It is of great regret:

[1/ 34] to see some of those who attend the mosque early being not keen to stand in the first row believing that the reward mentioned in the ah?d?th is granted to whoever attends the mosque early, even if he does not stand in the first row which is a sheer falsehood!!

Concerning this point, Im?m An-Nawaw? said: ‘The row which the ah?d?th affirm its superiority and urge muslims to stand in- whether one comes early or late to the mosque and whether the row is disconnected by a pole or not- is the first row which is right behind the Im?m. This is the soundest of all ‘Ulamah’s opinions.

A number of scholars postulated that the first row refers to the one that extends to either sides of the mosque with nothing to disconnect it even if it was of the last row. Others believe that it refers to whoever comes early to the mosque even if one does his Sal?t in the row at the back. These two views are, however, false ones and one must be aware of them to avoid being deceived by them. All?h ( - عز وجل -) knows best’. (1)

The prophet ( - صلى الله عليه وسلم -) warned his Sah?bah from moving back form the first row saying: ‘Step forward and take me as your leader and let those behind you take you as a leader. Whoever retreats [from the first row], All?h ( - عز وجل -) will move him away [from His mercy, goodness, reward and knowledge (2) ]’. (3)

[2/ 34] It is a mistake that only those who are of the average people stand right behind the Im?m. The prophet ( - صلى الله عليه وسلم -) said: ‘Let those of sound minds of you stand right behind me, then those who are less than that proceed them and so on. And differ not