The First Row

You should not miss the first row, because Allah bestows mercy and His angels invoke blessings for those in the first row as the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

“Allah bestows mercy and His angels invoke blessings for those in the first rows”. (Reported by Abu Dawud, An-Nasa’i)

Then you offer two Rak‘at with these you seek proximity to Allah, invoke His forgiveness, shed tears of repentance over your lapses that you took so lightly and beseech Him to grant you a submissive heart, a tongue that always remember Allah and beseech Him for constant vigilance and accountability, purity of heart and steady increase in your good deeds.

You should know that you will become one of the friends of Allah who have no fear or grief of any kind. Allah loves them and they love Him. This is attained through ample Nafl Salat (voluntary prayers) as is narrated in the Hadith:

“Allah said, “I will declare war against him who shows hostility to a pious worshipper of Mine. And the most beloved things with which My slave comes nearer to Me, is what I have enjoined upon him; and My slave keeps on coming closer to Me through performing Nawafil (praying or doing extra deeds besides what is obligatory) till I love him, then I become his sense of hearing with which he hears, and his sense of sight with which he sees, and his hand with which he grips, and his leg with which he walks; and if he asks Me, I will give him, and if he asks My Protection (Refuge), I will protect him (i.e., give him My Refuge).”” (Reported by Al-Bukhari)

When the Salat is about to start, you rush to join the first row first and so on. Close the gap if there is any. By doing so, you attain what delights you i.e. a house in the Paradise, as Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said:

“Whoever closes the gap (in congregational prayer), Allah makes a house for him in the Paradise and raises his rank”. (Reported by Al-Bukhari)