The Best Rows In Prayer

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ خَيْرُ صُفُوفِ الرِّجَالِ أَوَّلُهَا وَشَرُّهَا آخِرُهَا وَخَيْرُ صُفُوفِ النِّسَاءِ آخِرُهَا وَشَرُّهَا أَوَّلُهَا

Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “The best rows for men are the first rows and the worst the last ones, and the best rows for women are the last rows and the worst the first ones.”

Narrated in Sahih Muslim

Grade: sahih (authentic)

Translation adapted from sunnah.com

Reflections:

1. The best position for men to be in during congregational prayer is the first row:

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ لَوْ يَعْلَمُ النَّاسُ مَا فِي النِّدَاءِ وَالصَّفِّ الْأَوَّلِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَجِدُوا إِلَّا أَنْ يَسْتَهِمُوا عَلَيْهِ لَاسْتَهَمُوا 

Abu Hurairah reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “If the people knew the reward for calling to prayer and for standing in the first row (in congregational prayer) and found no other way to reap that reward except by drawing lots, then they would draw lots.”

Narrated in Sahih Bukhari

Grade: sahih (authentic)

2. The row which garners the least reward for men is the row furthest from the imam (i.e. the last row).

3. On the other hand, the furthest row from the imam is the best for women to be in during congregational prayer if there is no partition separating them from the men.

4. However, if a partition is present, the reward for being in the first row applies to women in the same way it does to men.