Written by: Al-Sheikh Mubashir Ahmad Rabbani (Hafizahullah)
Moreover, if someone tries to pass in front of a person who is praying, they should pass behind the Sutrah. If a person crosses directly between the worshipper and their Sutrah or within the designated boundary of the Sutrah, they commit a sin, as the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
"If the one passing in front of a person praying knew the gravity of his sin, he would prefer to wait for forty (years) than to pass in front of them."
[Sahih Bukhari, Book of Prayer: Chapter on the Sin of Passing in Front of a Person Praying, 510]
Several Hadiths of the Prophet (peace be upon him) emphasize the importance of using a Sutrah during prayer. A few of these are as follows:
➊ Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) narrates:
"Do not pray without a Sutrah, and do not let anyone pass in front of you. If they insist, then fight them, for with them is the devil."
[Ibn Khuzaymah 10/2, 800]
➋ Another Hadith states:
"When any of you prays facing a Sutrah, they should pray close to it so that Satan cannot interrupt their prayer."
[Sahih Muslim, Book of Prayer: Chapter on Praying Close to a Sutrah 695]
Imam Hakim declared this narration as authentic, and Imam Dhahabi concurred.
➌ Hazrat Sahl (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates:
"When any of you prays, let them use a Sutrah and stand close to it, as Satan tries to pass in front of them."
[Sharh al-Sunnah 447/2]
➍ Hazrat Talhah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates:
"When any of you places something in front of them as large as the rear of a saddle, let them pray without concern for those who pass behind it."
[Sahih Muslim, Book of Prayer: Chapter on the Sutrah of the One Praying 449]
"Do not pray without a Sutrah."
This clarifies that praying without a Sutrah is not correct. The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) took care to use a Sutrah even when praying in mosques.
Example of Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him):
"Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) saw a man praying between two pillars, so he moved him closer to one of the pillars and said, 'Pray facing this.'"
[Sahih Bukhari, Book of the Sutrah of the Prayer, 502]
Hafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy on him) states that this action of Hazrat Umar was to ensure that the person prayed facing a Sutrah.
[Fath al-Bari 577/1]
[Sahih Bukhari, Book of the Sutrah of the Prayer, 503]
"In my view, Imam Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him) indicates through his chapter heading that the Sutrah is not exclusive to open spaces like deserts."
[Lam’ al-Dari 502/2]
Maulana Muhammad Zakariya expresses the same opinion in his commentary on the chapters and headings of Sahih Bukhari.
"I heard the Prophet (peace be upon him) say: 'When any of you prays facing something that shields him from people, and someone tries to pass in front of him, he should push him back. If they persist, then fight them, for they are but a devil.'"
[Sahih Bukhari, Book of Prayer: Chapter on Stopping Someone Passing in Front of the Praying Person, 509]
This Hadith shows that even during Friday prayers, Hazrat Abu Saeed was careful to pray with a Sutrah.
[Ibn Abi Shaybah 310/1]
[Ibn Abi Shaybah 313/1]
Question:
Is a barrier (Sutrah) necessary when offering prayers in a mosque? Some people think it is only required in open spaces like deserts. Please guide us toward the correct understanding.Answer:
When a person stands for prayer, Satan attempts to distract them with various thoughts, to the extent that sometimes they forget what they are reciting. To protect against these distractions, Islamic law has provided various righteous practices, including the recommendation that a person praying should place something in front of them to serve as a barrier (Sutrah). Alternatively, they can pray behind a wall or pillar, as the absence of a Sutrah allows Satan to disturb the prayer and divert the attention of the worshipper. With a Sutrah in place, Satan cannot interfere with the prayer.Moreover, if someone tries to pass in front of a person who is praying, they should pass behind the Sutrah. If a person crosses directly between the worshipper and their Sutrah or within the designated boundary of the Sutrah, they commit a sin, as the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
"If the one passing in front of a person praying knew the gravity of his sin, he would prefer to wait for forty (years) than to pass in front of them."
