arrangement of rows People of knowledge should be close to imam
Abu Mas'ud Ansari (R.A.) related that in prayer (i.e., when the devotees stood up for the congregational prayer the Messenger of Allah (SAW) used to pat us on the shoulders and say: "Get abreast and do not dissimilar (i.e. ahead of or behind one another) lest, God forbid, your hearts get seperated." He would also, say: "Nearest to me (in congregation) should be those who are men of knowledge and wisdom, then those who are next to them, and then, those who are next to them (in knowledge and wisdom)." (Muslim)