It is narrated from Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Indeed, Allah Almighty and His angels send mercy upon those who join the rows, and whoever fills a gap in the row, Allah raises his rank by one degree.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: If people knew the reward of the call to prayer (adhan) and the first row, and they found no way except to draw lots, then they would draw lots for it. And if they knew the reward of the noon (zuhr) prayer, they would compete with each other to get it. And if people knew the reward of the night (‘isha) and dawn (fajr) prayers, they would certainly come to them, even if they had to crawl on their buttocks.

Sayyiduna Nu’man bin Bashir (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Indeed, Allah Almighty and His angels send mercy upon those in the first rows.

A similar hadith is narrated from Sayyiduna Bara’ bin ‘Azib (may Allah be pleased with him), except that in one of his narrations the words are ‘ala al-sufuuf al-awwal (upon the first rows) and in another narration the words are ‘ala al-saff al-muqaddam (upon the front row).

Sayyiduna Irbad bin Sariyah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) supplicated for forgiveness three times for those in the first row and once for those in the second row.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ubayy bin Ka'b (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: The first row is like the row of angels, and if you knew its virtue, you would hasten towards it.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Umamah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Verily, Allah Almighty and His angels send mercy upon those in the first row. The companions said: O Messenger of Allah! And those in the second row? He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Verily, Allah Almighty and His angels send mercy upon those in the first row. The companions again said: O Messenger of Allah! And those in the second row? He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: And upon those in the second row as well. Then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Straighten your rows, align your shoulders, be gentle in the hands of your brothers, and fill the gaps in the rows, for indeed Satan slips in among you like small lambs.

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) says: I used to see that the prayer would not be established until we had completed the rows. Whoever is pleased that tomorrow he should meet Allah Almighty as a Muslim, then he should safeguard the obligatory prayers at the place where they are called for, because these are among the ways of guidance, and indeed Allah has prescribed the ways of guidance for His Prophet.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: When the iqamah for prayer is called, do not stand up until you see me, and adhere to calmness.

Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) says: The iqamah for prayer was pronounced and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) kept whispering to a man in the mosque and did not come towards the prayer, until the people began to fall asleep.