The Excellence of Standing in the First Row (In Salat) Riyad as-Salihin 1086
Arabic hadith text
وعن أبي مسعود رضي الله عنه قال: كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يمسح مناكبنا في الصلاة، ويقول: "استووا ولا تختلفوا فتختلف قلوبكم، ليلني منكم أولو الأحلام والنهى، ثم الذين يلونهم ثم الذين يلونهم". ((رواه مسلم)).
Translation
Abu Mas'ud (May Allah be pleased with him) reported
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to gently pat our shoulders when we were standing in rows at the time of Salat and say, "Keep (the rows) straight; do not differ from each other lest your hearts should suffer from discord. Let those of you who are mature and prudent be nearer to me, and then those who are next to them."[Muslim].