The best of the men's rows is the first, and the worst is the last, and the best of the wo…

Islam > Hadiths > Jurisprudence and juristic principles > Jurisprudence and Juristic Principles

Hadith narrated by Narrated by Muslim

Authenticity grade : Authentic

Hadith text: The best of the men's rows is the first, and the worst…

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رضي الله عنه قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «خَيْرُ صُفُوفِ الرِّجَالِ أَوَّلُهَا، وَشَرُّهَا آخِرُهَا، وَخَيْرُ صُفُوفِ النِّسَاءِ آخِرُهَا، وَشَرُّهَا أَوَّلُهَا».

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The best of the men's rows is the first, and the worst is the last, and the best of the women's rows is the last, and the worst is the first."

Explanation of the hadith: The best of the men's rows is the first, and the worst…

Lessons: The best of the men's rows is the first, and the worst…

• The Hadīth urges men to hasten to perform acts of worship and to be in the first rows in prayer.
• It is permissible for women to pray in the mosque with men in separate rows, provided they adhere to concealment and modesty.
• If women gather in the mosque, they should stand in rows like the rows of men. They should not stand separately. Rather, they have to stand side by side in the row and fill the gaps, as in the rows of men.
• The Hadīth shows the great care taken by the Shariah to urge women to stay away from men, even in places of worship.
• People have varying merits based on their good deeds.
• An-Nawawi said: As for the rows of men, they are generally subject to this rule: the best of them is always the first, and the worst of them is always the last. As for the rows of women, what is meant by the Hadīth are the rows of women who pray along with men. However, if they pray separately and not with men, then they are like men: the best of their rows is the first and the worst of them is the last.
• An-Nawawi said: The commendable first row, which the Hadīths mention its merit and urge people to stand in, is the row right behind the Imām, whether those who stand in it come early or late, and whether it is separated by a room or the like or not.

Categories : Virtue and Rulings of Congregational Prayer