We said that one of the differences between the one who places a sutrah and the one who does not is that for the one who places the sutrah, the space between him and the sutrah is a respected place, whereas for the other, it extends to his place of prostration.

The Shaykh : Yes, O 'Abd Allah?

The questioner : We mentioned the differences between the one who places a sutrah and the one who does not: that for the one who places the sutrah, everything between him and the sutrah, meaning the place, is forbidden for anyone to pass through...

The Shaykh : It is a respected place.

The questioner : And for the other, it extends to his place of prostration.

The Shaykh : Yes.

The questioner : So why did we say that one of the differences is also that the one passing by without a sutrah, the one who did not place a sutrah, is a shaytan... the shaytan as well?

The Shaykh : We mentioned to you that there are hadiths other than the hadith of Abu Sa'id that it is obligatory to defend oneself absolutely... absolutely.

The questioner : Meaning, in the sense that he fights him and that he is a shaytan.

The Shaykh : Yes.

The questioner : These two points were not mentioned except in the hadith of Abu Sa'id.

The Shaykh : Yes.

The questioner : So why is it restricted, meaning this is specific...

The Shaykh : Because the 'illah (operative cause) is one, and it is spoiling the prayer of the one praying or diminishing it. ... Next time... Yes.