The next forgotten sunnah – alignment of the rows at the ankle – the reason for the solidarity of Muslims

Abu Abdullah an-Nu’man bin Bashir (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: – I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: “You must certainly align your ranks, otherwise Allah will surely change your faces ”
(al-Bukhari 717, Muslim 436)

According to an-Nu’man ibn Bashir (may Allah be pleased with him), it is reported that one day the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) turned his face to the people and said three times: “Align your ranks!”, And then said: “ I swear by Allah, you will line up properly, or Allah will cause your hearts to be divided!” And an-Nu’man said: “And I saw a man pressing his shoulder against the shoulder of the one standing next to him, his knee against his knee and his ankle against his ankle.”
See as-Silsila as-sahiha No. 32.

These companions explained to us what the words of the prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) mean: “Align the ranks”, i.e. it means to stand close during prayer and make the row straight.

From Nu’man ibn Bashir, may Allah be pleased with them both: “I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, say: “ By Allah, either you will straighten your ranks, or Allah will sow discord between you! “” (Bukhari)

It is reported from the words of Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Close your ranks, bring them closer to each other and keep your necks in one line. I swear by the One in whose hand my soul is, I see how the devils penetrate through the gaps in the ranks like little sheep!
Abu Dawud 667. Imam an-Nawawi and Sheikh al-Albani confirmed the authenticity of the hadeeth. See Riyad al-Salihin 1099, Sahih al-Jami’ 3505.

Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Line up rows, stand shoulder to shoulder, fill in the voids, be gentle to the hands of your brothers and leave no gaps for the devil! The one who connects the row, Allah will connect (reward), and the one who breaks the row, Allah will break it.
Abu Dawud 666. Authentic Hadith. “ Sahih al-Jami'” 1187.