Order to Straighten and Tighten the Shaf in Congregational Prayers

In congregational prayers we are commanded to close and straighten the rows. Because straight and tight rows are a form of perfection in congregational prayers. It really helps our prayers to be more solemn, safer from distractions, unite the hearts of the congregation and achieve greater rewards. This also makes congregational prayers beautiful.

Fairyntah to Straighten Shaf

Rasulullah ordered us to straighten the rows in prayer. From Anas bin Malik radhiallahu'anhu, the Prophet said:

سَوُّوا صُفُوفَكُمْ , فَإِنَّ تَسْوِيَةَ الصَّفِّ مِنْ تَمَامِ الصَّلاةِ

"Straighten your rows, because straight rows are the perfection of prayer" (HR. Bukhari no. 690, Muslim no. 433).

In another history:

سَوُّوا صُفُوفَكُمْ , فَإِنَّ تَسْوِيَةَ الصُّفُوفِ مِنْ إِقَامَةِ الصَّلاةِ

"Straighten your rows, because straight rows are a form of establishing prayer (in congregation)" (Narrated by Bukhari no.723).

Wisdom in Straightening the Shaf

The straightness of the rows is the cause of the binding of the hearts of those who pray. And crooked rows can cause differences in their hearts. From Abu Mas'ud radhiallahu'anhu, he said:

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَمْسَحُ مَنَاكِبَنَا فِي الصَّلاةِ وَيَقُولُ : ( اسْتَوُوا , وَلا تَخْتَلِفُوا فَتَخْتَلِفَ قُلُوبُكُمْ

"In the past the Messenger of Allah held our shoulders before praying, and he said: straighten (shaf) and do not bend, so that your hearts will be bent (disputed) too" (HR. Muslim, no. 432).

Threats to those who do not straighten the Shaf

Straightening the legal rows is obligatory. Because the Messenger of Allah threatened people who did not straighten the rows in prayer in the form of disagreements between them. Shaykh Muhammad bin Salih Al Uthamin said:

المعتبر المناكب في أعلى البَدَن ، والأكعُب في أسفل البَدَن

"The benchmark for straightening the rows is the shoulders for the upper body and the ankles for the lower body" (Asy Syarhul Mumthi', 3/7-13).

On another occasion, he explained:

وهذا بلا شكٍّ وعيدٌ على مَن تَرَكَ التسويةَ ، ولذا ذهب بعضُ أهل العِلم إلى وجوب تسوية الصَّفِّ . واستدلُّوا لذلك : بأمْرِ النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم به ، وتوعُّدِه على مخالفته ، وشيء يأتي الأمرُ به ، ويُتوعَّد على مخالفته لا يمكن أن يُقال : إنه سُنَّة فقط .  ولهذا كان القولُ الرَّاجحُ في هذه المسألة : وجوب تسوية الصَّفِّ ، وأنَّ الجماعة إذا لم يسوُّوا الصَّفَّ فهم آثمون ، وهذا هو ظاهر كلام شيخ الإِسلام ابن تيمية

“This is no doubt a serious threat to people who don't straighten the rows. Therefore, some scholars say that straightening the legal rows is obligatory. They postulated with the command of the Prophet in this hadith. And he threatens those who disobey this order. So the case that was ordered and threatened by the perpetrator when leaving it, this cannot be said to be a sunnah only. Therefore, the opinion that is rajih in this matter is that straightening the legal rows is obligatory. And the congregation who does not straighten their rows is sinful. This is an opinion supported by Shaykhul Islam Ibn Taimiyah” (Syarhul Mumthi', 3/6).

How to Straighten Shaf

And the way to straighten the rows is to equalize the ankles and shoulders. Shaykh Muhammad bin Salih Al Uthamin explained:

المساواة إنما هي بالأكعب لا بالأصابع؛ لأن الكعب هو الذي عليه اعتماد الجسم؛ حيث إنه في أسفل الساق، والساق يحمل الفخذ، والفخذ يحمل الجسم، وأما الأصابع فقد تكون رجل الرجل طويلة فتتقدم أصابع الرجل على أصابع الرجل الذي بجانبه وقد تكون قصيرة

“Straightening the rows is straightening the ankles, not straightening the fingers. Because the ankles are the support of the body, because it is under the calves, and the calves are the support for the thighs, and the thighs are the support for the body. As for the fingers, sometimes there are people who are so tall that their fingers are long, and the people next to them are sometimes short” (Majmu' Fatawa war Rasa'il, vol. 13, source).

Command to Close the Shaf

In addition to straightening the rows, we are also ordered to close the rows, so that there are no gaps between people who pray. As the Prophet said:

اقيمو صفوفكم وتراصوا, فانيِّ اراكم من وراء ظهري

"Straighten your rows and you should stick together, because I see you from behind my back" (HR. Al Bukhari no. 719).

in another narration, there is an explanation of the words of Anas bin Malik,

كان أحدُنا يَلزَقُ مَنكِبَه بمَنكِبِ صاحبِه، وقدمَه بقدمِه

"Every one of us (the Companions) pressed our shoulders with the other shoulder, and pressed our feet with the other foot" (HR. Al Bukhari no. 725).

