POSITION OF THE IMAM H 1115 "The Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, instructed, 'Let the Imam be in the middle and close the gaps in the rows.'" R 1115 Abu Daud with a chain up to Abu Hurairah who related that the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, said this.
1096- وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه ، قَالَ: قال رَسُول اللهِ صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم : "وَسِّطُوا الإمَامَ ، وَسُدُّوا الخَلَلَ" رواه أبُو دَاوُد .