the servant will be brought to account for on the Day of Resurrection from his deeds is his prayer. If it is sound, he has truly succeeded and prospered (1); but if it is unsound, he has failed and lost. Should there be a shortfall in his obligatory prayers, the Lord—Mighty and Majestic—will say, “See whether My servant has any voluntary prayers,” and whatever is found will be used to make up what is lacking from the obligatory. The rest of his deeds will be judged in the same way.” Related by al-Tirmidhī, who said: a fair hadith.

194 – Chapter: The Virtue of the First Row
And the command to perfect the front rows, level them, and stand close together

1089 – Jābir ibn Samurah (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ came out to us and said, “Will you not form your rows as the angels form their rows before their Lord?” We asked, “Messenger of Allah, how do the angels form their rows before their Lord?” He replied, “They complete the front rows and stand shoulder to shoulder in the row.” Related by Muslim.

1090 – Abū Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “If people knew the reward contained in the call to prayer and in the first row, and could find no way to obtain them except by drawing lots, they would surely draw lots for them.” (2) Agreed upon.

1091 – He also reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “The best rows for the men are the front rows and the worst of them are the back ones; the best rows for the women are the back rows and the worst of them are the front ones.” Related by Muslim.

1092 – Abū Saʿīd al-Khudrī (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ noticed some people staying back and said, “Move forward and follow my lead, and let those who come after you follow yours. A people will continue to hold back until Allah puts them back.” Related by Muslim.

1093 – Abū Masʿūd (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to pass his hand over our shoulders.