What is the ruling on placing a sutrah for the one praying, and what is the ruling on people passing in front of one who is praying in the Sacred Mosque in Makkah, the Prophet’s Mosque, and on Friday?

Question:
What is the ruling on placing a sutrah in front of the one praying? Is it obligatory or what? And what is the ruling on some people performing tawaf in the Sacred Mosque in Makkah in front of you while you are praying the sunnah, for example? Also, what is the ruling in the Sacred Mosque in Madinah, that is, the Prophet’s Mosque (peace and blessings be upon him)? And what is the ruling on people performing tawaf in front of one who is praying the sunnah or any other prayer? May Allah reward you with good. Also, on Friday in mosques other than the three mosques? May Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
The sutrah for the one praying is recommended for the imam, and for the one praying alone. As for the ma’mum, the sutrah of his imam is his sutrah. The sutrah is recommended, not obligatory. In the Sacred Mosque, there is leniency regarding people passing by, and likewise in the Prophet’s Mosque, and likewise in crowded mosques such as the congregational mosques. If there is difficulty in the matter and the crowd is severe, then it is permitted for people to pass in front of the one praying due to the difficulty involved, and difficulty brings about ease. And the sutrah, as we have mentioned, is not an obligatory matter, but rather it is recommended according to the majority of the scholars of knowledge. Yes. May Allah reward you with good.