If I am praying alone and there is no one in my house, should I place a sutrah between myself and the person passing in front of me?

The questioner : If I am praying alone and there is no one in my house praying, should I place a sutrah between myself and the person passing in front of me?

The Shaykh : If a person is alone in his house or in the desert and is safe from anyone passing in front of him, the scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) differed on whether it is recommended to place a sutrah in that case or not. The stronger view is that he should place a sutrah even if he does not fear anyone passing, because one of the benefits of the sutrah is that it prevents the gaze from wandering to the right and left. It is better for the sutrah to be the size of the back of a saddle, meaning it should be something standing about two-thirds of an arm's length, or half a meter. If he does not find one, let him draw a line. This sutrah benefits the person even if no one passes by. This is the stronger opinion in this issue: that the sutrah is a recommended practice (sunnah), whether he fears someone passing in front of him or not. Accordingly, if a person prays in his house, he should stand close to the wall and make the wall his sutrah. Yes.

The questioner : May Allah reward you. This questioner says.