Does a woman passing in front of a praying person break his prayer and require him to repeat it, or what?
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The questioner : Does a woman passing in front of a praying person break his prayer and require him to repeat it, or what?
The Shaykh : Repeat it, with the noun in the accusative case.
The questioner : Repeat it, or what?
The Shaykh : The sutrah is a confirmed recommended practice (sunnah muakkadah) for the one praying. Some scholars said it is obligatory and that it is not permissible for a person to pray except facing a sutrah, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded it. However, the stronger opinion in my view is that it is a confirmed recommended practice (sunnah muakkadah) and that a person should not pray except facing a sutrah.
The texts regarding the sutrah are general, applying in Makkah and elsewhere. For this reason, one of the chapter headings in al-Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him) is: "The Chapter on the Sutrah in Makkah and Elsewhere". He did not distinguish between Makkah and other places. This is the stronger opinion: there is no difference regarding the sutrah between Makkah and other places, and what breaks the prayer outside of Makkah breaks the prayer in Makkah. This is except for one who stands to pray in the place of those performing tawaf; he has no right to pray in the place of those performing tawaf, and it has no sanctity for him. For this reason, it is permissible for those performing tawaf to pass in front of him, even if they are close to him. This is because the place of tawaf is for whom? For those performing tawaf. For this reason, Allah began with it in His saying:[Al-Baqarah 2:125]. So the place of tawaf is for those performing tawaf, and it is not permissible for a person to pray in the place of those performing tawaf in a way that narrows their space.
As for if he is far from that and you find a person praying, you do not pass in front of him, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said:Sahih Muslim 507a Forty what?
It came in a narration by al-Bazzar: Forty autumns... forty years. Because autumn is one of the four seasons of the year, and autumn does not pass except after a year. So forty autumns means forty years. I say: Do not stand for forty years waiting for this praying person to finish; wait forty hours. Is that enough or not?
The student: It is enough.
The Shaykh : Even if he stands for forty hours, we tell him: Stand, what? Forty minutes until he finishes, or else walk on the side. Because passing means going from north to south relative to the praying person, from left to right or from right to left. Or if you come this way lengthwise, this is not passing; this is called stepping over. And stepping over is permissible if there is a need for it.
The Shaykh : Repeat it, with the noun in the accusative case.
The questioner : Repeat it, or what?
The Shaykh : The sutrah is a confirmed recommended practice (sunnah muakkadah) for the one praying. Some scholars said it is obligatory and that it is not permissible for a person to pray except facing a sutrah, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded it. However, the stronger opinion in my view is that it is a confirmed recommended practice (sunnah muakkadah) and that a person should not pray except facing a sutrah.
The texts regarding the sutrah are general, applying in Makkah and elsewhere. For this reason, one of the chapter headings in al-Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him) is: "The Chapter on the Sutrah in Makkah and Elsewhere". He did not distinguish between Makkah and other places. This is the stronger opinion: there is no difference regarding the sutrah between Makkah and other places, and what breaks the prayer outside of Makkah breaks the prayer in Makkah. This is except for one who stands to pray in the place of those performing tawaf; he has no right to pray in the place of those performing tawaf, and it has no sanctity for him. For this reason, it is permissible for those performing tawaf to pass in front of him, even if they are close to him. This is because the place of tawaf is for whom? For those performing tawaf. For this reason, Allah began with it in His saying:
Purify My House for those who perform Tawaf and those who are staying [there] for worship and those who bow and prostrate [in prayer]."
وطهر بيتي للطائفين والعاكفين والركع السجودAs for if he is far from that and you find a person praying, you do not pass in front of him, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said:
If anyone who passes in front of a man who is praying knew the responsibility he incurs, he would stand still forty (years) rather than to pass in front of him
لو يعلم المار بين يدي المصلي ماذا عليه لكان أن يقف أربعين خيرا أو خير ٌمن أن يمر بين يديهIt came in a narration by al-Bazzar:
Forty autumns.
أربعين خريفاًThe student: It is enough.
The Shaykh : Even if he stands for forty hours, we tell him: Stand, what? Forty minutes until he finishes, or else walk on the side. Because passing means going from north to south relative to the praying person, from left to right or from right to left. Or if you come this way lengthwise, this is not passing; this is called stepping over. And stepping over is permissible if there is a need for it.