وَعَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا...
Narrated by Abdullah ibn Umar (رضي الله عنهما): When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would go out for Eid, he would command that a spear be brought and placed in front of him. He would face it while offering Salah, and the people would pray behind him. He used to do the same while traveling. Later, the leaders also adopted this practice. (Wordings from Muslim)
Verification & References:
➋ Eid prayers should be offered in open spaces, and walking to the prayer area on foot is preferable.
➌ It is permissible to assist the Imam by placing a sutrah or making arrangements for him.
➍ While traveling, if it is time for Salah, one should fix an object (e.g., a stick or cane) in the ground before them and pray behind it.
Reported by Malik from Busur ibn Sa'id that Zayd ibn Khalid sent him to Abu Juhaym to ask what he heard from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ regarding someone who passes in front of a person praying. Abu Juhaym replied:
"If one knew the sin of passing in front of a person praying, he would find it better to wait for forty than to pass in front."
Abu Nasr said: I do not know whether the Prophet ﷺ said forty days, months, or years. (Agreed upon. Wording from Bukhari)
Verification & References:
Narrated by Aisha (رضي الله عنها): The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked about the sutrah for a person praying, and he said:
“Like the back of a saddle.” (Only Muslim reports this narration.)
Verification & References:
Narrated by Sahl ibn Abi Hathmah, conveying from the Prophet ﷺ:
"When one of you prays facing a sutrah, he should stay close to it so that Shaytan does not interrupt his prayer." (Abu Dawud)
Verification & References:
➋ A person should always place a sutrah before themselves during both obligatory and voluntary prayers.
➌ The act of passing in front of a praying person is defined as walking across the width of their prayer space. If a person walks directly in front (e.g., from south to north while the person is praying facing west), this is "passing" and is forbidden.
However, if the individual is already ahead and the praying person is behind, it is better for the one ahead to wait until the prayer concludes. If there's an urgent need, the person ahead may leave even if someone is praying behind them—this is not considered sinful passing.
➍ The minimum height of a sutrah should be similar to a camel’s saddle. There’s no condition on the width or thickness, but it should be visible and perceptible.
➎ Standing close to the sutrah prevents Shaytan from interfering with one’s prayer. Even if wudu is correct, intention is pure, and all conditions of Salah are met, failure to use a sutrah and someone crossing ahead can still affect the perfection of the prayer.
➏ When Hadith states that certain actions invalidate the prayer, it does not mean the prayer must be repeated. Rather, it means that the reward is diminished.
Source:
This material is extracted from the book "Ḍiyāʾ al-Islām fī Sharḥ al-Ilmām bi-Aḥādīth al-Aḥkām" authored by Shaykh Taqi al-Dīn Abī al-Fatḥ, translated by Maulana Mahmood Ahmad Ghaznfar.
Narrated by Abdullah ibn Umar (رضي الله عنهما): When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would go out for Eid, he would command that a spear be brought and placed in front of him. He would face it while offering Salah, and the people would pray behind him. He used to do the same while traveling. Later, the leaders also adopted this practice. (Wordings from Muslim)
Verification & References:
- Bukhari: 494, 498
- Muslim: 501 (Chapter: Sutrah for the One Praying)
❀ Key Points:
➊ One must ensure the use of a sutrah (barrier) while praying, especially in open fields where people may pass in front. The sutrah should be in front of the Imam, and the followers are considered behind the Imam’s sutrah.➋ Eid prayers should be offered in open spaces, and walking to the prayer area on foot is preferable.
➌ It is permissible to assist the Imam by placing a sutrah or making arrangements for him.
➍ While traveling, if it is time for Salah, one should fix an object (e.g., a stick or cane) in the ground before them and pray behind it.
✦ Grave Sin of Passing in Front of a Worshipper
وَرَوَى مَالِكٌ عَنْ بُسْرِبْنِ سَعِيدٍ...Reported by Malik from Busur ibn Sa'id that Zayd ibn Khalid sent him to Abu Juhaym to ask what he heard from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ regarding someone who passes in front of a person praying. Abu Juhaym replied:
"If one knew the sin of passing in front of a person praying, he would find it better to wait for forty than to pass in front."
Abu Nasr said: I do not know whether the Prophet ﷺ said forty days, months, or years. (Agreed upon. Wording from Bukhari)
Verification & References:
- Bukhari: 510
- Muslim: 507
✦ Minimum Height of the Sutrah
وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا...Narrated by Aisha (رضي الله عنها): The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked about the sutrah for a person praying, and he said:
“Like the back of a saddle.” (Only Muslim reports this narration.)
Verification & References:
- Muslim: 500
✦ Standing Close to the Sutrah Prevents Interference by Shaytan
وَعَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ أَبِي حَثْمَةَ...Narrated by Sahl ibn Abi Hathmah, conveying from the Prophet ﷺ:
"When one of you prays facing a sutrah, he should stay close to it so that Shaytan does not interrupt his prayer." (Abu Dawud)
Verification & References:
- Authentic Hadith
- Musnad Ahmad: 214, Abu Dawud: 695, al-Nasa'i: 2/62, Ibn Hibban: 409, al-Bayhaqi: 2/272, Mustadrak Hakim: 1/251-252
❀ Key Points:
➊ Passing in front of a person praying is a grave sin. It is so severe that the person would rather stand for forty (days, months, or years) than commit this act—if only he knew the sin involved.➋ A person should always place a sutrah before themselves during both obligatory and voluntary prayers.
➌ The act of passing in front of a praying person is defined as walking across the width of their prayer space. If a person walks directly in front (e.g., from south to north while the person is praying facing west), this is "passing" and is forbidden.
However, if the individual is already ahead and the praying person is behind, it is better for the one ahead to wait until the prayer concludes. If there's an urgent need, the person ahead may leave even if someone is praying behind them—this is not considered sinful passing.
➍ The minimum height of a sutrah should be similar to a camel’s saddle. There’s no condition on the width or thickness, but it should be visible and perceptible.
➎ Standing close to the sutrah prevents Shaytan from interfering with one’s prayer. Even if wudu is correct, intention is pure, and all conditions of Salah are met, failure to use a sutrah and someone crossing ahead can still affect the perfection of the prayer.
➏ When Hadith states that certain actions invalidate the prayer, it does not mean the prayer must be repeated. Rather, it means that the reward is diminished.
Source:This material is extracted from the book "Ḍiyāʾ al-Islām fī Sharḥ al-Ilmām bi-Aḥādīth al-Aḥkām" authored by Shaykh Taqi al-Dīn Abī al-Fatḥ, translated by Maulana Mahmood Ahmad Ghaznfar.
