Clarification of what Ibn al-Qayyim mentioned regarding the sutrah
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Ibn al-Qayyim mentioned in *Zad al-Ma'ad* that "it is from the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) regarding the sutrah that the one praying should not intentionally face it directly in front of his face, and that he should not stand firm facing it". So, could you clarify this, O Shaykh?
The scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) say: If you place a sutrah in prayer, do not face it directly head-on, but rather place it somewhat to your right or somewhat to your left, because a hadith was reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to that effect; however, the hadith reported on this matter is weak;Meaning: it has some weakness in it.
The apparent indication of the evidence is that the sutrah should be directly in front of the one praying, and that he should face it without it being to his right or to his left.
The matter in this is broad; if he stands firm facing it, there is no harm, and a person is far from making it like an idol, and if he places it somewhat to his right or to his left, there is no harm.
The scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) say: If you place a sutrah in prayer, do not face it directly head-on, but rather place it somewhat to your right or somewhat to your left, because a hadith was reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to that effect; however, the hadith reported on this matter is weak;Meaning: it has some weakness in it.
The apparent indication of the evidence is that the sutrah should be directly in front of the one praying, and that he should face it without it being to his right or to his left.
The matter in this is broad; if he stands firm facing it, there is no harm, and a person is far from making it like an idol, and if he places it somewhat to his right or to his left, there is no harm.