It was narrated that Abu Hurairah :ra: said:
“The Messenger of Allah :saws: said: ‘If they knew what (goodness) there is in the first row, they would cast lots for it.’” [
Ibn Majah]
Abu Huraira :ra: reported:
The Messenger of Allah :saws: said: If you were to know, or if they were to know, what (excellence) lies in the first rows, there would have been drawing of lots (for filling them) ; and Ibn Harb said: For (occupying) the first row there would have been drawing of lots. [
Muslim]
It was narrated from ‘Irbad bin Sariyah :ra: that the Messenger of Allah :saws: used to ask for forgiveness for the first row three times and for the second row twice. [
Ibn Majah]
Abu Hurairah :ra: narrated that :
Allah's Messenger :saws: said: "The best rows for the men are the first of them, and the worst are the last of them. And the best rows for the women are the last of them, and the worst are the first of them." [
Tirmidhi]