فضل صلاة الجماعة وأحكامها
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The best rows for men are the first, and the worst are the last, and the best rows for women are the last and the worst are the first."
عن أبي هريرة -رضي الله عنه- قال: قال رسول الله -صلى الله عليه وسلم-: «خَيْرُ صفوف الرِّجال أوَّلُها, وشرُّها آخرُها, وخَيْرُ صفوف النِّساء آخِرُها, وشَرُّها أولها».
شرح الحديث :
The best and more rewardable rows for men are the first, given their closeness to the Imām and distance from women. And the less in reward and merit are the last, as worshipers are distant from the recitation and the Imām, and it is an indication of the worshiper's lack of interest in great reward. Conversely, the best and more rewardable rows for women are the last, as this is more concealing for them, given their distance from men; and the less in reward and merit for them are the first rows, given their closeness to temptations. This applies if women pray along with men in one place. If they pray along, however, or in a separate place from men, then the ruling applying to their rows is the same that applies to men's rows; in other words, the best are the first and the worst are the last.