(98) باب مَنْ يُسْتَحَبُّ أَنْ يَلِيَ الإِمَامَ فِي الصَّفِّ وَكَرَاهِيَةِ التَّأَخُّرِ
Abu Ma'sud reported the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as saying:
let those of your who are sedate and prudent be near me, then those who are next to them, then those who are next to them.
Reference: Sunan Abi Dawud 674
In-book reference: Book 2, Hadith 284
English translation: Book 2, Hadith 674