that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, saw people hanging back and he said to them, "Come forward and complete the row behind me and let those behind you complete your row. If people persist in hanging back, Allah will set them back." [Muslim] 1086. Abu Mas'ud said, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, used to put his hand on our shoulders in the prayer and say, 'Keep straight and do not be disunified or your hearts will become disunified. Let those among you who have maturity and intelligence stand nearest to me and then those who are closest to them and then those closest to them." [Muslim] 1087. Anas stated that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Make your rows straight. Straightening the row is part of the perfection of the prayer." [Agreed upon] In a variant of al-Bukhari, "Straightening the row is part of establishing the prayer." 1088. Anas said, "When the iqama for the prayer was given, the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, would turn round and face us. He said, 'Straighten your rows and stand close together for I can see you behind my back.'" [al-Bukhari] In one variant of al-Bukhari, "We used to stand shoulder to shoulder and foot to foot." In a variant in Muslim, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, used to