Were people to know what is in the call and the first row and then they could do nothing but to draw lots for it, they would draw lots

Chapter: Straightening The Rows; The Virtue Of The Front Row And Then The Next; Competing With One Another For The Front Row; The People Of Virtue Should Take Precedence And Be Closest To The Imam

Authentic hadith of Sahih Muslim Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih Muslim 437

Narrator:Abu Hurayrah

حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، قَالَ قَرَأْتُ عَلَى مَالِكٍ عَنْ سُمَىٍّ، مَوْلَى أَبِي بَكْرٍ عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ السَّمَّانِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏"‏

لَوْ يَعْلَمُ النَّاسُ مَا فِي النِّدَاءِ وَالصَّفِّ الأَوَّلِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَجِدُوا إِلاَّ أَنْ يَسْتَهِمُوا عَلَيْهِ لاَسْتَهَمُوا وَلَوْ يَعْلَمُونَ مَا فِي التَّهْجِيرِ لاَسْتَبَقُوا إِلَيْهِ وَلَوْ يَعْلَمُونَ مَا فِي الْعَتَمَةِ وَالصُّبْحِ لأَتَوْهُمَا وَلَوْ حَبْوًا ‏"

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said:

"Were people to know what is in the call and the first row and then they could do nothing but to draw lots for it, they would draw lots. Were they to know what is in performing the prayer early, they would race to it. Were they to know what is in the darkness and the morning, they would come to them even if they had to crawl."

Reported by Muslim (No. 437, 1914, 1914b), Al-Bukhari (No. 615, 652, 720, 2472, 2689, 2829), At-Tirmidhi (No. 225, 226, 1063, 1958), An-Nasa’i (No. 540, 671), Malik (No. 149, 293) and Ahmad (No. 6928, 7412, 7679, 7954, 8517, 10476, 10477, 10478).

Explanation

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informed that if people knew the merit, goodness, and blessing in the Adhān (call to prayer) and the first row, and if they had no other means of giving precedence or priority except through drawing lots to determine who deserves them most, they would do so. If they knew the reward of hastening to prayer at its earliest time, they would race to it. And if they knew the immense reward of coming to the ‘Ishā’ and Fajr prayers, they would find it easy to come to them even if they had to crawl on their knees as a child starts to go.

Lessons

Highlighting the merit of the Adhān.
Highlighting the merit of the first row and being near to the Imam.
Emphasizing the merit of hastening to prayer at its recommended early time due to its great merit and numerous benefits. These include: attaining the first row, joining the prayer from its beginning, performing the supererogatory prayer, reciting the Qur’an, the angels' seeking forgiveness for him, and being regarded as in prayer while waiting for the prayer, among other rewards.
Strongly encouraging the attendance of the congregational prayer of these two prayers, and the abundant reward associated with this due to the hardship they contain on the soul by disturbing both the beginning and end of one's sleep. For this reason, they are the heaviest prayers for the hypocrites.
An-Nawawi said: This proves the validity of drawing lots in rights that are contested or where there is competition over them.
The second row is better than the third, and the third is better than the fourth and so on.

Explanation in Arabic

أخبر النبيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أن الناس لو يعلمون ما في الأذان والصف الأول من الفضيلة والخير والبركة ثم لم يجدوا من وجوه التقديم والأولوية لها إلا أن يقترعوا عليهما أيهم يستحق على صاحبه لاقترعوا، ولو يعلمون ما في التبكير إلى الصلاة في أول وقتها لاستبقوا إليه، ولو يعلمون مقدار الثواب في إتيان صلاة العشاء وصلاة الفجر لاستسهل إتيانهما ولو حبوًا على الرُّكَب كما يمشي الصبي أول أمْرِه.

بيان فضيلة الأذان.
بيان فضيلة الصف الأول، والقُرْب من الإمام.
بيان فضيلة التبكير إلى الصلاة في أول وقتها المستحب؛ لِما فيه من الفضل العظيم، وما يترتب عليه من الفوائد، ومنها: إدراك الصف الأول، وإدراك الصلاة من أولها، وأداء النافلة، وقراءة القرآن، وحصول استغفار الملائكة له، وأنه لا يزال في صلاة ما انتظر الصلاة، وغير ذلك.
الحث العظيم على حضور جماعة هاتين الصلاتين، والفضل الكثير في ذلك لما فيهما من المشقة على النفس من تَنْغِيْص أول نومها وآخره، ولهذا كانتا أثقل الصلاة على المنافقين. ‏
قال النووي: فيه إثبات القرعة في الحقوق التي يزدحم عليها ويتنازع فيها. ‏
الصف الثاني أفضل من الثالث، والثالث أفضل من الرابع، وهلم جرًّا.

Classical commentary

An-Nawawi — Sharh Sahih Muslim

قَوْله صَلَّى اللَّه عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : ( لَوْ يَعْلَم النَّاس مَا فِي النِّدَاء وَالصَّفّ الْأَوَّل ثُمَّ لَمْ يَجِدُوا إِلَّا أَنْ يَسْتَهِمُوا عَلَيْهِ لَاسْتَهَمُوا ) النِّدَاء هُوَ الْأَذَان وَالِاسْتِهَام الِاقْتِرَاع , وَمَعْنَاهُ أَنَّهُمْ لَوْ عَلِمُوا فَضِيلَة الْأَذَان وَقَدْرهَا وَعَظِيم جَزَائِهِ , ثُمَّ لَمْ يَجِدُوا طَرِيقًا يُحَصِّلُونَهُ بِهِ لِضِيقِ الْوَقْت عَنْ أَذَان بَعْد أَذَان , أَوْ لِكَوْنِهِ لَا يُؤَذِّن لِلْمَسْجِدِ إِلَّا وَاحِد لَاقْتَرَعُوا فِي تَحْصِيله , وَلَوْ يَعْلَمُونَ مَا فِي الصَّفّ الْأَوَّل مِنْ الْفَضِيلَة نَحْو مَا سَبَقَ , وَجَاءُوا إِلَيْهِ دَفْعَة وَاحِدَة وَضَاقَ عَنْهُمْ , ثُمَّ لَمْ يَسْمَح بَعْضهمْ لِبَعْضٍ بِهِ , لَاقْتَرَعُوا عَلَيْهِ. وَ…

Scholars’ grades

Grade taken from the status of the collection (Sahih Muslim).

Other versions

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih al-Bukhari 615

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "If the people knew the reward for pronouncing the Adhan and for standing in the first row (in congregational prayers) and found no other way to get that except by drawing lots they would draw lots, and if they knew the reward of the Zuhr prayer (in the early moments of…

لَوْ يَعْلَمُ النَّاسُ مَا فِي النِّدَاءِ وَالصَّفِّ الأَوَّلِ، ثُمَّ لَمْ يَجِدُوا إِلاَّ أَنْ يَسْتَهِمُوا عَلَيْهِ لاَسْتَهَمُوا، وَلَوْ يَعْلَمُونَ مَا فِي التَّهْجِيرِ لاَسْتَبَقُوا إِلَيْهِ، وَلَوْ يَعْلَمُونَ مَا…

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih al-Bukhari 652

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "While a man was going on a way, he saw a thorny branch and removed it from the way and Allah became pleased by his action and forgave him for that." Then the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Five are martyrs: One who dies of plague, one who dies of an Abdominal disease, one who dies…

بَيْنَمَا رَجُلٌ يَمْشِي بِطَرِيقٍ وَجَدَ غُصْنَ شَوْكٍ عَلَى الطَّرِيقِ فَأَخَّرَهُ، فَشَكَرَ اللَّهُ لَهُ، فَغَفَرَ لَهُ ‏"‏‏.‏ ثُمَّ قَالَ ‏"‏ الشُّهَدَاءُ خَمْسَةٌ الْمَطْعُونُ، وَالْمَبْطُونُ، وَالْغَرِيقُ…

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih al-Bukhari 720

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Martyrs are those who die because of drowning, plague, an Abdominal disease, or of being buried alive by a falling building." And then he added, "If the people knew the Reward for the Zuhr prayer in its early time, they would race for it. If they knew the reward for the…

الشُّهَدَاءُ الْغَرِقُ وَالْمَطْعُونُ وَالْمَبْطُونُ وَالْهَدْمُ ‏"‏‏.‏ وَقَالَ ‏"‏ وَلَوْ يَعْلَمُونَ مَا فِي التَّهْجِيرِ لاَسْتَبَقُوا ‏{‏إِلَيْهِ‏}‏ وَلَوْ يَعْلَمُونَ مَا فِي الْعَتَمَةِ وَالصُّبْحِ لأَتَوْهُمَا…

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih al-Bukhari 2472

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "While a man was on the way, he found a thorny branch of a tree there on the way and removed it. Allah thanked him for that deed and forgave him."

بَيْنَمَا رَجُلٌ يَمْشِي بِطَرِيقٍ، وَجَدَ غُصْنَ شَوْكٍ فَأَخَذَهُ، فَشَكَرَ اللَّهُ لَهُ، فَغَفَرَ لَهُ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih al-Bukhari 2689

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "If the people knew what is the reward of making the call (for the prayer) and (of being in) the first row (in the prayer), and if they found no other way to get this privilege except by casting lots, they would certainly cast lots for it. If they knew the reward of the…

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih al-Bukhari 2829

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Five are regarded as martyrs: They are those who die because of plague, Abdominal disease, drowning or a falling building etc., and the martyrs in Allah's Cause."

الشُّهَدَاءُ خَمْسَةٌ الْمَطْعُونُ، وَالْمَبْطُونُ، وَالْغَرِقُ وَصَاحِبُ الْهَدْمِ، وَالشَّهِيدُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

See all 30 versions

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih Muslim 1914

While a man walks along a path, finds a thorny twig lying on the way and puts it aside, Allah would appreciate it and forgive him The Prophet (ﷺ) said: The martyrs are of five kinds: one who dies of plague; one who dies of diarrhoea (or cholera) ; one who is drowned; one who is buried under debris…

رَجُلٌ يَمْشِي بِطَرِيقٍ وَجَدَ غُصْنَ شَوْكٍ عَلَى الطَّرِيقِ فَأَخَّرَهُ فَشَكَرَ اللَّهُ لَهُ فَغَفَرَ لَهُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ وَقَالَ ‏"‏ الشُّهَدَاءُ خَمْسَةٌ الْمَطْعُونُ وَالْمَبْطُونُ وَالْغَرِقُ وَصَاحِبُ الْهَدْمِ…

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih Muslim 1914b

While a man was walking on a path, he found a thorn branch on the road, so he put it aside. Allah, thus, thanked him and forgave him

"While a man was walking on a path, he found a thorn branch on the road, so he put it aside. Allah, thus, thanked him and forgave him."

بَيْنَمَا رَجُلٌ يَمْشِي بِطَرِيقٍ وَجَدَ غُصْنَ شَوْكٍ عَلَى الطَّرِيقِ فَأَخَّرَهُ فَشَكَرَ اللَّهُ لَهُ فَغَفَرَ لَهُ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah Explained

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Jami' at-Tirmidhi 225

And the Prophet said: "If the people knew what (reward) is in the call (Adhan) and the first row, and they found no other way to get that except drawing lots, then they would draw lots."

