Phrase Not Found in the Sunnah Commonly Used by Some Imams

 

Shaykh Muhammad Saalih al-Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

As regards the saying of some Imams, ‘استقيموا,’ [to tell worshippers to straighten their rows], then there is no basis for it and it was not narrated from the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allaah be upon him). I researched it and asked some brothers to research it as well, but they found no basis for it from the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allaah be upon him) that he used to say, ‘استقيموا.’

[In addition], there is no justification for saying, ‘استقيموا,’ because what is meant by ‘استقيموا’ is adherence to the religion of Allaah, and this is not the appropriate context. This is because this is the context for instructing people to straighten their rows in prayer. Therefore, what is legislated to say is, ‘أقيموا صفوفكم.. سووا صفوفكم,’  and so on.”

 

Source: Majmoo Fataawaa wa Rasaa’il (16/357) by Shaykh Muhammad Saalih al-Uthaymeen, transl. by Abdus-Samee Abdus-Salaam.