The Sutra - Section 1

English translation

Ibn ‘Umar said that the Prophet (ﷺ) would go out in the morning* to the place of prayer with a staff in front of him which was carried and set up in front of him in the place of prayer, and he would pray in its direction. * i.e. on the day of the 'Id. Bukhari transmitted it.

English translation

Abu Juhaifa said, “I saw God's Messenger in Mecca at al-Abtah in a red leather tent, I saw Bilal take the ablution water left by God’s Messenger, and I saw the people racing one another to get to that ablution water. If anyone got any of it he rubbed himself with it, and anyone who did not get any got some of the moisture from his companion’s hand. I then saw Bilal take a staff and fix it in the ground, after which God’s Messenger came out quickly in a red mantle and led the people in two <i>rak'as</i> facing the staff. And I saw people and animals passing in front of the staff.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

English translation

Nafi’ said on the authority of Ibn ‘Umar that the Prophet (ﷺ) used to make his riding-beast kneel between him and the <i>qibla</i> and pray facing it. (Bukhari and Muslim.) Bukhari added that Nafi' asked Ibn ‘Umar, saying, “Tell me what happened when the camels moved away,” to which he replied, “He used to take the saddle, put it straight, and pray facing the back of it.”

English translation

Talha b. ‘Ubaidallah reported God’s Messenger as saying, “When one of you places in front of him something such as the back of a saddle, he should pray without caring who passes on the other side of it.” Muslim transmitted it.

English translation

Abu Juhaim reported God’s Messenger as saying, ‘‘If one who passes in front of a man who is praying knew the responsibility he incurs, to stand still for forty would be better for him than to pass in front of him.” Abun Nadr said, “I do not know whether he said forty days, or months, or years.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

English translation

Abu Sa'id reported God’s Messenger as saying, “When one of you prays facing something which conceals him from people and someone wishes to pass in front of him, he should turn away; but if he refuses to go, he should turn him away forcibly, for he is only a devil.” This is Bukhari’s wording, and Muslim has something to the same effect.

English translation

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “A woman, an ass and a dog cut off the prayer, but something like the back of a saddle guards against that.” Muslim transmitted it.

English translation

‘A’isha said, “The Prophet (ﷺ) used to pray at night while I was interposed between him and the <i>qibla</i> like a corpse on a bier.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

English translation

Ibn ‘Abbas said, “When I was near the age of puberty I came riding on a she-ass and found God’s Messenger leading the people in prayer at Mina with no wall in front of him. I passed in front of part of the row of worshippers, and dismounting, let my she-ass go to pasture and joined the row, and no one objected to that.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

English translation

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “When one of your prays he should put something in front of his face, and if he can find nothing he should set up his stick; but if he has no stick with him he should draw a line, then what passes in front of him will not harm him.” Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

English translation

Sahl b. Abu Hathma reported God’s Messenger as saying, “When one of you prays facing a <i>sutra</i>* he should keep close to it and not let the devil interrupt his prayer.” * <i>Sutra</i> (covering, screen) is used of an object a worshipper places in front of him in the direction of the <i>qibla</i> when engaging in prayer. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

English translation

Al-Miqdad b. al-Aswad said, “I never saw God’s Messenger praying in front of a stick, a pillar, or a tree, without having it opposite his right or left eyebrow (i.e. side), and not facing it directly.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

English translation

Al-Fadl b. ‘Abbas said, “God’s Messenger came to us accompanied by ‘Abbas when we were in open country belonging to us. He prayed in a desert with no <i>sutra</i> in front of him, and a she-ass and a bitch of ours were playing in front of him, but he paid no attention to that.” Abu Dawud transmitted it and Nasa’i has something similar.

English translation

Abu Sa'id reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Nothing interrupts prayer, but repulse, as much as you can anyone who passes in front of you, for he is just a devil.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

English translation

‘A’isha said, “I was sleeping in front of God’s Messenger with my legs between him and the <i>qibla</i>. When he prostrated himself he pinched me and I drew up my legs, and when he stood up I stretched them out.” She added, “At that time there were no lamps in the houses.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

English translation

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If one of you knew what he incurred by passing in front of his brother and interfering with his prayer, it would be better for him to stop a hundred years than to take a single step.” Ibn Majah transmitted it.

English translation

Ka‘b al-Ahbar said, “If one who passes in front of a man who is praying knew what was laid to his charge, it would be better for him to be swallowed up by the earth than to pass in front of him.” A version has “less serious for him.” Malik transmitted it.

English translation

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s Messenger as saying, “When one of you prays without a <i>sutra</i>, an ass, a pig, a Jew, a Magian, and a woman cut off his prayer, but it will suffice if they pass in front of him at a distance of over a stone’s throw.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.