Abu Mas'ud reported: The Messenger of Allah ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) (may peace he upon him) used to touch our shoulders in prayer and say: Keep straight, don't be irregular, for there would be dissension in your hearts. Let those of you who are sedate and prudent be near me, then those who are next to them, then those who are next to them. Abu Mas'ud said: Now-a-days there is much dissension amongst you.

This hadith is narrated by Ibn Uyaina with the same chain of transmitters.

'Abdullah bin Mas'ud reported: The Messenger of Allah ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) said: Let those who are sedate and prudent be near me, then those who are next to them (saying it three times), and beware of the tumult of the markets.

Anas bin Malik (RA) reported: The Messenger of Allah ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) said: Straighten your rows. for the straightening of a row is a part of the perfection of prayer.

Anas bin Malik (RA) reported: The Messenger of Allah ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) said: Complete the rows, for I can see you behind my back.

Hammam bin Munabbih reported: This is what was transmitted to us by Abu Hurairah (RA) from the Messenger of Allah ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) and, while making a mention of a few ahadith, said: (The Messenger of Allah ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) directed us thus): Establish rows in prayer, for the making of a row (straight) is one of the merits of prayer.

Nu'man bin Bashir reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) say: Straighten your rows, or Allah would create dissension amongst you.

Nu'man bin Bashir reported: The Messenger of Allah ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) (may peace-be upon him) used to straighten our rows as if he were straightening an arrow with their help until be saw that we had learnt it from him. One day he came out, stood up (for prayer) and was about to say: Allah is the Greatest, when he saw a man, whose chest was bulging out from the row, so he said: Servants of Allah, you should straighten your rows or Allah would create dissension amongst you.

Abu 'Awana reported this hadith with the same chain of transmitters.

Abu Hurairah (RA) reported: The Messenger of Allah ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) said: If the people were to know what excellence is there in the Adhan and in the first row, and they could not (get these opportunities) except by drawing lots, they would have definitely done that. And if they were to know what excellence lies in joining the prayer in the first takbir (prayer), they would have vied with one another. And if they were to know what excellence lies in the night prayer and morning prayer, they would have definitely come even if crawling (on their knees).