❖ Rulings Related to Sutrah in Salah and Passing in Front of a Worshipper ❖
✍ Fatwa by: Fadhilat al-Shaykh Abdul Wakeel Nasir ḥafiẓahullāh
Is it permissible to place a sutrah (barrier) in front of someone offering salah or to stretch an arm to let someone pass in front of them?
Placing a sutrah in front of someone engaged in salah or using one's hand to create a path for others to pass is not considered a commendable practice.
Some scholars have ruled that placing the sutrah is the responsibility of the worshipper himself, and once someone else places a new object as a sutrah, it nullifies the original setup, making the newly placed object the actual sutrah.
✔ It is the duty of the person offering salah to arrange a sutrah and adhere to its guidelines.
✔ It is inappropriate for others to interfere, such as forcibly moving someone or compelling them to act as a barrier for another.
✔ One should not take it upon themselves to place a sutrah for someone mid-prayer unless the situation truly warrants it.
It is narrated that the Companions used to direct or gently guide worshippers toward pillars in the masjid to ensure they had a proper sutrah.
However, compared to that, placing a sutrah for someone mid-prayer is considered a lesser act, and some leniency exists in that regard.
✦ It is not recommended to place a sutrah in front of a worshipper during prayer or to stretch an arm to allow someone to pass in front of them.
✦ It is preferable that the worshipper himself ensures a sutrah is present before commencing prayer.
✦ Others should avoid interfering in matters related to the worshipper’s sutrah.
✦ Awareness and education regarding the etiquettes and rulings of sutrah should be promoted in the community.
✍ Fatwa by: Fadhilat al-Shaykh Abdul Wakeel Nasir ḥafiẓahullāh
◈ Question
Is it permissible to place a sutrah (barrier) in front of someone offering salah or to stretch an arm to let someone pass in front of them?
◈ The Practice of Placing a Sutrah in Front of a Worshipper
Placing a sutrah in front of someone engaged in salah or using one's hand to create a path for others to pass is not considered a commendable practice.
Some scholars have ruled that placing the sutrah is the responsibility of the worshipper himself, and once someone else places a new object as a sutrah, it nullifies the original setup, making the newly placed object the actual sutrah.
◈ General Guidance on Sutrah
✔ It is the duty of the person offering salah to arrange a sutrah and adhere to its guidelines.
✔ It is inappropriate for others to interfere, such as forcibly moving someone or compelling them to act as a barrier for another.
✔ One should not take it upon themselves to place a sutrah for someone mid-prayer unless the situation truly warrants it.
◈ Practice of the Sahabah رضي الله عنهم
It is narrated that the Companions used to direct or gently guide worshippers toward pillars in the masjid to ensure they had a proper sutrah.
However, compared to that, placing a sutrah for someone mid-prayer is considered a lesser act, and some leniency exists in that regard.
◈ Summary
✦ It is not recommended to place a sutrah in front of a worshipper during prayer or to stretch an arm to allow someone to pass in front of them.
✦ It is preferable that the worshipper himself ensures a sutrah is present before commencing prayer.
✦ Others should avoid interfering in matters related to the worshipper’s sutrah.
✦ Awareness and education regarding the etiquettes and rulings of sutrah should be promoted in the community.
