Anas reported the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم as saying: Straighten your rows for the straightening of the rows is part of perfecting the prayer.

Al-Numan bin Bashir said: the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم paid attention to the people and said three times; straighten your rows (in prayer); by Allah, you must straighten your rows, or Allah will certainly put your faces in contrary directions. I then saw that every person stood in prayer keeping his shoulder close to that of the other, and his knee close to that of the other, and his ankle close to that of the other.

Al-Numan bin Bashir said: the prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم used to straighten us in the rows of prayer as the arrow is straightened, until he thought that we had learned it from him and understood it. One day he turned towards us, and shoulders in order, and say; Do not be irregular. And he would say: Allah and his Angels bless those who near the first rows.

Narrated Al-Bara ibn Azib: The Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم used to pass through the row from one side to the other; he used to set out chests and shoulders in order, and say: Do not be irregular. And he would say: Allah and His angels bless those who are near the first rows.

Narrated An-Numan ibn Bashir: The Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم used to straighten our rows when we stood up to pray, and when we were straight, he said: Allah is most great (takbir).

Narrated Abdullah ibn Umar: The Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said: Set the rows in order, stand shoulder to shoulder, close the gaps, be pliant in the hands of your brethren, and do not leave openings for the devil. If anyone joins up a row, Allah will join him up, but if anyone breaks a row, Allah will cut him off. Abu Dawud said: The name of Abu Shjrah is Kathir bin Murrah.

Narrated Anas ibn Malik: The Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said: Stand close together in your rows, bring them near one another, and stand neck to neck, for by Him in Whose hand my soul is, I see the devil coming in through openings in the row just like a small black sheep.

Muhammad bin Muslim bin al-Saib said: one day I prayed by the side of Anas bin Malik. He said ; Do you know why this stick is placed here ? I said: No, by Allah. He said; The Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم used to put his hand upon it and say: Keep straight and straighten your rows.

Narrated Anas ibn Malik: The Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said: Complete the front row, then the one that comes next, and if there is any incompleteness, let it be in the last row.

Narrated Abu Hurairah: The Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said: Have the imam in the centre and close up the gaps.

Narrated Abu Musa al-Ashari: Hittan ibn Abdullah ar-Ruqashi said: Abu Musa al-Ashari led us in prayer. When he sat at the end of his prayer, one of the people said: Prayer has been established by virtue and purity. When Abu Musa returned (from his prayer or finished his prayer), he gave his attention to the people, and said: Which of you is the speaker of such and such words? The people remained silent. Which of you is the speaker of such and such words? The people remained silent. He said: You might have said them, Hittan. He replied: I did not say them. I was afraid you might punish me. One of the people said: I said them and I did not intend by them (anything) except good. Abu Musa said: Do you not know how you utter (them) in your prayer? The Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم addressed us, and taught us and explained to us our way of doing and taught us our prayer. He said: When you pray a (congregational) prayer, straighten your rows, then one of you should lead you in prayer. When he says the takbir (Allah is Most Great), say the takbir, and when he recites verses "Not of those upon whom is Thy anger, nor of those who err" (i. e. the end of Surah i.), say Amin; Allah will favour you. When he says "Allah is most great, " and bows, say "Allah is most great" and bow, for the imam will bow before you, and will raise (his head) before you. The Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said: This is for that. When he says "Allah listens to the one who praises Him, " say: "O Allah, our Lord, to Thee be praise, Allah be praised, " Allah will listen to you, for Allah, the Exalted, said by the tongue of His Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم : "Allah listens to the one who praises Him. " When he says "Allah is most great" and prostrates, say: "Allah is most great" and prostrate, for the imam prostrates before you and raises his head before you. The Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said: This is for that. When he sits, each one of you should say "The adorations of the tongue, all good things, and acts of worship are due to Allah. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and Allah's mercy and His blessings. Peace be upon us and upon Allah's upright servants. I testify that there is no god but Allah, and I testify that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger. " This version of Ahmad does not mention the words "and His blessings" nor the phrase "and I testify"; instead, it has the words "that Muhammad. "