Jami` at-Tirmidhi 227

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

Qutaybah narrated to us: Abu Awanah narrated to us, from Simak ibn Harb, from al-Numan ibn Bashir, who said: The Messenger of Allah used to straighten our rows. One day he came out and saw a man’s chest jutting out beyond the others. He said: ‘You must straighten your rows, or Allah will turn your faces against one another.’

Reports on this subject are also related from Jabir ibn Samurah, al-Bara, Jabir ibn Abd Allah, Anas, Abu Hurayrah, and A’ishah. Abu Isa said: The hadith of al-Numan ibn Bashir is hasan sahih. It is also reported from the Prophet that he said: ‘Completing the prayer includes straightening the row.’ It is reported that Umar appointed men to arrange the rows and would not begin the prayer until he was told they were straight. It is also reported that Ali and Uthman regularly checked this and would say: ‘Stand straight.’ Ali would say: ‘Come forward, so-and-so; move back, so-and-so.’