The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: If you were to know, or if they were to know, what (excellence) lies in the first rows, there would have been drawing of lots (for filling them) ; and Ibn Harb said: For (occupying) the first row there would have been drawing of lots.
عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ لَوْ تَعْلَمُونَ أَوْ يَعْلَمُونَ مَا فِي الصَّفِّ الْمُقَدَّمِ لَكَانَتْ قُرْعَةً وَقَالَ ابْنُ حَرْبٍ الصَّفِّ الأَوَّلِ مَا كَانَتْ إِلاَّ قُرْعَةً