Explanation of the Sutrah for a Person Offering Salah✍ Authored by: Imran Ayyub Lahori
❖ Definition: Lexical and Terminological Meaning of Sutrah
The word "Sutrah" in the Arabic language means barrier or screen. In Islamic terminology, it refers to "any object placed in front of the place of prostration during Salah", such as a stick, spear, wall, pillar, table, vehicle, etc.
❖ Ruling on the Sutrah in Shariah
➊ It is narrated from Ibn 'Umar (رضي الله عنهما) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
لا تصل إلا إلى سترة
“Pray only towards a Sutrah.”
[Sources: Ibn Khuzaymah 800, Muslim 260, Hakim 1/251, Bayhaqi 2/268]
➋ It is narrated from Abu Sa‘id (رضي الله عنه) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
إذا صلى أحدكم فليصل إلى سترة وليدن منها
“When one of you offers Salah, he should pray towards a Sutrah and be close to it.”
[Hasan: Abu Dawood 246, 698; Ibn Majah 954; Bayhaqi 2/267]
➌ Narrated from Suraqah bin Ma‘bad al-Juhani (رضي الله عنه) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
ليستر أحدكم فى الصلاة ولو بسهم
“One must place a Sutrah in Salah, even if it is just an arrow.”
[Sources: Ahmad 3/404; Abu Ya‘la 2/239; Al-Majmu‘ 2/61; commentary by Imam Beshmi and others]
➍ The command to set a Sutrah and stand close to it is because:
لا يقطع الشيطان عليه صلاته
“So that Satan does not cut off his prayer.”
[Sources: Abu Dawood 643, 695; Nasa’i 2/62; Ahmad 4/2; Hakim 1/251; Ibn Khuzaymah 803]
❖ Is the Sutrah Obligatory or Recommended?
✔ Imam Shawkani (رحمه الله): Sutrah is obligatory
[Refer: Nayl al-Awtar 2/198]
✔ He further mentions: If there's an indicator that shifts the command from obligation to recommendation, then it will be preferred.
[As-Sayl al-Jarrar 1/176]
✔ Majority of scholars (Jumhoor): It is recommended
[Subul as-Salam 1/329]
Evidence: The narration from Ibn ‘Abbas (رضي الله عنه):
ورسول الله يصلي بالناس بمنى إلى غير جدار
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was leading the people in prayer at Mina, not facing a wall.”
[Bukhari 493]
Imam Bukhari titled this under:
ستره الإمام سترة لمن خلفه
“The Imam’s Sutrah is sufficient for those praying behind him.”
[Mirqat al-Mafatih 1/515]
✔ Sayyid Sabiq (رحمه الله): It is recommended
[Fiqh as-Sunnah 1/224]
✔ Ibn Hazm (رحمه الله): Obligatory
[Al-Muhalla 4/8–15]
✔ Al-Albani (رحمه الله): Also supports obligation
[Tamam al-Minnah p. 300]
❖ Length of the Sutrah
It is narrated from ‘A’ishah (رضي الله عنها) that during the Battle of Tabuk, the Prophet ﷺ was asked about the length of a Sutrah. He replied:
مثل مؤخرة الرحل
“Like the rear end of a camel saddle.”
[Muslim 500; Nasa’i 2/62]
It may be thin as well:
ولو بسهم
“Even if it's just an arrow.”
[Bukhari 494]
Other reports mention the Prophet ﷺ using a spear or even a mount (animal) as a Sutrah.
[Abu Dawood 641, 692]
❖ Distance Between the Worshipper and the Sutrah
Narrated from Sahl ibn Sa‘d (رضي الله عنه):
“There used to be space between the Prophet ﷺ and the wall, enough for a goat to pass.”
[Bukhari 496; Muslim 508; Abu Dawood 696; Ibn Khuzaymah 804]
Another narration mentions:
ثلاثة ذراعه
“Three arm lengths between the Prophet ﷺ and the wall.”
[Ahmad 6/13; Bukhari 506]
❖ Sutrah Is Required Both in Open Spaces and in Mosques
The aforementioned Ahadith indicate that the ruling is general — whether praying in the open or in a mosque.
[As-Sayl al-Jarrar 1/176; Nayl al-Awtar 2/203]
❖ Placing the Sutrah Slightly to the Right or Left
No authentic Hadith confirms this practice. The narration from Muqaddam bin Aswad (رضي الله عنه) stating the Prophet ﷺ would place it slightly to the side is weak and not reliable.
