Sharh Riyad as-Saliheen by Ibn Uthaymeen — Volume 1 (شرح رياض الصالحين) — Page 842

Line-by-line translation · المعاني

بَابٌ فِي الْأَمْرِ بِالْمُحَافَظَةِ عَلَى السُّنَّةِ وَآدَابِهَا

16. Chapter: The command to uphold the Sunnah and its etiquette.

وَعَلَى كُلِّ حَالٍ، فَفِي هَذَا دَلِيلٌ عَلَى وُجُوبِ تَسْوِيَةِ الصُّفُوفِ، وَأَنَّهُ يَجِبُ عَلَى الْمَأْمُومِينَ أَنْ تُسَوَّى صُفُوفُهُمْ، وَأَنَّهُمْ إِنْ لَمْ يَفْعَلُوا ذَلِكَ، فَقَدْ عَرَّضُوا أَنْفُسَهُمْ لِعُقُوبَةِ اللَّهِ، وَالْعِيَاذُ بِاللَّهِ.

In any case, this serves as evidence that straightening the rows is mandatory. Congregants must ensure their rows are aligned; failure to do so exposes them to divine punishment, and we seek refuge in Allah from that.

وَهَذَا الْقَوْلُ - أَعْنِي وُجُوبَ تَسْوِيَةِ الصَّفِّ - هُوَ الصَّحِيحُ، وَالْوَاجِبُ عَلَى الْأَئِمَّةِ أَنْ يَنْظُرُوا فِي الصَّفِّ، فَإِذَا وَجَدُوا فِيهِ اعْوِجَاجًا أَوْ تَقَدُّمًا أَوْ تَأَخُّرًا، نَبَّهُوا عَلَى ذَلِكَ، وَكَانَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ - أَحْيَانًا - يَمْشِي عَلَى الصُّفُوفِ يُسَوِّيهَا بِيَدِهِ الْكَرِيمَةِ عَلَيْهِ الصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ مِنْ أَوَّلِ الصَّفِّ لِآخِرِهِ، وَلَمَّا كَثُرَ النَّاسُ فِي زَمَنِ الْخُلَفَاءِ، أَمَرَ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ رَجُلًا يُسَوِّي الصُّفُوفَ إِذَا أُقِيمَتِ الصَّلَاةُ، فَإِذَا جَاءَ وَقَالَ إِنَّهَا قَدِ اسْتَوَتْ كَبَّرَ لِلصَّلَاةِ، وَكَذَلِكَ فَعَلَ عُثْمَانُ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ، وَكَلَّ رَجُلًا يُسَوِّي صُفُوفَ النَّاسِ، فَإِذَا جَاءَ وَقَالَ قَدِ اسْتَوَتْ كَبَّرَ، وَهَذَا يَدُلُّ عَلَى اعْتِنَاءِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ وَالْخُلَفَاءِ الرَّاشِدِينَ بِتَسْوِيَةِ الصَّفِّ.

This view—that straightening the row is obligatory—is the correct one. Imams are required to inspect the rows; if they notice any unevenness, or anyone standing too far forward or back, they must call attention to it. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) would sometimes walk along the rows, personally aligning them from end to end. As the number of worshippers grew during the era of the Caliphs, Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) would appoint someone to straighten the rows once the prayer was called. Only when that person confirmed the rows were aligned would he begin the prayer with the Takbir. Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) followed this same practice, tasking someone to ensure the rows were straight before he started the prayer. This demonstrates the importance the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and the Rightly Guided Caliphs placed on this matter.

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Vocabulary · المفردات (25 verbs · 38 nouns)

• وَجَبَ — to be necessary
• سَوَّى — to level
• فَعَلَ — to do
• بَابٌ — chapter
• أَمْرٌ — command
• مُحَافَظَةٌ — preservation