What is Sunan Abu Dawud 668 about?

This hadith from Sunan Abu Dawud (Book of Prayer (Kitab Al-Salat)), narrated by Anas reported the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as saying :, states: "Straighten your rows for the straightening of the rows is part of perfecting the prayer."

Is this hadith authentic?

This hadith is graded Sahih. Sahih hadiths are considered the most authentic grade in hadith classification.

Which collection is this hadith from?

This hadith is from Sunan Abu Dawud, which contains 5,276 hadiths across 43 books. It is hadith number 668 in the Book of Prayer (Kitab Al-Salat).

I searched for a different number — is this the right hadith?

Hadith numbering varies across editions and translations (USC-MSA, Dar as-Salam, Fath al-Bari, and others). If you followed a link citing a different number but landed here, you may have been redirected to the canonical version in our library. If you were looking for a different hadith entirely, use the search bar to find it by text.

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#667

#668

Sunan Abu Dawud

#669

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Sunan Abu Dawud #668

Prayer (Kitab Al-Salat)

Sahih

The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْوَلِيدِ الطَّيَالِسِيُّ، وَسُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ سَوُّوا صُفُوفَكُمْ فَإِنَّ تَسْوِيَةَ الصَّفِّ مِنْ تَمَامِ الصَّلاَةِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

Straighten your rows for the straightening of the rows is part of perfecting the prayer.

Narrated by Anas reported the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as saying :

Context

The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) emphasized the importance of straightening the rows during prayer, stating that it is part of perfecting the prayer. This instruction highlights the communal aspect of worship, where unity and order are essential for a meaningful prayer experience.

Modern Application

In contemporary prayer settings, ensuring that rows are straight and orderly is a common practice among Muslims. This not only enhances the aesthetic of the prayer but also fosters a sense of unity and collective worship among congregants.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Prayer because it underscores the significance of maintaining order and unity in communal prayer.

Prayer

Related Ayahs

سُورَةُ البَقَرَةِ

Al-Baqara (The Cow)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

2 ayahs

حَٰفِظُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلصَّلَوَٰتِ وَٱلصَّلَوٰةِ ٱلْوُسْطَىٰ وَقُومُوا۟ لِلَّهِ قَٰنِتِينَ

Maintain with care the [obligatory] prayers and [in particular] the middle prayer and stand before Allah, devoutly obedient.

وَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتُوا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَٱرْكَعُوا۟ مَعَ ٱلرَّٰكِعِينَ

And establish prayer and give zakah and bow with those who bow [in worship and obedience].

سُورَةُ النِّسَاءِ

An-Nisaa (The Women)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

فَإِذَا قَضَيْتُمُ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ فَٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ قِيَٰمًۭا وَقُعُودًۭا وَعَلَىٰ جُنُوبِكُمْ ۚ فَإِذَا ٱطْمَأْنَنتُمْ فَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ كِتَٰبًۭا مَّوْقُوتًۭا

And when you have completed the prayer, remember Allah standing, sitting, or [lying] on your sides. But when you become secure, re-establish [regular] prayer. Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times.

سُورَةُ الصَّافَّاتِ

As-Saaffaat (Those drawn up in Ranks)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

وَإِنَّا لَنَحْنُ ٱلصَّآفُّونَ

And indeed, we are those who line up [for prayer].

سُورَةُ هُودٍ

Hud (Hud)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

وَأَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ طَرَفَىِ ٱلنَّهَارِ وَزُلَفًۭا مِّنَ ٱلَّيْلِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلْحَسَنَٰتِ يُذْهِبْنَ ٱلسَّيِّـَٔاتِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ذِكْرَىٰ لِلذَّٰكِرِينَ

And establish prayer at the two ends of the day and at the approach of the night. Indeed, good deeds do away with misdeeds. That is a reminder for those who remember.

Common Words

52 total45 unique4 repeated

ٱلصلوة5x

على2x

فإذا2x

إن2x

حفظوا1x

ٱلصلوت1x

وٱلصلوة1x

ٱلوسطى1x

وقوموا1x

لله1x

قنتين1x

قضيتم1x

فٱذكروا1x

ٱلله1x

قيما1x

وقعودا1x

وعلى1x

جنوبكم1x

ٱطمأننتم1x

فأقيموا1x

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About Sunan Abu Dawud

This hadith is #668 from Sunan Abu Dawud, in the Book of Prayer (Kitab Al-Salat). It is graded Sahih and narrated by Anas reported the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as saying :.

Browse all Sunan Abu Dawud All Hadith Collections

Sunan Abu Dawud #668

Context

Modern Application

Topics

Related Ayahs

Common Words

Related Hadiths

About Sunan Abu Dawud

About This Hadith