[Weak: Abu Dawood 136, 693; Mishkat 783]
❖ Imam’s Sutrah Suffices for the Follower (Muqtadi)
As narrated by Ibn ‘Abbas (رضي الله عنه):
He arrived on a donkey while the Prophet ﷺ was leading the people in prayer at Mina without a wall in front of him. Ibn ‘Abbas crossed in front of some rows and joined the Salah.
ولم ينكر ذلك على أحد
“No one objected to him.”
[Bukhari 1857, 493; Muslim 504]
❖ If Someone Passes in Front of the Worshipper
The prayer will not be invalidated, as narrated from Talhah bin ‘Ubaydullah (رضي الله عنه):
مثل مؤخرة الرحل يكون بين يدى أحدكم ثم لا يضره ما مر بين يديه
“If there is something like the rear of a camel’s saddle in front, then nothing that passes in front harms him.”
[Ahmad 1/161; Muslim 499; Abu Dawood 685; Tirmidhi 335; Ibn Majah 940]
❖ If No Sutrah is Available, Can One Draw a Line?
The narration stating this is weak. The wording is:
فـان لـم يـكـن مـعـه عصا فليخط خطا
“If he does not have a stick, let him draw a line.”
[Weak: Abu Dawood 134, 689; Ibn Majah 943; Bayhaqi 2/270; Ibn Khuzaymah 811; many scholars have declared it weak]
❖ Prohibition of Passing in Front of Someone in Prayer
Narrated from Abu Juhaim bin Harith (رضي الله عنه) that the Prophet ﷺ said:
لـو يـعـلـم الـمـار بين يدى المصلى...
“If the passer knew the sin of crossing in front of a person in prayer, he would rather stand still for forty [years] than to cross in front.”
[Bukhari 510; Muslim 507; Abu Dawood 701; Tirmidhi 336; Nasa’i 2/66; Ibn Majah 945]
✔ Imam Shawkani (رحمه الله): This is proof that crossing in front is among major sins.
[Nayl al-Awtar 2/206]
✔ Imam Nawawi (رحمه الله): Declares it prohibited.
[Sharh Muslim 3/465]
✔ Amir San‘ani (رحمه الله): Also supports its prohibition.
[Subul as-Salam 1/327]
This prohibition applies between the Sutrah and the worshipper. Crossing behind the Sutrah is permitted.❖ The Worshipper Should Stop the One Attempting to Cross
Narrated from Abu Sa‘id (رضي الله عنه):
فاراد أحد أن يجتاز بين يديه فليدفعه فإن أبى فليقاتله فإنه شيطان
“If someone tries to pass in front of him, let him prevent him, and if he refuses, then fight him — for he is a devil.”
[Bukhari 509; Muslim 505; Abu Dawood 700; Nasa’i 2/66; Ibn Majah 954; Ahmad 3/63]
✔ Imam Nawawi (رحمه الله): No scholar has declared this act obligatory; it is recommended.
[Sharh Muslim 2/464]
✔ Ibn Hajar (رحمه الله): Some literalists (Ahl al-Zahir) have declared it obligatory.
[Fath al-Bari 2/167]
❖ If a Donkey, Menstruating Woman, or Black Dog Passes Without a Sutrah
Narrated from Abu Dharr (رضي الله عنه) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
بقطع صلاة المرء المسلم إذا لم يكن بين يديه مثل مؤخرة الرحل المرأة والحمار والكلب الأسود
“The prayer of a Muslim is invalidated if no Sutrah equal to the back of a camel saddle is in front of him, and a woman, donkey, or black dog passes.”
[Muslim 689; Abu Dawood 703; Tirmidhi 338; Ibn Majah 949, 952]
The word "حائض" (menstruating woman) appears in the version of Sunan Abi Dawood.
The narration of Abu Sa‘id (رضي الله عنه) stating "nothing nullifies the prayer" is weak and hence not acceptable.[Declared weak by many scholars including Imam Nawawi, Imam Bayhaqi, and Imam Ibn Salah]
❖ If a Man (Other Than the Above) Passes Without a Sutrah
The prayer is not invalidated, as there is no explicit evidence to prove its nullification.
✔ This is the stance taken by Shaykh Ibn Baz (رحمه الله).
[Al-Fatawa al-Islamiyyah 1/243–244]
