Placing the Sutrah Slightly to the Right or Left
This article is derived from the book Sutrah: Brief Rulings and Issues, compiled by respected Qazi Ibrahim Sharif.
❀ No Authentic Hadith Supports This Practice
There is no authentic Hadith that proves the act of placing the Sutrah slightly to the right or left side instead of directly in front of the worshipper.
❀ The Weak Hadith of Al-Miqdad ibn al-Aswad رضي الله عنه
There is a narration from Al-Miqdad ibn al-Aswad رضي الله عنه, in which he states:
ما رأيت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يصلي إلى عود ولا عمود ولا شجرة إلا جعله على حاجبه الأيمن أو الأيسر ولا يصمد له صمدا
(Reported by: Sunan Abi Dawood: 693 – Unique to Abi Dawood; also in Tuhfat al-Ashraf: 11551 and Musnad Ahmad 4/6)
“Whenever I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ praying toward a branch, a pillar, or a tree, he would not align it directly in front of him but would place it slightly to his right or left brow, and would not face it head-on.”
Dar al-Da’wah Authentication:
This Hadith is weak and not acceptable as evidence.
❀ Conclusion
➤ Since this narration is not authentic, the practice of placing the Sutrah to the right or left instead of directly ahead has no valid basis in the Sunnah.
✿ Summary of Key Points:
① No authentic Hadith supports placing the Sutrah slightly to the right or left.
② The narration from Al-Miqdad رضي الله عنه that suggests this practice is weak and unreliable.
③ Therefore, such a position of the Sutrah should not be acted upon.
وما علينا إلا البلاغ
Our duty is only to convey.
We ask Allah to grant us clarity in following the authentic Sunnah and to protect us from relying on weak or fabricated narrations. Ameen.