And it is obligatory to attach the feet to the feet of the person next to him, and the shoulders to the shoulders next to him. This is the essence of closing the rows. From Abdullah bin Umar radhiallahu'anhu, the Prophet said:

أقيموا الصفوف وحاذوا بين المناكب وسدوا الخلل ولينوا بأيدي إخوانكم ، ولا تذروا فرجات للشيطان ومن وصل صفا وصله الله ومن قطع صفا قطعه الله

Straighten the rows and straighten the shoulders and close the gap. But be gentle with your brother. And don't leave any gaps for the devil. Whoever connects the rows, Allah will connect them. Whoever breaks the row, Allah will cut it” (HR. Abu Daud no. 666, authenticated by Al Albani in Sahih Abi Daud).

This is also shown by the words of Anas bin Malik above. Al Imam Bukhari made the chapter title:

بَاب إِلْزَاقِ الْمَنْكِبِ بِالْمَنْكِبِ وَالْقَدَمِ بِالْقَدَمِ فِي الصَّفِّ  وَقَالَ النُّعْمَانُ بْنُ بَشِيرٍ رَأَيْتُ الرَّجُلَ مِنَّا يُلْزِقُ كَعْبَهُ بِكَعْبِ صَاحِبِهِ

“Chapter attaches the shoulders to the shoulders and the feet to the feet in a row. An Nu'man bin Basyir said: I saw one of us put his shoulder with his friend's shoulder.

This opinion was corroborated by Shaykh Al Albani based on the zhahir of the arguments. However, some scholars say that the purpose of these hadiths is not to stick to the outward appearance, but to make sure that there are no gaps. So it doesn't have to stick. Shaykh Ibn Al Uthaymin said:

ولكن المراد بالتَّراصِّ أن لا يَدَعُوا فُرَجاً للشياطين ، وليس المراد بالتَّراص التَّزاحم ؛ لأن هناك فَرْقاً بين التَّراصِّ والتَّزاحم … لا يكون بينكم فُرَج تدخل منها الشياطين ؛ لأن الشياطِين يدخلون بين الصُّفوفِ كأولاد الضأن الصِّغارِ ؛ من أجل أن يُشوِّشوا على المصلين صلاتَهم

“But what is meant by close up is not to leave any gaps for the devil. But it means a very close meeting. Since there is a difference between at tarash (close up) and at tazahum (a very tight meeting) … then one should not allow any gaps to allow the devil to enter. Because the devil usually enters rows, in the form of small goats, so that it can interfere with prayer."Ash Syarhul Mumthi', 7/3-13).

From his explanation above, the meeting of the rows does not have to stick together but can only prevent the little goats from getting through.

However, wallahu a'lam, from the explanation of Anas bin Malik above, also the hadith of Abdullah bin Umar shows that the companions used to put their feet and shoulders together. So keep trying to stick your feet and shoulders as much as possible as indicated by the zahir hadith. However, it should not be excessive in closing so that it makes the shaft narrow and difficult.

If Anyone Reluctant to Close Shaf

But have we ever prayed, our brother next door was reluctant to close his feet with ours? When we try to close it, it shifts and moves away. What do we do then? Here's a question and answer with Shaykh Ali Rida Al Madini hafizhahullah,

O Shaykh, when we pray, we try to close the gap between the legs. But there was a layman next to us refusing to be brought together. He kept moving away every time we tried to put our feet together. What should we do?

The Shaykh replied:

ينبه بعد الصلاة بالتي هي أحسن للتي هي أقوم ؛ فيقال له : يا أخانا السنة أن تلزق القدم بالقدم في الجماعة ؛ فإن قبل وإلا فاتركه

— علي رضا المدني (@alireda1961) December 27, 2013

It should be explained to him after the prayer in a good way and according to what he understands, saying: "O my brother, according to the sunnah we should put our feet together in congregational prayers". If he accepts, that's to be expected, if not then just leave.

As for the situation when the prayer is about to start, if we keep trying to close him and he continues to refuse, are we given an excuse to pray when there is a slight gap between us and him? Or do we have to keep trying to keep it close until it can't move anymore?

The Shaykh replied:

لا مانع من الصلاة مع وجود فرجة ما دام هو الذي يبعد رجله ويتباعد عنكم ؛ فإثم مخالفته للسنة عليه !

— علي رضا المدني (@alireda1961) December 27, 2013

There is nothing wrong with you praying even if there is a gap (the rows are not tight) as long as it is he who keeps his feet away from you. The sin of contradicting the sunnah is borne by him.

