Is it permissible for a masbuq (one who joins the prayer late) to intentionally place a sutrah (a barrier placed before one praying) in front of him before entering the prayer, out of fear of breaking his prayer when making up the remainder of it?

The questioner: Our teacher.

The Shaykh: Yes.

The questioner : If the prayer is being performed in congregation and I joined in the last rak'ah (a unit of prayer), I intentionally took one of the tables in the mosque where we place the Qur'an and put it in front of me. Of course, there are people next to me who are still praying, so I did this to serve as a sutrah (a barrier placed before one praying) until they finish their prayer. Is this permissible? I mean, my intention was for the sutrah (a barrier placed before one praying) to be beneficial, but I intentionally brought the table and placed it in front of me before I joined them, of course.

The Shaykh : I mean, did you do this after you had already started the prayer?

The questioner : No, before I started the prayer, I took the table, placed it, said the takbir (saying Allahu akbar), and started the prayer with them.

The Shaykh : Yes, there is nothing wrong with it, as long as you are outside the prayer.

The questioner : Yes, that is right.

The Shaykh : What is the reason for this question? There is nothing wrong with it.

The questioner : There is nothing wrong with it, I mean: that I intentionally bring something and put it there?

The Shaykh : As long as you are considering yourself a masbuq (one who joins the prayer late).

The questioner : Yes, that is right.

The Shaykh : And you are considering that after you have caught up with the imam in your qiblah (the direction of prayer), you must have a sutrah (a barrier placed before one praying) in front of you, so you took precautions and placed the table in front of you. There is absolutely nothing wrong with it; rather, this is a good thing.