عنْ أبي سَعِيدٍ رَضِيَ اللّهُ عَنْهُ: أَنَّ رسُولَ اللّهِ صَلّى اللّهُ عَلَيْهِ وسَلَّمَ: رأَى فِي أَصْحَابِهِ تَأَخُّرًا، فقَالَ لَهُمْ: «تَقَدَّمُوا فَأْتَمُّوا بِي، وَليَأْتَمَّ بِكُمْ مَنْ بَعْدَكُمْ، لا يَزالُ قَوْمٌ يَتَأَخَّرُونَ حَتَّى يُؤَخِّرَهُمُ اللّهُ» رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ.
Abu Said (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) noticed that his Companions were hanging back, so he said to them: "Come forward and follow me, and let those behind you follow you. A people will keep holding back until Allah puts them back." Reported by Muslim.
الشرح · explanation
تأخرًا: أي عن الصف الأول في الصلاة. فَأْتَمُّوا: اقتدوا. وليأتم بكم: وليقتدِ بكم. لا يزال قوم يتأخرون: أي عن الصفوف الأولى، واكتساب الفضائل. حتى يؤخرهم اللّه: أي عن عظيم ثوابه وفضله.
"Hanging back": that is, from the first row in the prayer. "Follow me": take me as your example. "And let them follow you": and let them take you as their example. "A people will keep holding back": that is, from the first rows and from earning the virtues. "Until Allah puts them back": that is, from His great reward and bounty.
الدروس · lessons
التأكيد على استحباب التسابق إلى الصفوف الأولى في الصلاة، والزجر عن ترك المكرمات. ينبغي أن يكون بين الإمام والصف الأول ما لا يزيد على ثلاثة أذرع وهكذا بين كل صفين، ليشاهد الصف الأول الإمام ويشاهد حركاتهم الذين يلونهم ويتبعونهم في تبعيتهم للإمام.
Emphasis on the recommendation of racing to the first rows in prayer, and rebuke of neglecting acts of honor and merit. It is fitting that between the imam and the first row there be no more than three cubits, and likewise between every two rows, so that the first row may see the imam and those behind may see the movements of those in front of them whom they follow in following the imam.