If There is a Pole Between the Shaf

It is obligatory for the makmums to try to connect the rows, and not to break them. Because Allah ta'ala threatens those who cut the rows. From Abdullah bin Umar radhiallahu'anhu, the Prophet said:

أقيموا الصفوف وحاذوا بين المناكب وسدوا الخلل ولينوا بأيدي إخوانكم ، ولا تذروا فرجات للشيطان ومن وصل صفا وصله الله ومن قطع صفا قطعه الله

Straighten the rows and straighten the shoulders and close the gap. But be gentle with your brother. And don't leave any gaps for the devil. Whoever connects the rows, Allah will connect them. Whoever breaks the row, Allah will cut it” (HR. Abu Daud no. 666, authenticated by Al Albani in Sahih Abi Daud).

Among the forms of breaking rows is praying in rows that are interrupted by the pillars of the mosque. And there is a special prohibition on this. From Mu'awiyah bin Qurrah from his father, that the Prophet said:

كُنَّا نُنْهَى أَنْ نَصُفَّ بَيْنَ السَّوَارِي عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَنُطْرَدُ عَنْهَا طَرْدًا

"In the time of the Prophet sallallaahu'alaihi Wasallam we were forbidden to make rows between the pillars. And we apply this prohibition in general” (HR. Ibn Majah no. 1002, authenticated by Al Albani in Sahih Ibni Majah).

Likewise, the words of Anas bin Malik radhiallahu'anhu, as narrated by Abdul Hamid bin Mahmud, he said:

صَلَّيْنَا خَلْفَ أَمِيرٍ مِنْ الْأُمَرَاءِ ، فَاضْطَرَّنَا النَّاسُ فَصَلَّيْنَا بَيْنَ السَّارِيَتَيْنِ ، فَلَمَّا صَلَّيْنَا قَالَ أَنَسُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ : (كُنَّا نَتَّقِي هَذَا عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ)

"We used to pray in congregation with one of the umaras, when we were forced to pray between two pillars. When we finished praying, Anas bin Malik said: we (the companions) used to stay away from things like in the time of the Prophet " (HR. At Tirmidhi no. 229, authenticated by Al Albani in Sahih At Tirmidhi).

These hadiths indicate that it is forbidden to pray between the pillars which causes the row to be broken. Ibn Muflih says:

وَيُكْرَهُ لِلْمَأْمُومِ الْوُقُوفُ بَيْنَ السَّوَارِي , قَالَ أَحْمَدُ : لِأَنَّهَا تَقْطَعُ الصَّفّ

"It is permissible for the believers to stand between the pillars. Imam Ahmad said: because it makes the row cut off" (Al Furu', 2/39).

And praying between the pillars that causes the row to be broken is makruh but the prayer is still valid, as indicated by the atsar of Anas bin Malik. radhiallahu'anhu on. He did not deny it vehemently and did not order to repeat the prayer.

However, it is permissible to pray between the pillars even if it causes the rows to be broken if it is in difficult conditions, such as a narrow mosque. Al Lajnah Ad Daimah lil Buhuts wal Ifta' explains:

يكره الوقوف بين السواري إذا قطعن الصفوف ، إلا في حالة ضيق المسجد وكثرة المصلين

"It is impermissible to pray between the pillars if you can break the rows. Unless the mosque is narrow while the people praying are very many."Fatawa Al Lajnah Ad Daimah, 5/295).

Shaykh Abdul Aziz bin Baz said,

ولا تقطع الصفوف إلا عند الضرورة، إذا ازدحم المسجد، وضاق المسجد، وصف الناس بين السواري؛ فلا حرج للحاجة

"Don't cut the row unless it's an emergency. For example, if the mosque is very full and narrow. Then the people may make rows between the pillars, this is okay because there is a need" (Source).

But under normal conditions, there is no narrowness and there is also no need, so you should stay away from praying between pillars that can break the row. If you come to the mosque and find that the last row is one that is cut off by a pillar, then the correct attitude is to make a new row after that, which is not broken by a pillar. Shaykh Muhammad bin Salih Al Munajjid said,

فإذا جئت إلى المسجد ، وقد وقف الناس في الصف ، ولم تجد مكاناً في الصف إلا بعد العمود فلا حرج في ذلك ، وليس هذا من الصلاة خلف الصف منفردا

"If you come to the mosque and people are already standing in rows, then you find no place in the rows except after the pillar, then there is nothing wrong with praying there. And it is not classified as praying alone behind the rows" (Source).

But in order to be careful, should wait for other people so as not to be alone in the new row. Considering that some scholars are of the opinion that it is invalid for people to pray alone behind the rows.

As for praying between the posts without breaking the rows, there is nothing wrong with this. Shaykh Masyuhur Hasan Alu Salman explained,

وأما صلاة المنفرد بين السواري أو الإمام فلا حرج فيها، والصلاة بين الساريتين دون تتميم الصف عن اليمين والشمال أيضاً لا حرج فيها لأن التراص وعدم الانقطاع حاصل

"As for if a person prays alone or as an imam, between two pillars, then there is nothing wrong with that. Likewise, the prayers of the congregation between the two pillars, without continuing the row on the right of the pillar and also on the left of the pillar, there is nothing wrong with that. Because straightening the rows and connecting them has been realized" (Source).

So that this little may be useful. Wabillahi at taufiq was sadaad.

Source : https://muslim.or.id

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXftK3Rycsw