Straighten the Rows
Straightening The Rows And Joining The Feet In Congregational Prayer
Shaykh Muhammad Naasir Ud-Deen al-Albaanee
[Translated by Oways al-Haashimee]
An abandoned Sunnah that must be revived [1]
There are many authentic ahadeeth from the Sallallaahu
‘alayhiwasalam concerned with the command to straighten the rows (for
congregational prayer), and so this is rarely hidden from any of the students
of (Islaamic) knowledge let alone their teachers. However it remains unknown
to many that straightening the rows requires straightening it with the feet,
not just the shoulders. Indeed we have often heard some of the Imaams of the
Masaajid (Mosques) pointing out - when ordering the people to straighten the
rows - that the Sunnah is to do so with the shoulders to the exclusion of the
feet! Since this is contrary to what is established in the authentic Sunnah, I
thought it necessary to mention some ahadeeth that exist on this topic, as a
reminder for whoever wishes to act in accordance with the authentic Sunnah,
not being deceived by the widespread customs and habits present in the Ummah.
There are two authentic ahadeeth on this topic: The first is
the hadeeth reported by Anas, and the second is that reported by An-Nu’maan
ibn Basheer, may Allaah be pleased with them both.
As for the hadeeth of Anas, then it as follows;
The Hadeeth of Anas ibn Maalik
"Straighten your rows and come close together, for indeed I
see you behind my back"
The hadeeth is reported by al-Bukharee [2/176 - al-Fath,
Boolaaq edition], Ahmad [3/182 and 263], and al-Mukhallis in al-Fawaa’id
[1/10/2], all of them reporting via a number of transmission paths (turuq
sing. tareeq) from Humayd at-Taweel who said Anas ibn Maalik narrated to us
saying:
"The call for commencing of salaah was made, the Messenger of
Allaah Sallallaahu ‘alayhiwasalam turned to us and said..."
(then he mention the above hadeeth). Al-Bukhaaree adds in one
narration of this hadeeth:
"(He turned to us and said) before pronouncing the opening
takbeer..."
Also adding at the end
"...each of us would adjoin his shoulder with that of his
companion (standing next to him) and his foot with that of his companion."
This addition also occurs in the report of al-Mukhallis and
Ibn Abee Shaybah [1/351] with the following wording: Anas said ~
"...So I saw each of us adjoining our shoulder with those of
our companions and also (adjoining) our feet with those of our companions, but
if you were to practice this today, a person would flee (from you) like a
restless mule."
Its chain of narration (sanad) is also saheeh according to the
conditions stipulated by the Two Shaykhs (al-Bukhaaree and Muslim). Al-Haafidh
(Ibn Hajr) ascribed this wording to Sa’eed ibn Mansoor and al-Ismaa’eelee. Al-Bukhaaree
gave a chapter heading for this hadeeth by saying:
Chapter: 'Adjoining the shoulder with the shoulder and the
foot with the foot in the row (for prayer).'
As for the hadeeth of an-Nu’maan (ibn Basheer) then it is as
follows:
The Hadeeth of an-Nu’maan ibn Basheer
"Straighten your rows (he said it three times),by Allaah
either you straighten your rows or Allaah will cause conflict between your
hearts."
The hadeeth has been selected by Aboo Dawood [no.662], Ibn
Hibbaan [no.396], Ahmad [4/276] and ad-Doolaabee in al-Kunaa [2/86] from
Abil-Qaasim al-Jadalee Husayn ibnil-Haarith who said; I heard an-Nu'maan ibn
Basheer say:
"The Messenger of Allaah turned to us and said..."
(then he mentioned the above hadeeth). Then an-Nu'maan ibn
Basheer added:
"...So I saw each man joining his shoulder; knee and ankle
with that of his companion."
The sanad of this hadeeth is saheeh, al-Bukhaaree quoted it in
discontinuous (mu'allaq) form in a decided manner (indicating that he
considered it authentic). Ibn Khuzaymah also connected its chain of narration
in his Saheeh [1/82,83] and al-Mundhiree [at-Targheeb 1/176] and al-Haafidh
[al-Fath 2/176] both confirmed this. Ibn Hibaanselected the hadeeth in his
Saheeh [14/396 - Mawaarid] reporting through the tareeq of ibn Khuzaymah.
The text of the hadeeth is also reported by ad-Doolaabee by
way of Baqeeyah ibnil-Waleed who said: 'Hurayz narrated to us saying: I heard
Ghaylaan al-Muqri' narrate from Abee Qutaylah Marthad ibn Wadaa'ah (who said:
I heard) an-Nu'maan ibn Basheer say...', (then he mentioned the hadeeth).
There is no problem with the sanad for the purpose of
supporting reports (mutaab'aat), its reporters are reliable apart from
Ghaylaan al-Muqri' . Perhaps he is Ghaylaan ibn Anas al-Kalbee (their mawlaa)
ad-Dimishqee. If that is the case then his condition (as a reporter) is
unknown. A group of the reporters have narrated from him and al-Haafidh (ibn
Hajr) said about him: 'He is acceptable (Maqbool).' Then it became clear that
identifying this reporter in the sanad as al-Muqri' was a mistake, as al-Bukhaaree
and ibn Hibaan had said, and that in fact he is Ghaylaan ibn Ma'shar al-Muqraa'ee
[Lubaab 3/237]. Ibn Abee Haatim [7/53] has given a biography for him,
mentioning that a number of people have reported from him, and Ibn Hibaan
[5/290] declared him reliable.
The Fiqh of these Ahadeeth
In these two ahadeeth there are a number of important points
of benefit and fiqh.
| 1. |
The obligation to straighten the rows for salaah and to
stand close together in them, due to the command mentioned in the ahadeeth.
The rule concerning such commands is that they constitute an obligation (wujoob)
except if accompanying evidence (qareenah) proves otherwise as is well
established in the science of fiqh principles. The qareenah here in fact
emphasizes the obligation, and that is in the saying of the Prophet
Sallallaahu ‘alayhiwasalam, "...or Allaah will cause conflict between your
hearts", since such a warning is never given for leaving that which is not
obligatory as is quite clear.[2] |
| 2. |
The forming and straightening of the rows mentioned in
the hadeeth is only achieved by joining the shoulder and the side of ones
foot with the shoulder and foot of the adjacent person. This is because
that is what the Companions, Radiallaahu 'anhum, did when ordered to
straighten the rows and stand close together in them. Hence al-Haafidh (ibn
Hajar) said in al-Fath after mentioning the additional saying of Anas in
the first hadeeth that I have quoted above:
"This (wording) is an explicit explanation that the
mentioned action (of the Companions) was done in the time of the Prophet
Sallallaahu ‘alayhiwasalam. With this in mind the usage of this action as
a pretext for explaining what straightening the row means becomes
complete."
It is regrettable that many Muslims have neglected this
Sunnah of straightening the row, or rather they have lost it altogether,
except for a few of them. For I have not seen this practiced by any group
amongst them except Ahlul-Hadeeth (the People of the Hadeeth). I saw them
in Makkah in the year 1368AH enthusiastic and concerned with adhering to
the Sunnah as with other Sunan of al-Mustafaa (Muhammad the Messenger of
Allaah) Sallallaahu ‘alayhiwasalam. This contrary to others from the
followers of the Madhaahib - and I do not exclude the Hanaabilah (Hanbalees),
for this Sunnah has become utterly forgotten amongst them. In fact they
have consecutively abandoned and turned away from it. This is because most
of their Madhaahib state that the Sunnah in this regard is that a space of
four fingers width should be kept between ones feet, and more than this is
disliked, as is detailed in al-Fiqh 'alal-Madhaahib al-Arba'ah [1/207].
This spacing has no foundation in the Sunnah; rather it is
based on mere opinion. If it were correct then it would be necessary to
restrict this practice to the Imaam and the one praying on his own so that
the authentic Sunnah (of standing close in the row) would not be opposed
with this practice, as the fundamental principles of fiqh (al-Qawaa’id al-Usooleeyah)
necessitates.
