Is the close alignment of worshippers in prayer rows and the touching of feet obligatory, especially since the Prophet (peace be upon him) did not command it, and it causes differences of opinion and animosity among worshippers and leads many of them to abandon mosques?

Straightening the rows is recommended by the majority of scholars. It means that those standing in the row should be aligned, close to one another, with shoulder touching shoulder and ankle touching ankle as much as possible, as long as it does not lead to discord.

Evidence for this includes: - The Hadith of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him): "Establish the row in prayer, for establishing the row is part of the excellence of prayer." - The Hadith of Anas (may Allah be pleased with him): "Indeed, straightening the row is part of the completeness of prayer." - The Hadith of An-Nu'man ibn Bashir: "Each one of us would stick his shoulder to his companion's shoulder and his foot to his foot."

The importance of straightening the rows lies in: 1. Achieving uprightness and balance. 2. Preventing Satan from entering and corrupting the prayer with whispers. 3. Good appearance. 4. The mosque accommodating all worshipers. 5. Preventing worshipers from distracting one another.

There are many hadiths that command filling gaps in the rows and encourage it, such as the hadith of Ibn 'Umar: "Straighten the rows, align the shoulders, fill the gaps, and do not leave openings for Satan. Whoever connects a row, Allah will connect him; and whoever cuts off a row, Allah will cut him off." Straightening the rows and maintaining them is among the reasons for fostering affection among hearts, as mentioned in the hadith: "You must straighten your rows, or Allah will cause disagreement among your faces."