Hadithcore
Sahih al-Bukhari, 972
sahih

Narrated Ibn `Umar:

On the day of `Id-ul-Fitr and `Id-ul-Adha a spear used to be planted in front of the Prophet (as a Sutra for the prayer) and then he would pray.

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَهَّابِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ تُرْكَزُ الْحَرْبَةُ قُدَّامَهُ يَوْمَ الْفِطْرِ وَالنَّحْرِ ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي‏.‏

References2 variants
In-Book Reference
Book 13, Hadith 21
USC-MSA web (English) reference
Vol. 2, Book 15, Hadith 89 (deprecated numbering scheme)
Sharh · explanationclick to expand
In this hadeeth, a practical demonstration of some of the guidance of the Prophet ﷺ [can be observed] with regards to the prayer in general, and the two ‘Eid prayers specifically; ʿAbdullah ibn ʿUmar (may Allah be pleased with them) reports that a spear would be thrusted into the ground in front of the Prophet ﷺ before starting the two ‘Eid prayers so that it could serve as a barrier (sutrah) for him ﷺ. This was done for the purpose of demarcating his ﷺ place of prayer so that no one could pass in front of him. The spear [that is mentioned here] is a short pole with a broad spearhead, and it has a shorter length than the rumh [i.e., which was a longer type of spear often used by horsemen in combat]. The Prophet ﷺ used to do this for the two ‘Eid prayers, because he would perform these two prayers outdoor at the Musallaa, where the land is wide and spacious, and there are no structures or barriers. This was also the habit of the Prophet ﷺ during his travels; because: in most instances, the traveller cannot find a wall [so that he may] be shielded by it when he wants to pray; and most of what he prays [is done so] outdoor in lands that are expansive [and lack structure, etc]. It is therefore incumbent upon whoever is praying by themselves to place an object to serve as a barrier between himself and the direction of the Qiblah - so that no one may pass and interrupt [his] performance of the prayer - specifically in open places. As for the congregational prayer, it is sufficient that the Imaam places a barrier in front of himself, as this will serve as a barrier for the ones praying behind him. From the other benefits that we can conclude from this hadeeth is that the Prophet ﷺ was so keen to place a barrier in front of him whenever he wanted to pray..
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