Muslim

Hadith Commentary:
1.
Regarding making an animal a sutrah (barrier) in prayer, some of the esteemed Imams have reported it as disliked, arguing that the purpose of the sutrah is to safeguard the prayer, but how can one rely on an animal, as it may get up and walk away at any moment. However, according to Imam Bukhari rahimahullah, there is complete latitude for the worshipper in the matter of the sutrah. He may use anything as a sutrah, whether it is an animal or something inanimate. By mentioning four things in the chapter heading, he has expressed this latitude, although in the narration only a mount and a saddle are mentioned, not a tree or a camel. However, “camel” and “she-camel” are simply two names for the same species; when it is permissible to use a she-camel as a sutrah, the ruling for a camel is also understood. As for the matter of the tree, it is established in this way: when it is permissible to use a wooden saddle as a sutrah, then the ruling for every kind of wood is also understood. It is also possible that Imam Bukhari rahimahullah, according to his usual practice, alluded in the chapter heading to those narrations in which it is explicitly mentioned that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam prayed facing a camel or a tree. Thus, it is narrated from Ibn Umar radi Allahu anhu that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam would perform prayer facing his camel. (: Sunan Abi Dawud, Salat, Hadith: 692) Similarly, it is narrated from Ali radi Allahu anhu, who said: On the night of the Battle of Badr, I saw that every one of us had fallen asleep, but the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam was praying, having made a tree his sutrah, and he remained engaged in supplication until morning. (: Al-Sunan al-Kubra lil-Nasa’i, Abuab al-Sutrah, Hadith: 823)

2.
Regarding Ibn Umar radi Allahu anhu, it is mentioned in Musannaf Abd al-Razzaq that he considered it disliked to pray using a camel as a sutrah, but if there was a saddle on it, he did not consider it objectionable. Hafiz Ibn Hajar rahimahullah writes that when there is a saddle on it, the animal sits calmly and peacefully, whereas without it, there is a risk of it becoming restless. The jurists have considered the rear wooden part of the saddle as the minimum amount for a sutrah; its height is one cubit or two-thirds of a cubit. However, it is mentioned in Musannaf Abd al-Razzaq that the saddle on Ibn Umar’s radi Allahu anhu camel had a rear wooden part equal to one cubit. (: Fath al-Bari: 1/751)

Hadith Commentary:
Vocabulary of the Hadith:
(1)
Ba'ir:
This term is used, like "insan" (human), for both masculine and feminine.
And "jamal":
Like "rajul" (man), it is used for the masculine, and
(2)
Naqah:
Like "mar'ah" (woman), it is used for the feminine.