What is the distance that must be between the place of prostration of the one praying and the one passing in front of him, with evidence?
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The questioner : What is the distance that should be between the place of prostration of the one praying and the one passing in front of him, with clarification of the evidence? May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : The one praying is in one of two states: either he sets up a sutrah (barrier) and places it in front of him, which serves as the barrier between him and the one passing in front of him. It is not permissible for anyone to pass between him and his sutrah. If someone attempts to pass between him and his sutrah, he should push him away. If he refuses, let him fight him, for the devil is with him, as established by the hadith from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
The second state is when he has no sutrah. If he has no sutrah, some scholars say that the distance is three cubits from his feet; it is not permissible for anyone to pass within that distance, but there is no blame on passing beyond it. Some scholars said that if he has no sutrah, the limit is the place of his prostration; there is no blame on a person passing beyond the place of his prostration. This is closer to the truth, except if a person has a specific prayer mat on which he prays, in which case it is not permissible for anyone to pass between him and the end of that specific prayer mat.
The questioner : May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : The one praying is in one of two states: either he sets up a sutrah (barrier) and places it in front of him, which serves as the barrier between him and the one passing in front of him. It is not permissible for anyone to pass between him and his sutrah. If someone attempts to pass between him and his sutrah, he should push him away. If he refuses, let him fight him, for the devil is with him, as established by the hadith from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
The second state is when he has no sutrah. If he has no sutrah, some scholars say that the distance is three cubits from his feet; it is not permissible for anyone to pass within that distance, but there is no blame on passing beyond it. Some scholars said that if he has no sutrah, the limit is the place of his prostration; there is no blame on a person passing beyond the place of his prostration. This is closer to the truth, except if a person has a specific prayer mat on which he prays, in which case it is not permissible for anyone to pass between him and the end of that specific prayer mat.
The questioner : May Allah reward you.