Hadith 24.1
Prayer
Anas said:
The <i>iqama</i>* had been uttered and God’s Messenger faced us and said, “Make your rows straight and stand close together, for l can see you behind my back.” * A repetition of the words of the call to prayer after the worshippers have taken their places with the addition of a statement that the time of prayer has come. Bukhari transmitted it. In the version given by Bukhari and Muslim he said, “Make the rows perfect, for I can see you behind my back."
وَعَن أنس قَالَ: أُقِيمَتِ الصَّلَاةُ فَأَقْبَلَ عَلَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِوَجْهِهِ فَقَالَ: «أَقِيمُوا صُفُوفَكُمْ وَتَرَاصُّوا فَإِنِّي أَرَاكُمْ مِنْ وَرَاءِ ظَهْرِي» . رَوَاهُ الْبُخَارِيُّ. وَفِي الْمُتَّفَقِ عَلَيْهِ قَالَ: «أَتِمُّوا الصُّفُوف فَإِنِّي أَرَاكُم من وَرَاء ظَهْري»
Hadith gradings, numbering and translations can differ between editions. For legal rulings or detailed interpretation, consult qualified scholarship and the referenced edition.