Is a sutrah necessary in prayer? And does a prayer mat suffice in its place?

Question:
A message from one of the female listeners, which ends by saying: Your sister in Allah asks this question: Is a sutrah necessary in prayer? And does a prayer mat suffice in its place?

Answer:
The sutrah is a recommended practice, a strongly recommended practice in prayer; based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): such as a wall, a pillar, a pole, a chair, or something similar. It also came in another hadith from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: and the distance behind it is about an arm's length, or an arm's length minus a little. So if one places something upright between them, such as a chair, a stick, or something like that, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to do, a spear would be placed in front of him, which is a stick that is not long and has a spearhead. If a believer does something like that, it becomes a sutrah for him, or a chair in front of him, or low cushions... or something similar. However, it is not obligatory; it is only a recommended practice. So if one prays without a sutrah, his prayer is valid and there is no blame on him. Yes.

The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.