(peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to say: "Let those among you who are discerning and wise stand nearest to me, then those who follow them, then those who follow them." [Narrated by Muslim] (38). On the authority of Anas, he said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to like to have the Muhajirun and the Ansar stand closest to him, so that they might learn from him (39). Abu Sa'id said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) saw his companions falling back, so he said: "Come forward and follow me, and let those who are behind you follow you. People will continue to fall back until Allah, the Almighty and Majestic, puts them back." [Narrated by Muslim] (40), and Abu Dawood (41). Ahmad narrated in his "Musnad" (42), from Qays ibn 'Ubad, who said: I came to Medina to meet the companions of Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). The prayer was established, and Umar went out with the companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). I stood in the first row, then a man came and looked at the faces of the people—he recognized them, while I did not—so he moved me aside and stood in my place. My prayer became confused, and when he had prayed, he said:
(38) Omitted from: the original manuscript and A. In: "The Chapter on Straightening the Rows," etc., from the Book of Prayer. Sahih Muslim 1/323. It was also recorded by Abu Dawood, in: "The Chapter on Who Is Recommended to Stand Nearest to the Imam in the Row and the Dislike of Delaying," from the Book of Prayer. Sunan Abi Dawood 1/156. And al-Tirmidhi, in: "The Chapter on What Has Been Reported Regarding 'Let Those Among You Who Are Discerning and Wise Stand Nearest to Me'," from the Chapters on Prayer. 'Aridat al-Ahwadhi 2/26. And al-Nasa'i, in: "The Chapter on Who Stands Nearest to the Imam, Then Who Follows Him," and "The Chapter on What the Imam Should Say When He Moves Forward to Straighten the Rows," from the Book of Imama. Al-Mujtaba 2/68, 71. And Ibn Majah, in: "The Chapter on Who Is Recommended to Stand Nearest to the Imam," from the Book of Establishing Prayer. Sunan Ibn Majah 1/312, 313. And al-Darimi, in: "The Chapter on Who Should Stand Nearest to the Imam Among the People," from the Book of Prayer. Sunan al-Darimi 1/290. And Imam Ahmad, in: Al-Musnad 1/457, 4/122. (39) Recorded by Ibn Majah, in: "The Chapter on Who Is Recommended to Stand Nearest to the Imam," from the Book of Establishing Prayer. Sunan Ibn Majah 1/313. And Imam Ahmad, in: Al-Musnad 3/100, 199, 205, 263. (40) In the original and A: "Recorded them." (41) Recorded by Muslim, in: "The Chapter on Straightening the Rows," etc., from the Book of Prayer. Sahih Muslim 1/325. And Abu Dawood, in: "The Chapter on the Row of Women and the Dislike of Falling Back from the First Row," from the Book of Prayer. Sunan Abi Dawood 1/157. It was also recorded by al-Nasa'i, in: "The Chapter on Following Someone Who Is Following the Imam," from the Book of Imama. Al-Mujtaba 2/65. And Ibn Majah, in: "The Chapter on Who Is Recommended to Stand Nearest to the Imam," from the Book of Establishing Prayer. Sunan Ibn Majah 1/313. It was also recorded by al-Bukhari, in: "The Chapter on a Man Following the Imam and the People Following the Follower" (in the chapter heading), from the Book of Adhan. Sahih al-Bukhari 1/182. (42) In 5/140. Also by al-Nasa'i with a change in wording, "The Chapter on Who Stands Nearest to the Imam, Then Who Follows Him," from the Book of Qibla. Al-Mujtaba 2/68.
