to fall back until Allah holds them back.” Reported by Muslim.

1086 – Abu Masʿud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) would pass his hand over our shoulders in prayer and say, ‘Maintain alignment and do not differ, lest your hearts differ. Let those of you who are mature and possess understanding stand closest to me, then those who come after them, then those who come after them.’” Reported by Muslim.

1087 – Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) related that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Straighten your rows, for straightening the row is part of perfecting the prayer.” Agreed upon. In another wording recorded by al-Bukhari: “Straightening the rows is part of establishing the prayer.”

Explanation
These hadiths clarify the merit of the rows. Al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) included them in Riyad al-Salihin. Among them is the hadith of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) in which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “The best rows for men are the first and the worst are the last, while the best rows for women are the last and the worst are the first.” The reason is that the women’s rows are to be behind the men; this is the sunnah. Accordingly, the first row of women is nearest to the men and is therefore the worst of their rows, whereas the last row is farthest from the men, and that makes it the best.