Question
I know that it is important to have the ranks of worshippers straight in congregational prayer. I was praying in congregation once and a brother came and stood next to me, but he was not in a straight line with me. After the prayer, I narrated to him some hadîth, but he replied that a sheikh had told him that straightening the ranks is merely a sunnah while devoutness and humility in prayer are obligatory. Therefore, what is obligatory takes priority over for what is sunnah, and if straightening oneself in the row distracts a person from his devoutness, then he can dispense with it. He said this is especially true for the Friday prayer, when it is difficult to get the ranks straight. What is your view?
Answer
Al-Nu`mân b. Bashîr relates: I heard the Prophet (peace be upon him) say: “You will straighten your rows or Allah will bring differences between yourselves.” [Sahîh al-Bukhârî and Sahîh Muslim]
There is consensus among the scholars that is preferred for the worshippers to straighten the rows in prayer. Some scholars have even declared that it is obligatory to straighten the ranks. This appears to be the case with what Ibn Taymiyah [al-Ikhtiyârât (75-76)] and Ibn `Uthaymîn [al-Sharh al-Mumti` (2/11)] have said about the matter.
This is supported by the numerous hadîth which command the act of straightening the rows.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Straighten your rows and bring yourselves close together.” [Sahîh al-Bukhârî]
He said: “Straighten your rows, for indeed the straightening of the rows is from the proper establishment of prayer” [Sahîh al-Bukhârî] It is also related: “Straighten your rows, for indeed the straightening of the rows is from the perfection of prayer.” [Sahîh Muslim]
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Straighten yourselves and do not differ, lest your hearts should differ.” [Sahîh Muslim]
Since the straightening of the rows in prayer is of such great importance it should be upheld for the Friday prayer along with the other prayers.
There is no evidence that the rows for the Friday prayers should not be straightened. This should rather be of greater importance, since more people are in attendance and the mosque is more crowded.
We should take care to carry out in prayer everything that is commanded to us. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “If you abandon the Sunnah of your Prophet you will go astray.” [Sahîh Muslim]
The straightening of rows in payer helps us in attaining proper submissiveness and does not contradict with it. The proof for this is that the Prophet (peace be upon him) did this with his Companions and commanded them to do so, and they were the most devout, humble, and submissive in their prayers.
It is appropriate to mention that a straight row in prayer means that all the people in the row should be on the same line so that no one stands forward of anyone else. Shoulders and feet should be on the same level while standing in prayer. Shoulders will be exempted in the case of a person who has a hunched back. The straitening of feet is determined by the back of the heels with no regard for the toes, since the sizes of people’s feet differ greatly.
The most complete and perfect manner of straightening the rows is achieved by the worshippers keeping close to one another, with their rows close behind one another and nearer to the Imam.
May Allah guide us all.
There is consensus among the scholars that is preferred for the worshippers to straighten the rows in prayer. Some scholars have even declared that it is obligatory to straighten the ranks. This appears to be the case with what Ibn Taymiyah [al-Ikhtiyârât (75-76)] and Ibn `Uthaymîn [al-Sharh al-Mumti` (2/11)] have said about the matter.
This is supported by the numerous hadîth which command the act of straightening the rows.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Straighten your rows and bring yourselves close together.” [Sahîh al-Bukhârî]
He said: “Straighten your rows, for indeed the straightening of the rows is from the proper establishment of prayer” [Sahîh al-Bukhârî] It is also related: “Straighten your rows, for indeed the straightening of the rows is from the perfection of prayer.” [Sahîh Muslim]
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Straighten yourselves and do not differ, lest your hearts should differ.” [Sahîh Muslim]
Since the straightening of the rows in prayer is of such great importance it should be upheld for the Friday prayer along with the other prayers.
There is no evidence that the rows for the Friday prayers should not be straightened. This should rather be of greater importance, since more people are in attendance and the mosque is more crowded.
We should take care to carry out in prayer everything that is commanded to us. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “If you abandon the Sunnah of your Prophet you will go astray.” [Sahîh Muslim]
The straightening of rows in payer helps us in attaining proper submissiveness and does not contradict with it. The proof for this is that the Prophet (peace be upon him) did this with his Companions and commanded them to do so, and they were the most devout, humble, and submissive in their prayers.
It is appropriate to mention that a straight row in prayer means that all the people in the row should be on the same line so that no one stands forward of anyone else. Shoulders and feet should be on the same level while standing in prayer. Shoulders will be exempted in the case of a person who has a hunched back. The straitening of feet is determined by the back of the heels with no regard for the toes, since the sizes of people’s feet differ greatly.
The most complete and perfect manner of straightening the rows is achieved by the worshippers keeping close to one another, with their rows close behind one another and nearer to the Imam.
May Allah guide us all.
-islamtoday.net
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