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.

وَعَنْ كَعْبِ الْأَحْبَارِ قَالَ: لَوْ يَعْلَمُ الْمَارُّ بَيْنَ يَدَيِ الْمُصَلِّي مَاذَا عَلَيْهِ لَكَانَ أَنْ يُخْسَفَ بِهِ خَيْرًا مِنْ أَنْ يَمُرَّ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ. وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ: أَهْوَنَ عَلَيْهِ. رَوَاهُ مَالِكٌ