"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to gently pat our shoulders (to make sure the row was straight) at the time of prayer, and he-would say:'Keep (the rows) straight; do not differ from one another lest your hearts would be afflicted with discord. Let those who are mature and wise stand closest to me, then those who are next to them, then those who are next to them."' Abu Mas'ud said: Today, there is much disharmony among you. ,Abu 'Abdur-Rabin (An-Nasai)said: (One of the narrators) Abu Ma'mar's name is 'Abdullah bin Sakhbarah.
The Book of Leading the Prayer (Al-Imamah) - Sunan an-Nasa'i 807
This narration from Sunan an-Nasa'i provides profound guidance regarding the proper formation of prayer rows and the spiritual wisdom behind it.
Physical Alignment and Spiritual Harmony
The Prophet's gentle patting of shoulders demonstrates the importance of physical straightness in prayer rows, which symbolizes the unity of the Muslim community.
The straightening of rows is not merely physical but reflects the straightness of hearts and intentions before Allah. Disarray in rows indicates disunity in hearts.
Spiritual Consequences of Disunity
The warning "lest your hearts would be afflicted with discord" reveals that external disorder in prayer leads to internal spiritual corruption.
Abu Mas'ud's observation about contemporary disharmony shows how neglecting this Prophetic guidance results in community fragmentation.
Hierarchy of Spiritual Proximity
The instruction for the mature and wise to stand closest to the Imam establishes a spiritual hierarchy based on knowledge, piety, and understanding.
This arrangement ensures that those most qualified lead by example and maintain proper prayer decorum, creating a ripple effect of devotion throughout the congregation.