The Ruling on the Sutrah and Its Dimensions
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What is the ruling on the sutrah, and what is its measure?
Placing a barrier (sutrah) in prayer is a confirmed recommended practice (sunnah), except for the one praying behind an imam; it is not recommended for him to place one, as he is content with the imam's barrier.
As for its size, it was mentioned in the hadith: (If one of you prays, let him place a barrier, even if it is an arrow) And it was mentioned in another hadith narrated by Abu Dawud with a good chain: (If he does not have one, let him draw a line).
Al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar said in Bulugh al-Maram: The one who claimed that it is disturbed did not hit the mark; rather, it is good, for there is no defect in the hadith that would necessitate rejecting it.
So we say: Its minimum is a line, and its maximum is like the back of a saddle; it is a recommended practice (sunnah) for the imam and the one praying alone, but not for the one praying behind an imam.
Placing a barrier (sutrah) in prayer is a confirmed recommended practice (sunnah), except for the one praying behind an imam; it is not recommended for him to place one, as he is content with the imam's barrier.
As for its size, it was mentioned in the hadith: (If one of you prays, let him place a barrier, even if it is an arrow) And it was mentioned in another hadith narrated by Abu Dawud with a good chain: (If he does not have one, let him draw a line).
Al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar said in Bulugh al-Maram: The one who claimed that it is disturbed did not hit the mark; rather, it is good, for there is no defect in the hadith that would necessitate rejecting it.
So we say: Its minimum is a line, and its maximum is like the back of a saddle; it is a recommended practice (sunnah) for the imam and the one praying alone, but not for the one praying behind an imam.