رِيَاضُ الصَّالِحِينَ
Riyad as-Salihin 1090
The Book of Virtues
The Excellence of Standing in the First Row (In Salat)
وَعَنْ اَلْبَرَاءِ بْنِ عَازِبٍ رَضِيَ اَللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا، قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّه عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يتخلل مِنْ نَاحِيَةٍ إِلَى نَاحِيَةٍ، يَمْسَحُ صُدُورَنَا وَمَنَاكِبَنَا وَيَقُولُ،: "لاَ تَخْتَلِفُوا فَتَخْتَلِفَ قُلُوبُكُمْ" وَكَانَ يَقُولُ: "إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَمَلاَئِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى الصُّفُوفِ الأُوَلِ" ((رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ بِإِسْنَادٍ حَسَنٍ)).
Al-Bara' bin 'Azib (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to pass between the rows from one end to the other, touching our chest and shoulders (i.e., arranging the rows) in line and saying, "Do not be out of line; otherwise your hearts will be in disagreement". He would add, "Allah and His angels invoke blessings upon the first rows." [Abu Dawud].
Riyad as-Salihin, 1090