for this reason, the ḥāfiẓ said in "al-Fatḥ" after presenting the addition I mentioned in the first ḥadīth from the words of Anas: "This explicit statement indicates that the mentioned action took place during the time of the Prophet (ṣallá Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam), and thus it serves as evidence for clarifying the intended meaning of straightening and aligning the rows." It is unfortunate that this sunnah of alignment has been neglected by Muslims, indeed, they have abandoned it except for a few of them. I have not seen it practiced by any group except the people of ḥadīth. I observed them in Mecca in the year 1368, keen on adhering to it as with other sunnahs of the Chosen One (ʿalayhi al-ṣalātu wa-al-salām), unlike others from the followers of the four madhhabs — I do not exclude even the Ḥanbalīs — for this sunnah has become forgotten among them. In fact, they have continued to abandon and disregard it because most of their madhhabs state that the sunnah in standing is to leave a space between the feet equivalent to four fingers, and if exceeded, it is disliked, as detailed in "Fiqh ʿalá al-Madhāhib al-Arbaʿah" (1/207). This specified measure has no basis in the sunnah; it is merely an opinion. If it were authentic, it should be restricted to the imam and the individual praying alone so as not to conflict with this authentic sunnah, as required by the principles of uṣūl. In summary, I urge Muslims — especially the imams of mosques — who are keen on following him (ṣallá Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) and earning the virtue of reviving his sunnah (ṣallá Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) to practice this sunnah and be diligent in it, and to invite people to it until they all come together upon it. In doing so, they will be saved from the threat "or Allāh will cause dissension among your hearts."