Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalamu aleykum,

1) During salah, for the rukuh, where should one`s eye face? The feet or the same place as while standing? (i.e. place of sajdah)

2) For congregational salah, should the worshippers stand foot to foot and shoulder to shoulder or should mere standing side by side suffice?

Thank you for answering.

JazakAllah khairan!

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

How to stand and look in prayer

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: During salah, for the rukuh, where should one`s eye face? The feet or the same place as while standing? (i.e. place of sajdah)
While one is in the state of ruku in one’s prayer, one should fix their sight where it falls naturally: ie. just below the level of their eyes or towards one’s own feet.

Your Question: For congregational salah, should the worshippers stand foot to foot and shoulder to shoulder or should mere standing side by side suffice?
Anas relates: "The Prophet (saws) would turn his face to us before he began the salah and he (saws) would say: 'Be close together and straighten your rows.'"

Related by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

Anas reports that the Prophet (saws) would say: "Make your rows straight for the straightening of the rows is part of the completion of the salah."

Related by Bukhari and Muslim.

An-Nu'man ibn Bashir says: "The Prophet (saws) would straighten us in our rows as one straightens an arrow, until he saw that we had learned from him. One day, he saw a person with his chest sticking out and he said: 'You had better straighten your rows or Allah will cause differences among you."'

Related by Bukhari, Muslim and Tirmidhi.

Abu Umamah reports that the Prophet (saws) said: "Straighten your rows and put your shoulders close to each other, and be gentle with each other, and fill in the gaps for the Shaytaan passes through what is between you like small sheep [are able to pass through gaps]."

Related by Ahmad and at-Tabarani.

Jabir ibn Samrah says: "The Prophet (saws) came to us and said: 'Why don't you make the rows like the Angels make their rows in the presence of their Lord?' We asked: 'O Messenger of Allah (saws), how do the Angels make their rows in the presence of their Lord?' He (saws) replied: 'They complete the first row and stand closely together, side by side, in the row.'"

Related by Muslim.

In light of the above clear guidance of the Messenger of Allah (saws), when praying in congregation the believers should strive to stand side by side in an absolutely straight line, and not leave a gap whereby it may seem that they are not standing together nor should one stand so close that he stamps his brothers feet whereby the worshipper feels discomfort.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan