Saff (the row in prayer: straightening the rows, the merit of the first row, the place of women and children, and fleeing the line in battle)

الصَّفّ

A saff is a row of worshippers in prayer. The majority recommend straightening rows, with shoulders and feet touching and no gaps; some hold it obligatory, and Ibn Hajar says the prayer of one who does not straighten the row is still valid. Completing the first row before the next, and filling gaps, are part of straightening. The first rows are best for men; women's best rows are the last if men are present, and the first if women pray alone. The imam stands in the middle of the row, men come first, then boys, then women. A fighter may not leave the line when the two lines meet, except to manoeuvre or join a body of Muslims, and rows at a funeral prayer are straightened and not fewer than three. ¹ ² ³ ⁴ ⁵ ⁶ ⁷

Definition

A saff is a row of worshippers in prayer, one behind another; straightening it means packing the row so there is no gap or defect. ¹

Straightening and completing the first row

The majority recommend straightening rows; some hold it obligatory, and Ibn Hajar says the prayer of one who does not straighten is still valid. Among the duties is completing the first row before the next, and no one should stand in a row while the row in front of him is incomplete. ² ⁵

The best rows; women and children

The first rows are best for men; women's best rows are the first if they pray without men, and the last if men are present. The imam stands in the middle of the row, with men first, then boys, then women. ³ ⁴

The row in battle and at a funeral

A fighter obliged to fight may not leave the line when the two lines meet, except to manoeuvre or to join a body of Muslims, and this holds only while the enemy does not exceed twice the number. Rows at a funeral prayer are to be straightened, and not fewer than three. ⁶ ⁷

Sources

al-Mawsu'a al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaitiyya, Noor-Book copy (file named v3) , p.10397

al-Mawsu'a al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaitiyya, Noor-Book copy (file named v3) , p.10398

al-Mawsu'a al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaitiyya, Noor-Book copy (file named v3) , p.10399

al-Mawsu'a al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaitiyya, Noor-Book copy (file named v3) , p.10400

al-Mawsu'a al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaitiyya, Noor-Book copy (file named v3) , p.10401

al-Mawsu'a al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaitiyya, Noor-Book copy (file named v3) , p.10402

al-Mawsu'a al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaitiyya, Noor-Book copy (file named v3) , p.10403

The ruling on one who abandons prayer

Al-Sallabi quotes Ali: whoever does not pray is an unbeliever. He then reports from al-Nawawi the dispute over one who neglects prayer while believing it obligatory: the majority (Malik, al-Shafi'i) hold him a sinner to be asked to repent, others hold him an unbeliever, a view ascribed to Ali; Abu Hanifa and the Kufans hold him not an unbeliever but to be disciplined.