Taken from: "Ahkam wa Masail in the Light of the Qur’an and Hadith", Volume 02
Should a person use a sutrah while praying inside a mosque, or is this requirement specific to praying in open places like the desert? A scholar (who also teaches Sahih al-Bukhari) stated that there's no need to place a sutrah inside the mosque, as there’s no direct proof from the Qur’an or Hadith that the Prophet ﷺ used a sutrah inside a mosque—only outside.
✦ The use of a sutrah is applicable both inside the mosque and outside, including in deserts and homes.
There is clear evidence from authentic Hadith that the Prophet ﷺ and his companions used sutrah even within the mosque, often by using pillars or walls.
"I used to accompany Salamah ibn al-Akwaʿ رضي الله عنه to the mosque. He always used to place a specific pillar in front of him while praying, near where the Qur'an used to be placed. I once asked him, 'O Abu Muslim! I notice you always pray facing this particular pillar?'
He replied: 'I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ praying in front of it regularly.'"
(Sahih al-Bukhari)
This proves that the Prophet ﷺ himself used a specific pillar as a sutrah inside the Masjid Nabawi.
“I saw the noble companions of the Prophet ﷺ rushing towards the pillars (of the mosque) at the time of Maghrib.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Salah, Bab al-Salah ila al-Asṭuwānah)
This Hadith demonstrates the practice of the Sahabah seeking pillars in the mosque to serve as sutrah for prayer.
If sutrah were only for outdoor use, then what is the Islamic solution to prevent the sin of someone crossing in front of a praying person inside a mosque? Clearly, the same reasoning for using a sutrah outside applies equally inside the mosque to protect the sanctity of prayer.
① The use of sutrah is recommended both inside and outside the mosque.
② The Prophet ﷺ and his companions regularly used walls and pillars inside the Masjid Nabawi as sutrah.
③ The claim that sutrah is not needed inside a mosque is incorrect and contradicted by authentic Hadith.
Wallāhu Aʿlam.
❀ Question:
Should a person use a sutrah while praying inside a mosque, or is this requirement specific to praying in open places like the desert? A scholar (who also teaches Sahih al-Bukhari) stated that there's no need to place a sutrah inside the mosque, as there’s no direct proof from the Qur’an or Hadith that the Prophet ﷺ used a sutrah inside a mosque—only outside.
❀ Answer:
✦ The use of a sutrah is applicable both inside the mosque and outside, including in deserts and homes.
There is clear evidence from authentic Hadith that the Prophet ﷺ and his companions used sutrah even within the mosque, often by using pillars or walls.
✿ Authentic Evidence:
- Yazid ibn Abi ʿUbayd said:
"I used to accompany Salamah ibn al-Akwaʿ رضي الله عنه to the mosque. He always used to place a specific pillar in front of him while praying, near where the Qur'an used to be placed. I once asked him, 'O Abu Muslim! I notice you always pray facing this particular pillar?'
He replied: 'I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ praying in front of it regularly.'"
(Sahih al-Bukhari)
This proves that the Prophet ﷺ himself used a specific pillar as a sutrah inside the Masjid Nabawi.
- Anas ibn Malik رضي الله عنه narrated:
“I saw the noble companions of the Prophet ﷺ rushing towards the pillars (of the mosque) at the time of Maghrib.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Salah, Bab al-Salah ila al-Asṭuwānah)
This Hadith demonstrates the practice of the Sahabah seeking pillars in the mosque to serve as sutrah for prayer.
✦ Logical Clarification:
If sutrah were only for outdoor use, then what is the Islamic solution to prevent the sin of someone crossing in front of a praying person inside a mosque? Clearly, the same reasoning for using a sutrah outside applies equally inside the mosque to protect the sanctity of prayer.
✔ Summary:
① The use of sutrah is recommended both inside and outside the mosque.
② The Prophet ﷺ and his companions regularly used walls and pillars inside the Masjid Nabawi as sutrah.
③ The claim that sutrah is not needed inside a mosque is incorrect and contradicted by authentic Hadith.
Wallāhu Aʿlam.
