Is Observing a Sutrah in the Haramain Not Necessary?
This article is derived from the book “Sutrah: Brief Rulings and Issues” compiled by respected Qazi Ibrahim Sharif.
❀ A Commonly Quoted (But Weak) Narration
عن كثير بن كثير عن ابيه عن جده قال رأيت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم طاف بالبيت سبعا ثم صلى ركعتين بحذائه فى حاشية المقام وليس بينه وبين الطواف احد
Sunan al-Nasa'i: 759 – Weak
Kathir narrates from his father, who narrates from his grandfather, that he saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ perform seven circuits around the Ka'bah, then offer two rak'ahs in front of it near the edge of Maqam Ibrahim, and there was no one between him and the people performing Tawaf.
Referenced in:
– Sunan Abi Dawood (Hajj 89: 2016)
– Sunan Ibn Majah (Vol. 33: 2958)
– Musnad Ahmad (6/399)
– Tuhfat al-Ashraf (11285)
Dar al-Da'wah Authentication:
The narrator Kathir ibn al-Muttalib is weak in Hadith. Therefore, his son Kathir ibn Kathir would sometimes omit his name and narrate ambiguously using terms like “عن بعض أهله” or “عمن سمع جدّه”.
❀ Commentary:
Some infer from this narration that it is permissible to pass in front of someone praying in the Masjid al-Haram (i.e., the Ka'bah). A similar opinion states that the requirement of Sutrah is relaxed in Masjid al-Haram, as indicated by Imam Abdur-Razzaq رحمه الله in his Musannaf, where he titles a chapter:
[باب: لا يقطع الصلاة بمكة شيء]
(Musannaf: 2/35)
Under this chapter, he records the same weak narration of Kathir ibn Kathir found in Sunan al-Nasa'i. This is the only Marfu’ narration cited regarding the leniency of Sutrah in the Ka'bah, but the chain of narration is weak.
Imam al-Bukhari رحمه الله has subtly pointed out the weakness of this narration in a very elegant manner in his Sahih. Hafiz Ibn Hajar رحمه الله comments:
رجاله موثقون إلا أنه معلول
“Its narrators are trustworthy, but the Hadith is defective (due to a hidden flaw).”
(Fath al-Bari: 1/745, under Hadith: 501)
❀ Imam al-Bukhari’s Position
Imam al-Bukhari titles a chapter in his Sahih al-Jami’ as:
باب السترة بمكة وغيرها
“The Chapter of Sutrah in Makkah and elsewhere.”
He then narrates a Hadith from Abu Juhaym رضي الله عنه:
Abu Juhaym narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ offered prayer for us in Bat-ha of Makkah with a spear placed before him.
Sahih al-Bukhari – Book of Prayer – Hadith: 501
❀ Practices of the Companions (Sahabah):
Imam Ibn Abi Shaybah رحمه الله reports in Musannaf that Anas ibn Malik رضي الله عنه prayed in Masjid al-Haram with a staff planted in front of him.
Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah – Hadith: 2853
This shows that the ruling of Sutrah applies universally, whether in Makkah, Madinah, or any other place. Be it Masjid al-Haram, Masjid al-Nabawi, or any mosque, it is compulsory to establish a Sutrah during prayer.
As the Prophet ﷺ commanded:
لا تصل إلا إلى سترة
Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah: 2/10, Hadith: 800
“Do not pray except towards a Sutrah.”
Another narration from Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah:
حدثنا عيسى بن يونس عن الأوزاعي عن يحيى بن أبي كثير قال رأيت أنس بن مالك في المسجد الحرام قد نصب عصا يصلي إليها
Yahya ibn Abi Kathir says: “I saw Anas ibn Malik in the Masjid al-Haram with a staff planted before him, praying towards it.”
(Hadith: 2853 – Book of Salat – Chapter: How much should the Sutrah extend)
❀ Scholarly Views on Sutrah
Imam Ibn Jarir al-Tabari and Imam Ibn al-Mundhir رحمهما الله have also narrated the same in Tahdhib al-Athar and Al-Awsat respectively.
(See: Al-Awsat min al-Sunan wal-Ijma’ – Hadith No. 2427)
The researcher of Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, Shaykh Abu Muhammad Usamah ibn Ibrahim, writes under this narration:
“Its chain is authentic.”
Also, Shaykh Nasir al-Din al-Albani رحمه الله graded this narration authentic in his book Hujjat al-Nabi ﷺ (p. 22).
He also mentioned:
إذا صلى أحدكم فليصل إلى سترة وليدن منها
(Sunan Abi Dawood – Book of Salat – Hadith: 695)
“When one of you prays, let him pray towards a Sutrah and stay close to it.”
❀ Prohibition of Passing in Front of a Worshipper
It is also recorded that the worshipper must prevent anyone from passing in front of him, and if they persist, he must forcibly stop them. The Prophet ﷺ described the one who passes in front of a worshipper as a Shaytan.
While these evidences indicate the obligation of using a Sutrah, one must also consider the crowded nature of the Ka'bah. Hence, the following Quranic command applies:
﴿ فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ ﴾
(Surah At-Taghabun: 64:16)
“So fear Allah as much as you are able.”
❀ A Question and Its Answer
Question:
Shaykh Abu Abdur Rahman Muhammad Rafiq Tahir حفظه الله was asked:
“I have often seen people in Masjid al-Haram and Masjid al-Nabawi passing in front of those praying, and no one stops them. Is this correct, or should they be stopped?”
Answer:
Al-Jawab bi 'Awn al-Wahhab…
The one passing in front of a worshipper should be stopped regardless of the mosque. Abu Juhaym Abdullah ibn Harith al-Ansari رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
لو يعلم المار بين يدي المصلي ماذا عليه لكان أن يقف أربعين خيراً له من أن يمر بين يديه
Sahih al-Bukhari – Kitab al-Salat – Hadith: 510
“If the one who passes in front of a praying person knew the sin upon him, he would stand still for forty (years) rather than pass in front.”
This Hadith shows that passing in front of a worshipper is a grave sin. Thus, under no circumstance should anyone pass between a worshipper and his Sutrah. Whether the distance is near or far, the sin remains the same.
Abdullah ibn Umar رضي الله عنهما narrated:
لا تصل إلا إلى سترة ولا تدع أحدا يمر بين يديك، فإن أبى فلتقاتله فإن معه القرين
(Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah – Hadith: 800, Sahih Muslim: 506)
“Do not pray without a Sutrah and do not allow anyone to pass in front of you. If he insists, fight him, for indeed, a devil is with him.”
This instruction was given by the Prophet ﷺ to the worshippers of Masjid al-Nabawi, but its ruling is universal for all mosques, including Masjid al-Haram.
✿ Summary of Key Points:
① The Prophet ﷺ prohibited praying without a Sutrah.
② He emphasized the importance of using a Sutrah and standing close to it.
③ The Companions made great efforts to use Sutrah.
④ If someone was praying without a Sutrah, they would bring him closer to one.
⑤ Sutrah was observed in Masjid al-Haram and Masjid al-Nabawi.
⑥ If a wall or pillar was unavailable, they would plant a staff or stick.
⑦ In the absence of any object, they would use a person as a Sutrah.
⑧ Even women are instructed to observe Sutrah in both mosque and home.
وما علينا إلا البلاغ
Our duty is only to convey.
We pray to Allah Almighty that He grants us death upon the Qur'an, Hadith, and love of the Salaf al-Salih, and that He protects us from disgrace in this world and the Hereafter. Ameen.
