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 Alaikkum Alaikkum Wa Rahmathullahi Wa Barakathuhu...

Dear Brother in Islam

Hadhees 1.  "For men in prayer, First row is the best row and last row is the worst row. And for women vice versa."

Hadhees 2.  "While you are going to masjidh for prayer, walk gently instead rushing yourself to the masjidh  and pray whatever you get and complete remaining after imaam finished"

I hope both the hedheees are saheeeeeh.

Now if i supposed listen to the Adhaan from my home and want to go masjidh for prayer, which of the above hadhess should i follow? Should i  rush to the masjidh to get the first row or should i follow the second one?

Jazaakallah Khair

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Answer:

Rush towards masjid

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 none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Ref: Excellence for men praying in the first rows.

Sahih Muslim Hadith 880 Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: ‘If they (the believing men) were to know, what (excellence) lies in the first rows, there would have been drawing of lots (for filling them).’

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 554 Narrated by Ubayy ibn Ka'b

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: ‘The first row is like that of the Angels, and if you knew the nature of its excellence, you would race to join it.’

Abu Hurairah relates that the Prophet (saws) said: "If the people knew what [great blessings were] in the call to ‘salah’ and in the first row the people would vie with one another to call the ‘adhan’ and to be present in the first row of prayer, and if they found no way to decide [who would be allowed to make the call to ‘salah’ or to be in the first row] except by drawing lots, then they would draw lots."

Related by Bukhari.

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reports that the Prophet noticed his companions going to the back rows, and he said: "Come close and follow me and let those behind follow you. People will continue going to the back until Allah will put them in the back." This is related by Muslim, an-Nasa'i, Abu Dawud, and Ibn Majah.

Abu Umamah records that the Prophet (saws) said: "Allah and the Angels send down blessings upon the first row." The people inquired: "O Messenger of Allah (saws), and upon the second row?" The Prophet (saws) again said: "Allah and the Angels send down blessings upon the first row." The people asked again: "O Messenger of Allah (saws), and upon the second row?" Finally he (saws) said: "And upon the second row."

Related by Ahmad and Tabarani.

Abdullah ibn Ghanam related that the noble companion of the Prophet (saws), Hadrat Abu Musa al-Ash'ari (r.a.) gathered together his people saying, "O Tribe of Ash'ari, gather together, and gather your women and children to teach them how the Messenger of Allah (saws) prayed with us in Madinah." They all gathered to watch him perform ablution. After it, he waited until the sun had just passed the meridian and there was some shade, and then he made the adhan. He put the men in the row closest to him, the children in a row behind the men, and the women in a row behind the children.

Ref: Walking calmly towards masjid and prayer

Fiqh-us-Sunnah Fiqh 2.51a

Topic: Going to the mosque with calm and dignity

It is preferred for one to walk to the mosque with calm and dignity and not in a hurry or rush. This is because the person is considered to be in prayer when he is going to the salah (and also while he is waiting for it). Abu Qatadah says: "We were praying with the Prophet (saws) when we heard the clamoring of some men. When they had prayed, the Prophet (saws) inquired: 'What was the matter with you?' They answered: 'We were hurrying for the salah.' He (saws) said: 'Do not do that...when you come to the salah come in peace and calm, and pray what you can with congregation and complete what you have missed.'"

(Related by al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Abu Hurairah narrates that the Prophet (saws) said: "When you hear the ‘iqamah’, proceed to the prayer with calm and dignity and do not rush. Pray what you can (with congregation) and complete what you miss."

Related by Bukhari and Muslim.

Your Question: Now if i supposed listen to the Adhaan from my home and want to go masjidh for prayer, which of the above hadhess should i follow? Should i  rush to the masjidh to get the first row or should i follow the second one?

The wisdom behind the guidance of the Messenger of Allah (saws) encouraging the believers to strive their absolute utmost to offer their prayers in the first rows is so that the believers would strive to reach the ‘masjid’ as early as possible, secure their place in the first row, offer the ‘tahiyat ul-Masjid’, recite some Quran or make supplications or Praise and Glorify their Lord, etc….and thus maximize their rewards.

Abu Hurairah reports that the Prophet (saws): "The prayer of a man in congregation is twenty-seven times more superior (in reward) to his prayer in his house or market - and this is because he makes the ‘wudu' and perfects it, and goes to the mosque with the sole purpose of performing the ‘salah’. He does not take a step without being raised a degree and having one of his sins erased. When he prays, as long as he does not lose his ‘wudu’, the Angels keep on praying [for him] 'O Allah, bless him. O Allah, have mercy on him.' And he is considered to be in ‘salah’ as long as he is waiting for the ‘salah’."

Related by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

If Allah Subhanah has blessed one to live in a home which is close to the Masjid whereby one can hear the ‘adhaan’, it is only obvious that such a believer would strive one’s absolute utmost to reach the ‘masjid’ as early as possible, or at least on time to maximize his rewards. If perchance one is delayed for whatever reason, and fears that the ‘imam’ has started the prayer, one should not rush or run towards the ‘masjid’ but walk at his normal pace with calmness and with dignity….then pray what one can with the congregation and complete what one has missed. That would be akin to piety and righteousness in the Sight of their Lord.

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