In short I appeal to the Muslims – especially the Imaams
of the Masaajid, those who are concerned to follow the Prophet Sallallaahu
‘alayhiwasalam, and to acquire the virtue of reviving his Sunnah, I appeal
to them to act by this Sunnah, have concern for it, and call the people to
it until they unify upon it, and by what they will be saved from that
warning "…or Allaah will cause conflict between your hearts."[3]
I add in this addition [4] (of my book): It has
reached from one of the callers to Islaam (du’aat) that he belittles the
status of the Sunnah that the Companions practiced, and which they did so
with approval of the Prophet Sallallaahu ‘alayhiwasalam. He insinuates
that the Prophet Sallallaahu ‘alayhiwasalam did not teach them this
practice. So he has not realized – and Allaah knows best – that (1) this
was their understanding and that (2) the Prophet Sallallaahu
‘alayhiwasalam approved of their understanding and their practice. This is
sufficient amongst Ahlus-Sunnah to affirm the legitimacy of this practice,
because the witness sees what the absent does not, and the Companions are
people whose followers will never be wretched (unsuccessful). |
| 3. |
In the first hadeeth there is an affirmation of a clear
miracle (mu’jizah) given to the Prophet Sallallaahu ‘alayhiwasalam, and
that was his ability to see behind him without turning his head. However
it should be known that this was exclusively for the Prophet Sallallaahu
‘alayhiwasalam when he was in Salaah since nothing exists in the Sunnah
that states that he used to see behind him without turning his head
outside the Salaah. And Allaah knows best. |
| 4. |
In the two ahadeeth there is a clear proof for something
that many people do not know about, although it has become recognized in
the field of psychology, and that is the fact that outer (apparent) evil
and corruption affects inner evil and corruption and vise versa. There are
many ahadeeth about this, perhaps we will undertake the task of gathering
and referencing them at some later opportunity if Allah, The Most High
wishes. |
| 5. |
The entering of the Imaam into the opening takbeer for
prayer when the mu’ahddhin says ‘The Prayer is about to start…’ (qad
qaamati-salaah) is an innovation in the religion (bid’ah) due to its
contradicting the authentic Sunnah, as these ahadeeth prove – especially
the first one. The ahadeeth show us that after the Iqaamah has been called
there is a duty upon the Imaam which he must fulfill, and that is
commanding the people to straighten the rows, reminding them of that, for
he is responsible for them and will be asked. "…And all of you are
shepherds and all of you will be asked about your flock." |
Footnotes:
[1] Translated from Silsilatul-Ahadeethis-Saheehah of
Shaykh Muhammad Naasirud-Deen Al-Albaanee. Vol.1 pp70-74, Hadeeth no.31 and
32.
[2] TRANSLATORS NOTE ~ Standing close in the row,
filling the gaps and straightening the line carries a great reward and virtue
as well as being obligatory. This is mentioned in a number of ahadeeth, like
the following:
"The best of you are those who stand with their
shoulders closest (to the one standing next to them) in the salaah, and there
is no step greater in reward than that taken by a man toward a gap in the row
thus filling it." Reported by at-Tabaraanee in al-Aswat, refer to Saheeh at-Targheeb
wat-Tarheeb (1/200).
"Whoever fills a gap in the row, Allaah raises him up
due to it a rank and builds a house for him in al-Jannah." Reported by at-Tabaraanee
in al-Aswat and al-Asbahaanee in at-Targheeb, the hadeeth is saheeh as occurs
in Saheeh at-Targheeb (no.505).
[3] TRANSLATORS NOTE ~ There are a number of ahadeeth
that explain the virtue of reviving the Sunnah and the calling the people to
guidance and righteousness. For example the Prophet Sallallaahu ‘alayhiwasalam
said: "Whoever calls to guidance will have the same reward as all those who
follow him in that guidance but this will not take anything away from their
reward. Whoever calls to untruth will carry the same sin as the same sin as
all those who follow him in that, but that will not take anything away from
their sins." Reported by Ahmad in his Musnad, Muslim in his Saheeh and others.
[4] TRANSLATORS NOTE ~ This article is taken from the
newest edition.
Action Items for
the
uttaqun:
- The length of the foot
should be touching the length of the foot of the person next to you in salah.
- Know that it is the
shaytaan that encourages division, so do not listen to the whisper of the
shaytaan that may prompt you to allow space between you and your brother in
Islam.
- Recognize any personal
prejudices or fears and overcome them. Start by narrowing the gap between
you and your brother in salat.
- Recognize that the
well-known Imams - Malik, Hanbal, Hanaf, Shafii - have all stated that they
are capable of error and do make mistakes and should not be followed on a
particular issue if found to be in error. So, do not follow an Imam where
he contradicts plain proof in Quran and Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (saaws).
- Salah is the time to
put aside personal boundaries and walls we've built up. You say you want
unity in the ummah? Then begin with the salat - straighten your rows and
narrow the gaps as indicated in the sunnah. Don't create your own sunnahs.