold firmly to P.O. Box 16090,
it.” Al-Ain, U.A.E.,
Phone (9713) 829191
 Fax (9713) 645816
The Importance of
Straightening the
Ranks in Prayer…
(7)
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