Praying facing a sutrah is a confirmed recommended practice
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Question:
Many of the brothers are strict about the matter of the sutrah, to the extent that one of them will wait for a sutrah to be available even if he is in a mosque and cannot find an empty pillar, and he rebukes those who do not pray facing a sutrah. Some of them, however, are lenient about it. What is the truth in this matter? Does a line serve as a substitute for the sutrah when it is not available, and is there any report indicating this?
Answer:
Praying facing a sutrah is a confirmed recommended practice, not obligatory. If one does not find anything erected, a line is sufficient for him. The evidence for what we have mentioned is the statement of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sunan Ibn Majah 954Sahih (Darussalam) narrated by Abu Dawud with a sound chain. And his statement (peace and blessings be upon him): Bulugh al-Maram 2:98 narrated by Muslim in his Sahih. And his statement (peace and blessings be upon him): Sunan Ibn Majah 943Da’if (Darussalam) narrated by Imam Ahmad and Ibn Majah with a good chain, as stated by Al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar in (Bulugh al-Maram).
It is also established from him (peace and blessings be upon him) that he prayed on some occasions without a sutrah, which indicates that it is not obligatory. An exception to this is prayer in the Sacred Mosque, where the one praying does not need a sutrah, as established from Ibn al-Zubayr (may Allah be pleased with him and his father), that he used to pray in the Sacred Mosque without a sutrah while the tawaf was in front of him.
It is also narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) what indicates this, but with a weak chain. Also, the Sacred Mosque is generally a place of crowding, where it is not possible to prevent people from passing in front of the one praying. Therefore, the legislation of the sutrah is dropped in this case, as mentioned above. The Prophet’s Mosque is included in this during times of crowding, and so are other places of crowding, in accordance with the statement of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) : [Al-Taghabun: 16], and his statement (peace and blessings be upon him): Sahih al-Bukhari 7288. It is agreed upon that it is authentic. And success is from Allah.
Many of the brothers are strict about the matter of the sutrah, to the extent that one of them will wait for a sutrah to be available even if he is in a mosque and cannot find an empty pillar, and he rebukes those who do not pray facing a sutrah. Some of them, however, are lenient about it. What is the truth in this matter? Does a line serve as a substitute for the sutrah when it is not available, and is there any report indicating this?
Answer:
Praying facing a sutrah is a confirmed recommended practice, not obligatory. If one does not find anything erected, a line is sufficient for him. The evidence for what we have mentioned is the statement of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
When anyone of you performs prayer, let him pray facing towards a Sutrah, and let him get close to it
إذا صلى أحدكم فليصل إلى سترة وليدن منهاIn case there is not before him (an object) like the back of a saddle, a Muslim's Salat (prayer) would be cut off by (the passing of) a woman, a donkey and a black dog
يقطع صلاة الرجل إذا لم يكن بين يديه مثل آخرة الرحل المرأة والحمار والكلب الأسودWhen anyone of you performs prayer, let him put something in front of him. If he cannot find anything then let him put a stick. If he cannot find one, then let him draw a line. Then it will not matter if anything passes in front of him.
إذا صلى أحدكم فليجعل تلقاء وجهه شيئًا فإن لم يجد فلينصب عصًا فإن لم يجد فليخط خطًا ثم لا يضره من مر بين يديهIt is also established from him (peace and blessings be upon him) that he prayed on some occasions without a sutrah, which indicates that it is not obligatory. An exception to this is prayer in the Sacred Mosque, where the one praying does not need a sutrah, as established from Ibn al-Zubayr (may Allah be pleased with him and his father), that he used to pray in the Sacred Mosque without a sutrah while the tawaf was in front of him.
It is also narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) what indicates this, but with a weak chain. Also, the Sacred Mosque is generally a place of crowding, where it is not possible to prevent people from passing in front of the one praying. Therefore, the legislation of the sutrah is dropped in this case, as mentioned above. The Prophet’s Mosque is included in this during times of crowding, and so are other places of crowding, in accordance with the statement of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) :
So fear Allah as much as you are able
فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْAnd if I order you to do something, then do of it as much as you can.
إذا أمرتكم بأمر فأتوا منه ما استطعتم
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.