Taken from: "Ahkam wa Masail in the Light of the Qur’an and Hadith", Volume 02
If a person who was serving as a sutrah (barrier) for a praying individual gets up and leaves, is the praying person allowed to move forward, or to the right or left, to obtain a new sutrah? If permissible, how many rows can he move through? Also, is using a sutrah considered wājib (obligatory) or mustahabb (recommended)?
✦ No, the praying individual is not allowed to move in search of a new sutrah once the prayer has begun.
The use of a sutrah is mustahabb (recommended), not wājib (obligatory).
“I came and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was engaged in prayer, and the door was closed. He walked (during the prayer) until he opened the door and returned to his place.”
She added, “The door was in the direction of the Qiblah.”
(Abu Dawud, Kitab al-Salat; al-Nasa'i, Kitab al-Iftitah; al-Tirmidhi, Abwab al-Salat)
This Hadith shows that walking in prayer is only tolerated in voluntary prayers and for specific needs, not to obtain a sutrah once prayer is in progress.
“I came riding on a donkey and had not yet reached the age of puberty. The Prophet ﷺ was leading the people in prayer at Mina, and there was no wall in front of him. I passed in front of some of the rows, dismounted, and joined the row, and no one objected to this.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Salah, Bab Satrat al-Imam Satrat man Khalfahu)
This Hadith indicates that the sutrah is a Sunnah (recommended) and not an absolute obligation, as the prayer of the Prophet ﷺ proceeded without a physical barrier.
① Walking to find a new sutrah during prayer is not allowed.
② The sutrah is mustahabb (recommended), not obligatory.
③ Movement within prayer is permissible only for clear necessity, and even then, only in voluntary prayers.
Wallāhu Aʿlam.
❀ Question:
If a person who was serving as a sutrah (barrier) for a praying individual gets up and leaves, is the praying person allowed to move forward, or to the right or left, to obtain a new sutrah? If permissible, how many rows can he move through? Also, is using a sutrah considered wājib (obligatory) or mustahabb (recommended)?
❀ Answer:
✦ No, the praying individual is not allowed to move in search of a new sutrah once the prayer has begun.
The use of a sutrah is mustahabb (recommended), not wājib (obligatory).
✿ Supporting Hadiths:
- ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها said:
“I came and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was engaged in prayer, and the door was closed. He walked (during the prayer) until he opened the door and returned to his place.”
She added, “The door was in the direction of the Qiblah.”
(Abu Dawud, Kitab al-Salat; al-Nasa'i, Kitab al-Iftitah; al-Tirmidhi, Abwab al-Salat)
This Hadith shows that walking in prayer is only tolerated in voluntary prayers and for specific needs, not to obtain a sutrah once prayer is in progress.
- ʿAbdullah ibn ʿAbbas رضي الله عنهما said:
“I came riding on a donkey and had not yet reached the age of puberty. The Prophet ﷺ was leading the people in prayer at Mina, and there was no wall in front of him. I passed in front of some of the rows, dismounted, and joined the row, and no one objected to this.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Salah, Bab Satrat al-Imam Satrat man Khalfahu)
This Hadith indicates that the sutrah is a Sunnah (recommended) and not an absolute obligation, as the prayer of the Prophet ﷺ proceeded without a physical barrier.
✦ Legal Conclusion:
- A person should not walk during prayer to seek a new sutrah.
- Once in prayer, movement is only allowed in necessity, not for seeking a recommended element.
- The sutrah is Sunnah, not wājib.
✔ Summary:
① Walking to find a new sutrah during prayer is not allowed.
② The sutrah is mustahabb (recommended), not obligatory.
③ Movement within prayer is permissible only for clear necessity, and even then, only in voluntary prayers.
Wallāhu Aʿlam.
