34-TRIAL-Prayer is a connection between a person and his Lord, in which the worshipper stands and converses with his Lord, facing towards Him. Islam enjoins focusing with proper humility (khushu‘) in prayer, and not being distracted, and sets out guidelines concerning that for both the worshipper and the one who is not praying, so that the prayer will not be interrupted and the humble focus (khushu‘) will not be disrupted by the action of either of them. In this hadith, the Tabi‘i Busr ibn Sa‘id narrates that Zayd ibn Khalid al-Juhani (may Allah be pleased with him) sent him to Abu Juhaym (may Allah be pleased with him) to ask him about the hadith of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) concerning the one who passes directly in front of one who is praying. Abu Juhaym stated that he heard the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) warning about the seriousness of passing in front of one who is praying, and that if the one who has the audacity to deliberately walk in front of one who is praying knew about what results from that of severe punishment, he would choose to wait for forty, for that would be better for him than passing directly in front of the worshipper. Abu’n-Nadr Salim ibn Abi Umayyah, the one who narrated the hadith from Busr, said: I do not know whether he said forty days, or months, or years. According to a report narrated by Ibn Majah: I do not know whether it is forty years or months or days or hours. According to a report narrated by al-Bazzar: Forty years. All of these imply a great amount of sin if one passes directly in front of one who is praying, and that it is more appropriate and preferable to wait until he finishes his prayer, and then pass in front of him, or look for another way. This hadith contains an emphatic prohibition and stern warning against passing directly in front of one who is praying, and indicates that it is a major sin, because of this warning of what results from that. It is also refers to the command to have a sutrah or barrier in front of the worshipper, to prevent people from passing directly in front of him. 100.