Objects That Can Be Used as Sutrah in Salah
Adapted from: “Sutrah ke Mukhtaṣar Aḥkām wa Masā’il” by Qāḍī Ibrāhīm Sharīf
Evidence from the Sunnah and Practice of the Companions
① Pillars in the Mosque
Yazīd ibn Abī ʿUbayd said:
“I used to come with Salamah ibn al-Akwaʿ رضي الله عنه to Masjid al-Nabawi, and he would always pray facing the pillar near the muṣḥaf. When I asked why, he said: ‘I saw the Prophet ﷺ intentionally pray facing this pillar.’”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, 502)
② Spear or Harbah in Open Space
“When the Prophet ﷺ prayed in an open field where there was no sutrah, a spear would be planted in front of him, and he would pray facing it, while the companions prayed behind him.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, 498)
③ Mount or Riding Animal
“Sometimes the Prophet ﷺ would keep his mount in front of him and stand to pray beside its side.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 1111)
④ Camel Saddle (Rear Part)
The Prophet ﷺ prayed facing the back part of a camel’s saddle, using it as a sutrah.
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, 507 – Bāb al-Ṣalāh ilā al-Rāḥilah wa-al-Baʿīr wa-al-Shajar wa-al-Raḥl)
⑤ Tree
Amīr al-Mu’minīn ʿAlī رضي الله عنه said:
“On the night of Badr, all of us were sleeping except the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, who was praying towards a tree (using it as a sutrah) and supplicating until morning.”
(Musnad Aḥmad, 1161 – authentic chain)
Summary and Ruling
Any object that forms a noticeable barrier in front of the praying person can serve as a sutrah, provided it is fixed or placed firmly on the ground. Examples from authentic narrations include:
- Wall or pillar
- Tree
- Spear, harbah, or arrow stuck into the ground
- Camel saddle
- A sitting riding animal positioned to the side
- A seated person in front of the worshipper
Condition: The object must be upright and aligned with the place of prayer, not lying flat.