[Sahih Bukhari, Book of Prayer: Chapter on the Sin of Passing in Front of a Person Praying, 510]
Guidelines for the Sutrah:
The legal distance for a Sutrah is three hand spans. This means there should be a distance of about three hand spans between the person praying and the Sutrah, or the space should allow for the passage of a small animal like a goat between the place of prostration and the Sutrah. The worshipper should not be farther away than this distance from the Sutrah.Several Hadiths of the Prophet (peace be upon him) emphasize the importance of using a Sutrah during prayer. A few of these are as follows:
➊ Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) narrates:
"Do not pray without a Sutrah, and do not let anyone pass in front of you. If they insist, then fight them, for with them is the devil."
[Ibn Khuzaymah 10/2, 800]
➋ Another Hadith states:
"When any of you prays facing a Sutrah, they should pray close to it so that Satan cannot interrupt their prayer."
[Sahih Muslim, Book of Prayer: Chapter on Praying Close to a Sutrah 695]
Imam Hakim declared this narration as authentic, and Imam Dhahabi concurred.
➌ Hazrat Sahl (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates:
"When any of you prays, let them use a Sutrah and stand close to it, as Satan tries to pass in front of them."
[Sharh al-Sunnah 447/2]
➍ Hazrat Talhah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates:
"When any of you places something in front of them as large as the rear of a saddle, let them pray without concern for those who pass behind it."
[Sahih Muslim, Book of Prayer: Chapter on the Sutrah of the One Praying 449]
Clarifications from the Hadiths:
From these Hadiths, it is evident that a person should not pray without a Sutrah, regardless of whether they are inside a mosque or elsewhere. These narrations are general and apply to all situations. Even in the authentic narrations of Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah, it is mentioned that the Prophet (peace be upon him) instructed Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them):"Do not pray without a Sutrah."
This clarifies that praying without a Sutrah is not correct. The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) took care to use a Sutrah even when praying in mosques.
Example of Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him):
"Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) saw a man praying between two pillars, so he moved him closer to one of the pillars and said, 'Pray facing this.'"
[Sahih Bukhari, Book of the Sutrah of the Prayer, 502]
Hafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy on him) states that this action of Hazrat Umar was to ensure that the person prayed facing a Sutrah.
[Fath al-Bari 577/1]
Example of Hazrat Anas (may Allah be pleased with him):
"I saw the senior companions of the Prophet (peace be upon him) rushing towards the pillars when the time for Maghrib prayer approached."[Sahih Bukhari, Book of the Sutrah of the Prayer, 503]
Scholarly Opinions:
Maulana Rashid Ahmad Gangohi writes:"In my view, Imam Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him) indicates through his chapter heading that the Sutrah is not exclusive to open spaces like deserts."
[Lam’ al-Dari 502/2]
Maulana Muhammad Zakariya expresses the same opinion in his commentary on the chapters and headings of Sahih Bukhari.
Example of Hazrat Abu Saeed al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him):
Hazrat Abu Saeed (may Allah be pleased with him) once pushed back a young man who attempted to pass in front of him during prayer. He later said:"I heard the Prophet (peace be upon him) say: 'When any of you prays facing something that shields him from people, and someone tries to pass in front of him, he should push him back. If they persist, then fight them, for they are but a devil.'"
[Sahih Bukhari, Book of Prayer: Chapter on Stopping Someone Passing in Front of the Praying Person, 509]
This Hadith shows that even during Friday prayers, Hazrat Abu Saeed was careful to pray with a Sutrah.
Example of Hazrat Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) in the Sacred Mosque:
"I saw Hazrat Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) in the Sacred Mosque using a stick as a Sutrah while praying."[Ibn Abi Shaybah 310/1]
The Practice of Hazrat Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him):
"If Hazrat Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) could not find a place near a pillar in the mosque, he would ask someone to sit in front of him to act as a Sutrah."[Ibn Abi Shaybah 313/1]