The Book of Prayers
كتاب الصلاة
Chapter 28: Straightening The Rows; The Virtue Of The Front Row And Then The Next; Competing With One Another For The Front Row; The People Of Virtue Should Take Precedence And Be Closest To The Imam
I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: Straighten your rows, or Allah would create dissension amongst you.
The Messenger of Allah (may peace-be upon him) used to straighten our rows as it lie were straightening an arrow with their help until be saw that we had learnt it from him. One day he came out, stood up (for prayer) and was about to say: Allah is the Greatest, when he saw a man, whose chest was bulging out from the row, so he said: Servants of Allah, you hint straighten your rows or Allah would create dissension amongst you.
Abu 'Awana reported this hadith with the same chain of transmitters.
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: If the people were to know what excellence is there in the Adhan and in the first row, and they could not (get these opportunities) except by drawing lots, they would have definitely done that. And if they were to know what excellence lies in joining the prayer in the first takbir (prayer), they would have vied with one another. And if they were to know what excellence lies in the night prayer and morning prayer, they would have definitely come even if crawling (on their knees).
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saw (a tendency ) among his Companions to go to the back, so he said to them: Come forward and follow my lead, and let those who come after you follow your lead. People will continue to keep back till Allah will put them at the back.
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saw people at the end of the mosque, and then the (above-mentioned hadith) was narrated.
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: If you were to know, or if they were to know, what (excellence) lies in the first rows, there would have been drawing of lots (for filling them) ; and Ibn Harb said: For (occupying) the first row there would have been drawing of lots.
The best rows for men are the first rows, and the worst ones the last ones, and the best rows for women are the last ones and the worst ones for them are the first ones.
This hadith is narrated by Suhail with the same chain of transmitters.
Chapter 29: The Command To Women Who Are Praying Behind Men Not To Raise Their Heads From Prostration Before The Men Have Done So
I saw men having tied (the ends) of their lower garments around their necks, like children, due to shortage of cloth and offering their prayers behind the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). One of the proclaimers said: O womenfolk, do not lift your heads till men raise (them).
Chapter 30: Women Going Out To The Masjid So Long As No Fitnah Results From That; and They Should Not Go Out Wearing Perfume
When women ask permission for going to the mosque, do not prevent them.
I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) say: Don't prevent your women from going to the mosque when they seek your permission. Bilal b. 'Abdullah said: By Allah, we shall certainly prevent them. On this'Abdullah b. Umar turned towards him and reprimanded him to harshly as I had never heard him do before. He ('Abdullah b. Umar) said: I am narrating to you that which comes from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and you (have the audicity) to say: By Allah, we shall certainly prevent them.
'The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Do not prevent the maid-servants of Allah from going to the mosque.
I heard the Messeinger of Allah (ﷺ) say: When your women seek your permission for going to the mosque, you grant them (permission).
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Do not prevent women from going to the mosque at night. A boy said to 'Abdullah b. Umar: We would never let them go out, that they may not be caught in evil. He (the narrator) said: Ibn Umar reprimanded him and said.. I am saying that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said this, but you say: We would not allow!
A hadith like this has been narrated by A'mash with the same chain of transmitters.
Grant permission to women for going to the mosque in the night. His son who was called Waqid said: Then they would make mischief. He (the narrator) said: He thumped his (son's) chest and said: I am narrating to you the hadith of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and you say: No!
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Do not deprive women of their share of the mosques, when they seek permission from you. Bilal said: By Allah, we would certainly prevent them. 'Abdullah said: I say that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said it and you say: We would certainly prevent them!
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: When any one of you (women) participates in the 'Isha' prayer, she should not perfume herself that night.
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to us: When any one of you comes to the mosque, she should not apply perfume.