The Ruling on Stopping One Who Passes in Front of the One Praying

The questioner:
Honorable Shaykh, what is the ruling on blocking the path in front of a person praying? Is it obligatory or recommended?

The Shaykh:
This is a right of the person praying; he has the right to block the water. It is a right of the person praying, and what is guaranteed between two people is that, unless it is in the Haram, in al-Masjid al-Haram, or in the crowded congregational mosques where harm is restricted and entry is permitted. But if it is in a place without a crowd, then no; he prevents the water, and it is forbidden for a person to pass between a person praying and his prayer mat, or between a person praying and [the place of prostration], without removing his shoes from his feet if he does not have a journey. It is forbidden for a woman [to pass]. The person praying may prevent [her] except if it is in the places available to him, and in a voice like the two Harams and the large congregational mosques, then he does not prevent the sick for the sake of the fitrah. Yes.

The questioner:
Honorable Shaykh.

The Shaykh:
And the legal principle is that when the matter becomes severe, everything that becomes severe is [treated with] forgetfulness. Meaning, preventing people from praying for them in the Haram, like some of the brothers do, this is a mistake, this is a mistake. One is holding onto [the prayer of] twenty people; let them go. They say, yes.