✿ What Is the Permissible Distance for Passing in Front of a Person Offering Salah Without a Sutrah? ✿
Adapted from the book “Sutrah ke Mukhtasir Ahkām wa Masā’il” by Qāḍī Ibrāhīm Sharīf
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ clearly forbade passing in front of a person praying, and he did not specify an exact distance after which it becomes permissible to pass.
Abū Juhaim ʿAbdullāh ibn Ḥārith al-Anṣārī (رضي الله عنه) narrated:
"If the one who passes in front of a person praying knew the burden (of sin) upon him, it would be better for him to wait for forty (years) than to pass in front of him."
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī – Kitāb al-Ṣalāh – Bāb Ithm al-Mār Bayna Yaday al-Muṣallī (Ḥadīth 510)
ʿAṭā ibn Yasār (رحمه الله) narrates that Kaʿb al-Aḥbār said:
"If a person knew the punishment for passing in front of one praying, he would consider it better to be swallowed into the earth than to do so."
Muwaṭṭā Imām Mālik, Riwayah of Yaḥyā ibn Yaḥyā al-Andalusī: 385
The Prophet ﷺ prohibited passing in front of a praying person in absolute terms, and issued stern warnings against it. Thus, the Sunnah demands that no one should pass in front of a person offering salah under any circumstance, regardless of the distance, if no sutrah is present.
See:
There exists a weak narration which says:
"It suffices if they pass in front of him at the distance of a stone's throw."
This ḥadīth is ḍaʿīf (weak) and therefore cannot be used as proof.
Some scholars have speculated based on reasoning (ijtihād):
However, no authentic narration confirms any fixed distance as a legitimate boundary for permissibility.
❖ There is no authentic hadith that defines a specific distance after which passing in front of a praying person becomes permissible if there is no sutrah.
❖ Therefore:
✔ Avoid passing in front of anyone praying, regardless of how far they are, unless there is a clear sutrah separating them from the passerby.
✔ The safer and correct position, in light of the Sunnah, is complete abstention from passing in front of a praying person without a sutrah.
وما علينا إلا البلاغ
Adapted from the book “Sutrah ke Mukhtasir Ahkām wa Masā’il” by Qāḍī Ibrāhīm Sharīf❖ Clear Prohibition from the Prophet ﷺ
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ clearly forbade passing in front of a person praying, and he did not specify an exact distance after which it becomes permissible to pass.
✦ Severe Warning for Crossing a Person in Prayer
Abū Juhaim ʿAbdullāh ibn Ḥārith al-Anṣārī (رضي الله عنه) narrated:
"If the one who passes in front of a person praying knew the burden (of sin) upon him, it would be better for him to wait for forty (years) than to pass in front of him."
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī – Kitāb al-Ṣalāh – Bāb Ithm al-Mār Bayna Yaday al-Muṣallī (Ḥadīth 510)✦ Statement from the Tābiʿī and Jewish Scholar
ʿAṭā ibn Yasār (رحمه الله) narrates that Kaʿb al-Aḥbār said:
"If a person knew the punishment for passing in front of one praying, he would consider it better to be swallowed into the earth than to do so."
Muwaṭṭā Imām Mālik, Riwayah of Yaḥyā ibn Yaḥyā al-Andalusī: 385❖ No Fixed Distance Established by the Prophet ﷺ
The Prophet ﷺ prohibited passing in front of a praying person in absolute terms, and issued stern warnings against it. Thus, the Sunnah demands that no one should pass in front of a person offering salah under any circumstance, regardless of the distance, if no sutrah is present.
See:- Sunan Abī Dāwūd: 704
- Sunan al-Kubrā lil-Bayhaqī: 907
✦ Weak Report About Permissible Distance
There exists a weak narration which says:
"It suffices if they pass in front of him at the distance of a stone's throw."
This ḥadīth is ḍaʿīf (weak) and therefore cannot be used as proof.✦ Opinions of Some Scholars (Not Based on Authentic Hadith)
Some scholars have speculated based on reasoning (ijtihād):
- Three rows (saf) distance makes passing permissible.
- Others suggest that passing where the person praying can no longer see you is permissible.
However, no authentic narration confirms any fixed distance as a legitimate boundary for permissibility.
Conclusion
❖ There is no authentic hadith that defines a specific distance after which passing in front of a praying person becomes permissible if there is no sutrah.
❖ Therefore:
✔ Avoid passing in front of anyone praying, regardless of how far they are, unless there is a clear sutrah separating them from the passerby.
✔ The safer and correct position, in light of the Sunnah, is complete abstention from passing in front of a praying person without a sutrah.
وما علينا إلا البلاغ
