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Keep straight, don't be irregular
Abu Mas'ud, may Allah be pleased with them, reported:
The Messenger of Allah (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to touch our shoulders in prayer and say: Keep straight, don't be irregular, for there would be dissension in your hearts. Let those of you who are sedate and prudent be near me, then those who are next to them, then those who are next to them. Abu Mas'ud said: Now-a-days there is much dissension amongst you.
The Prophet (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was very careful to settling the rows of the prayer because the congregational prayer is an evidence of the unity of hearts and establishing the brotherhood of faith. The more the rows are straight, the stronger the hearts will be, and so Muslims will be more compassionate.
The prayer is the most important pillar of Islam after the two testimonies, it is the proof of the soundness of the faith. Therefore, gathering for performing the prayer is the best meeting known to the Muslims; because it is similar to the meeting of the angels who stand in rows in the Heavens to pray. If we stood properly and made shoulders adjacent to each other, and did not differ after the settlement to complete the prayer - we will be like the Angels.
His saying: " Keep straight, don't be irregular " is supported by his deeds, he used to say this while wiping the shoulders, although the mere action was enough to straighten the rows. This statement affirmed his actions.
To stand in a straight row entails to be in one format. So that the feet are parallel and the shoulders are aligned.
To stand in a straight row in the prayer means: that the hearts seek pardon, forgiveness and mercy.
In other words, the congregational prayer is not done in the best way except by doing so, in order to attain the complete reward of the congregational prayer.
