The Ruling on a Woman Passing in Front of a Person Praying

Question:
We prayed the Maghrib prayer, and the imam did not have a sutrah (barrier). A woman passed in front of him at a distance of approximately two meters. What is the ruling? Is the prayer valid or not?

Answer:
If the distance between him and her is about three cubits, then she does not harm him. If it is less than that, then she invalidates the prayer. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed facing a wall of the Ka'bah, and the distance between him and the wall was three cubits. A group of scholars derived from this that three cubits is the final limit if one does not have a sutrah. However, if one has a sutrah, then she does not invalidate his prayer unless she passes between him and the sutrah. As for if she passed in front of him without a sutrah, the two meters are more than three cubits, so perhaps she does not invalidate the prayer, if Allah wills.