Rows in prayer – Significance & Etiquettes One very important part of our congregational prayers about which special instructions were given by our beloved Prophet (PBUH) was to be very careful about the rows. Many of us are unaware of the important rulings associated with rows in a prayer. And I am pretty sure that majority of us would never have thought about this to bear any importance/significance. Let us surprise the majority. Let us talk about this in detail and try to understand the significance of the rows in a prayer as well as the etiquettes associated with the subject. 1. ‘Straightening the rows’ is a part of completing the prayer; and the aftermaths of not keeping the rows straight ‘Straightening the rows’ means standing in one straight line with no one out of step. This is an important part of our prayers. Refer to following narration which highlights its importance: It was narrated that Anas bin Malik (RA) said: Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “Make your rows straight, for straightening the rows is a part of completing the prayer.” (Hadith No. 993, Chapters of Establishing Prayer & Sunnah regarding them, Sunan Ibn Majah, Vol. 2; Hadith 975 (433), Book of As-Salat, Sahih Muslim, Vol. 1; Hadith No. 668, Book of Salat, Sunan Abu Dawud, Vol. 1). Therefore, keeping the rows straight brings perfection to the prayer. The aftermaths of not keeping the rows straight are also severe: 1.1. The prayers of those who do not make the rows straight remain imperfect; the reward of such prayers is lessened. This is inferred from above mentioned narration and is agreed upon by all scholars unanimously. 1.2. Allah creates discord/disunity/disharmony among the people who do not keep rows straight. This is inferred upon from following narration: An-Numan bin Bashir (RA) said, “Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) used to straighten our rows, as if he was straightening an arrow, until he saw that we had learned it. Then he came out one day and was about to say Takbir when he noticed a man whose chest was sticking out from the row. He said: Slaves of Allah! Make your rows straight or Allah will cause discord among you.” (Hadith No. 979 (436), Book of As-Salat, Sahih Muslim, Vol.1; Hadith No. 994, Chapters of Establishing Prayer & Sunnah regarding them, Sunan Ibn Majah, Vol. 2). Thus, one of the aftermaths of not maintaining straight rows is that the unity of the society is endangered. This is a big doom for the society for unity is one of the most important ingredients for the health of Muslim society. 1.3. Allah alters the faces of the people who do not keep rows straight. Refer to following hadith: Narrated An-Numan bin Bashir (RA): The Prophet (PBUH) said, “Straighten your rows or Allah will alter your faces.” (Hadith No. 717, Book of Adhan, Sahih Bukhari, Vol. 1). Thus we see that there are severe warnings associated with not maintaining the rows straight; one warning relates to bad effect on society, whereas the other warning relates to bad effects on an individual.
Posted on: Fri, 27 Sep 2013 04:48:35 +0000
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