Sayyiduna Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), he (peace be upon him) said: "A dog, a donkey, and a woman (by passing in front of the one praying) break the prayer."
Hadith Referenceمسند اسحاق بن راهويه / كتاب الصلوٰة / 157
Hadith Takhrij«مسلم ، كتاب الصلاة ، باب قدر ما يستر المصلي ، رقم : 511 . سنن ابن ماجه ، رقم : 950 . مسند احمد : 425/2 .»
Explanation & Benefits
Hafiz Abdush Shakoor Tirmidhi
Benefits: From the aforementioned hadith, it is understood that the passing of a dog, a donkey, or a woman invalidates the prayer. There is a difference of opinion among the jurists on this issue. The majority of scholars say that these three things do not invalidate the prayer; rather, they only diminish its reward and merit. However, the position of Imam Ahmad rahimahullah is that if only a dog passes, the prayer is invalidated, but not by the passing of a donkey or a menstruating woman. (Nayl al-Awtar: 2/210) But from the generality of the hadith, it is established that the prayer should be repeated, as in another hadith it is stated that if a donkey, a woman, or a black dog passes, the prayer should be repeated. (Silsilat al-Sahihah, no. 3323) The position of Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, Allamah Ibn al-Qayyim, and Imam Ibn Hazm rahimahumullah is: the passing of these three invalidates the prayer. (Tawdih al-Ahkam: 2/72) Shaykh Ibn Baz rahimahullah has said that if anything other than these three passes, the prayer is not invalidated. (Fatawa Islamiyyah: 1/243-244)