The ruling on the sutrah for the one praying, its description, and the ruling on passing in front of the one praying

Question:
This questioner, whose name is indicated by the letters R, 'Ayn, and Ha, asks: Is the sutrah for the one praying obligatory or recommended? How high should the sutrah be? How far must the one praying stand from it? And is it permissible to walk toward the sutrah during the prayer?

Answer:
Establishing a sutrah for the one praying is a recommended practice (sunnah) for the imam and the one praying alone, whereas for the one praying behind the imam, his sutrah is the imam’s sutrah. Its height should be that of the back of a saddle, the size of the back of a saddle. If it is less than that, there is no harm, or if it is more, or if it is more than that, meaning it should be approximately the height of an arm. One should stand close to the sutrah so that the place of his prostration is near the sutrah, and there should not be a long distance between him and it. This is what concerns the sutrah, its ruling, and its manner. It is not permissible to pass between the one praying and his sutrah; this is forbidden (haram) and carries a severe warning. The one who passes in front of the one praying, or between him and his sutrah, commits a grave sin. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded the one praying to repel the one who wants to pass in front of him. If he refuses, let him fight him, meaning strike him to discipline him. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: meaning that he is with the devil, who is the one inciting him to pass in front of the one praying. Yes.