The Obligation of Praying Towards a Barrier (Sutrah) and of being close to it – Shaykh Naasiruddeen al-Albaanee

[Shehzad Sattar]

The Obligation of Praying Towards a Barrier (Sutrah) and of being close to it – Shaykh Naasiruddeen al-Albaanee

17. It is obligatory that he prays towards a barrier (sutrah). It makes no difference whether he is praying in a mosque or elsewhere, nor whether the mosque is large or small. This is because of the all-embracing statement of the Prophet (ﷺ),

“Do not pray except towards a sutrah, and do not let anyone walk in front of you. So if a person insists (on trying to pass) then fight him, because he has an evil companion along with him,” meaning a devil.

18. It is obligatory that he is close to it, since the Prophet (ﷺ) commanded that.

19. Between his (ﷺ) place of prostration and the wall towards which he prayed there would be a space approximately wide enough for a sheep to pass through. So if one does likewise then he has carried out the closeness that is obligatory upon him. [1]

Footnote:

[1]: I say: We know from this that what the Muslims do in all mosques that I have seen Syria and elsewhere with regard to praying in the middle of the mosque, far away from any wall or pillar, is nothing but negligence of the command and the practice of the Prophet (ﷺ).

Taken from: In the Abridgment of The Prophet’s Prayer Described by Shaykh Al-Albaani (Rahimahullaah) pg.9.

The Prophet sallallahu`alayhi wa sallam said: “Be balanced in prostration and let not one of you spread his arms like a dog” [Saheeh al-Bukharee]

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Be balanced in prostration and let not one of you spread his arms like a dog” [Saheeh al-Bukharee]

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