Prayer

Is Straightening Rows Before Prayer Obligatory?

Straightening the rows before prayer is obligatory. The Prophet ﷺ would not commence the prayer until he observed the rows and ensured that shoulders and ankles were aligned. Once the rows were correctly straightened, he would begin the prayer, emphasising its importance in congregational worship.

March 16, 2018

Questioner:

Is straightening the rows before the prayer obligatory or recommended?

Shaykh Ṣāliḥ ibn Fawzān al-Fawzān:

It is obligatory to straighten the rows. The Messenger would not begin the prayer until looking at the rows and ordering that the shoulders and ankles be aligned in their correct positions. Thereon after if the rows had been correctly straightened he would begin the prayer.

Contributor

Muḥammad as-Sūmāī

he benefited from sitting with scholars in Egypt and Yemen, where he learned from students of Shaykh Muqbil. He has served as an imām and khaṭīb at Masjid Daar us-Sunnah.

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