"‏ لَوْ أَنَّ النَّاسَ يَعْلَمُونَ مَا فِي النِّدَاءِ وَالصَّفِّ الأَوَّلِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَجِدُوا إِلاَّ أَنْ يَسْتَهِمُوا عَلَيْهِ لاَسْتَهَمُوا عَلَيْهِ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Jami' at-Tirmidhi 226

A Similar narration

وَحَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، عَنْ مَالِكٍ، نَحْوَهُ ‏.‏

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Jami' at-Tirmidhi 1063

The Messenger of Allah said: "The martyrs are five: Those who die of the plague, stomach illness, drowning, being crushed, and the martyr in the cause of Allah"

"‏ الشُّهَدَاءُ خَمْسٌ الْمَطْعُونُ وَالْمَبْطُونُ وَالْغَرِقُ وَصَاحِبُ الْهَدْمِ وَالشَّهِيدُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Jami' at-Tirmidhi 1958

"When a man was walking on the road, he found a thorny branch and removed it. Allah appreciated his action by forgiving him."

"‏ بَيْنَمَا رَجُلٌ يَمْشِي فِي طَرِيقٍ إِذْ وَجَدَ غُصْنَ شَوْكٍ فَأَخَّرَهُ فَشَكَرَ اللَّهُ لَهُ فَغَفَرَ لَهُ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sunan an-Nasa'i 540

"If the people knew what (virtue) there was in the call to prayer and the first row, and they not find any way to get to do that [1] other than by drawing lots, they would do that. If they knew what (virtue) there was in coming early to prayer, they would compete to be first in the Masjid. If they…

"‏ لَوْ يَعْلَمُ النَّاسُ مَا فِي النِّدَاءِ وَالصَّفِّ الأَوَّلِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَجِدُوا إِلاَّ أَنْ يَسْتَهِمُوا عَلَيْهِ لاَسْتَهَمُوا وَلَوْ يَعْلَمُ النَّاسُ مَا فِي التَّهْجِيرِ لاَسْتَبَقُوا إِلَيْهِ وَلَوْ عَلِمُوا…

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sunan an-Nasa'i 671

"If the people knew what (virtue) there is in the call to prayer and the first row, and they had no other way but to draw lots concerning them, they would draw lots. If they knew what (virtue) there is in coming early for the prayer, they would compete in doing so. And if they knew what (virtue)…

"‏ لَوْ يَعْلَمُ النَّاسُ مَا فِي النِّدَاءِ وَالصَّفِّ الأَوَّلِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَجِدُوا إِلاَّ أَنْ يَسْتَهِمُوا عَلَيْهِ لاَسْتَهَمُوا عَلَيْهِ وَلَوْ يَعْلَمُونَ مَا فِي التَّهْجِيرِ لاَسْتَبَقُوا إِلَيْهِ وَلَوْ…

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Muwatta Malik 149

Yahya related to me from Malik from Sumayy, the mawla of Abu Bakr ibn Abd ar-Rahman, from Abu Hurayra that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "If people knew what was in the adhan and the first row of the prayer and could only draw lots for it, they would draw…

"‏ لَوْ يَعْلَمُ النَّاسُ مَا فِي النِّدَاءِ وَالصَّفِّ الأَوَّلِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَجِدُوا إِلاَّ أَنْ يَسْتَهِمُوا عَلَيْهِ لاَسْتَهَمُوا وَلَوْ يَعْلَمُونَ مَا فِي التَّهْجِيرِ لاَسْتَبَقُوا إِلَيْهِ وَلَوْ يَعْلَمُونَ مَا…

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Muwatta Malik 293

the one killed by a plague, the one killed by a disease of the belly, the one who drowns, the one killed by a collapsing building, and the martyr in the path of Allah.' He also said, "If people knew what there was in the call to prayer and the first row, and they could find no other way except to…

وَحَدَّثَنِي عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ سُمَىٍّ، مَوْلَى أَبِي بَكْرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏"‏ بَيْنَمَا رَجُلٌ يَمْشِي بِطَرِيقٍ إِذْ…

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Not graded Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Musnad Ahmad 6928