❖ Definition of Sutrah
In Salah, Sutrah refers to an object that a person places in front of themselves while praying, so that no one passes between them and the place of their prostration. The purpose of setting up a Sutrah is to prevent interruptions during Salah and to protect the passerby from committing a sin. A Sutrah can be any solid item such as a staff, spear, stick, wall, pillar, or tree.
❖ Dimensions of the Sutrah
Hadith: Sayyiduna Talhah ibn ‘Ubaidullah رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“When one of you places in front of him something equal to the rear end of a saddle, he should pray and not care about who passes beyond that.”
(Muslim, Kitab al-Salah, Bab Sutrah al-Musalli, 994)
Explanation: ‘Ata’ رحمه الله said:
“The wooden part at the rear end of a saddle is about one cubit long or slightly more.”
(Abu Dawud, Kitab al-Salah, Bab Ma Yasturu al-Musalli, 686; authenticated by Ibn Khuzaymah, 708)
This shows that a minimum length of one cubit is sufficient for a Sutrah.
❖ Ruling on Placing a Sutrah
Hadith: Sayyiduna Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“When you pray, face towards a Sutrah and stand close to it.”
(Abu Dawud, Bab Ma Yu’maru al-Musalli An Yadra’a ‘An al-Marur Bayna Yadayhi, 896; Ibn Majah, 459)
Another narration: Sayyiduna Sabr ibn Ma‘bad رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Each one of you must use a Sutrah while praying, even if it is just an arrow.”
(Silsilat al-Ahadith al-Sahihah lil-Albani, 3872; Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah, 487)
❖ When Salah is Invalidated
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“If there is no Sutrah in front of the one praying—equal to the rear of a camel saddle—and an adult woman, donkey, or black dog passes in front, the Salah becomes invalid. The black dog is a Shaytan.”
(Muslim, Kitab al-Salah, Bab Qadr Ma Yasturu al-Musalli, 510)
❖ Use of Sutrah in the Mosque
Practice of a Sahabi: Sayyiduna Salamah ibn al-Akwa‘ رضي الله عنه always used to pray behind a pillar in the mosque and said:
“Indeed, the Prophet ﷺ used to pray here.”
(Bukhari, 205; Muslim, Kitab al-Salah, Bab Dunuww al-Musalli Min al-Sutrah, 905)
Some people pray in open spaces in the mosque without a Sutrah rather than near a wall—this is incorrect.
Hadith: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“When you pray using a Sutrah, stand close to it so that Shaytan does not break your prayer.”
(Abu Dawud, Bab al-Dunuww Min al-Sutrah, 596)
❖ The Imam’s Sutrah is Sufficient for the Congregation
Hadith: Sayyiduna Abu Juhaifah رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ led the people in prayer at Batha’. A spear was planted before him, and he prayed two Rak‘at of Zuhr and two of ‘Asr. Women and donkeys passed on the other side of the spear.
(Bukhari, Kitab al-Salah, Bab Sutrat al-Imam Sutrat liman Khalfahu, 594; Muslim, Kitab al-Salah, Bab Sutrah al-Musalli, 505)
Incident of Ibn Abbas: Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنهما said:
“I came to Mina riding a donkey, and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was leading people in prayer. I passed in front of some rows, dismounted, left the donkey, and joined the row. No one objected.”
(Bukhari, Kitab al-Salah, Bab Sutrat al-Imam Sutrat liman Khalfahu, 394; Muslim, 505)
❖ The Sin of Passing in Front of a Worshipper
Hadith: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“If the one passing in front of a person praying knew the gravity of his sin, he would prefer to stand for forty [days/months/years] rather than to pass in front of him.”
Abu al-Nadr said: “I do not recall whether he said forty days, months, or years.”
(Bukhari, Kitab al-Salah, Bab Ithm al-Marr Bayna Yaday al-Musalli, 510; Muslim, 705)
❖ Emphasis on Stopping the Passerby
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Place a Sutrah in front of you while praying. If someone tries to pass between you and the Sutrah, stop them. If they persist, fight them—for he is a Shaytan.”
(Bukhari, 905; Muslim, Kitab al-Salah, Bab Man‘ al-Mar Bayna Yaday al-Musalli, 505)
Further clarification: In another narration, it is stated:
“Stop him once or twice with your hand; if he does not desist, do not hesitate to engage physically, for he is a Shaytan.”
(Ibn Khuzaymah, 818; authenticated as Sahih)
❖ Distance Between the Worshipper and the Sutrah
Hadith: Sayyiduna Jubayr ibn Mut‘im رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“When one of you prays with a Sutrah, he should stand close to it so that Shaytan cannot pass between him and the Sutrah.”
(Silsilat al-Ahadith al-Sahihah lil-Albani, 1386)
Practice of the Prophet ﷺ: The distance between the Prophet’s ﷺ prayer mat and the wall was such that a goat could pass through.
(Bukhari, Kitab al-Salah, Bab Qadr Kam Yanbaghi An Yakun Bayna al-Musalli wa al-Sutrah, 494; Muslim, 505)
Once, when a goat tried to pass in front of the Prophet ﷺ, he leaned close to the wall and the goat passed behind him.
(Bukhari, Muslim)
❖ Lying in Front of the Worshipper
Hadith: Umm al-Mu’minin ‘A’ishah رضي الله عنها said:
“I used to lie in front of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ during his prayer. My legs would be in front of him. When he would go into prostration, I would draw back my legs, and when he stood up, I would stretch them again. At that time, there were no lamps in the houses.”
(Ibn Khuzaymah, 728; authenticated by al-Hakim and al-Dhahabi; Bukhari, Kitab al-Salah, Bab al-Tatawwu‘ Khalfa al-Mar’ah, 315; Muslim, Kitab al-Salah, Bab al-I‘tirad Bayna Yaday al-Musalli, 215-272)
This indicates that passing in front of a worshipper is prohibited, but lying down, such as sleeping in front, is not objectionable.
