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Reviving a Neglected Sunnah:

Praying with a Sutrah in Front of Oneself

This short article was compiled in response to a general lack of awareness in some parts of the Muslim world

towards an important etiquette of salah. I have witnessed whole communities and masajid that do not exhort

to fulfilling the sunnah of using a sutrah when praying outside of jama’at.

Many ahadeeth have been narrated enjoining the use of a sutrah while praying, facing towards it; and warning

against the Shaytan interrupting the prayer if one prays without it. It was narrated from Sahl ibn Abi Hathmah

that the Prophet ( لى هللا عليه وسلمص ) said: “If one of you prays facing a sutrah, let him draw close to it and not let

the shaytan interrupt his prayer.” [Abu Da’wud, 695; classed as hasan by Ibn ‘Abd al-Barr in al-Tamheed

(4/1505); classed as saheeh by al-Nawawi in al-Majmoo’ (3/244); classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi

Dawood]

Al-Azeemabaadi (may Allaah have mercy on him) says: “... so he will not be distracted by whispers from the

shaytan. It may be understood from this that the sutrah prevents the shaytan from taking over the worshipper

and instilling his whispers into his heart, either completely or partially, according to the worshipper's sincerity

and his focusing and turning to Allaah in his prayer. If there is no sutrah then the shaytan can cause him to fail

to pray with proper focus and humility.” [‘Awn al-Ma’bood (2/275)]

Perhaps the one who said that the reward for prayer of one who prays without a sutrah is reduced was

referring to this meaning, especially if someone walks in front of him and interrupts his prayer. In that case the

one who walks in front of him is sinning and the one who was praying is affected by the distraction from his

prayer because of his shortcoming.

Ibn Hajar al-Haytami (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “It may be understood as referring to interruption

of the prayer by someone walking in front of him and distracting him, which is mentioned in the hadeeths:

interruption of khushoo’ (proper focus) and the harm resulting from being distracted by the one who walks in

front, and the shaytan being able to get control of him by whispering and distracting him from what he is

doing so that he does not understand anything of his prayer or anything except a little, so he misses out on the

reward. All of that is what is referred to in the hadeeth in which the Prophet (صلى هللا عليه وسلم) says: “and not

let the shaytan interrupt his prayer” [Al-Fataawa al-Fiqhiyyah al-Kubra (1/170)]

This also explains what was narrated from Ibn Mas’ood (may Allaah be pleased with him) when he said: “If

anyone wants to walk in front of you when you are praying, do not let him, for he will make you lose half of

your prayer.” [al-Musannaf (2/25) with an isnaad which includes a majhool (unknown) narrator].

It is also the meaning of what was said by some of the salaf such as Abu Ishaaq and Yahya ibn Abi Katheer, that

it is not appropriate to pray without a sutrah. This was narrated by Ibn al-Mundhir in al-Awsat (no. 2395), and

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a similar meaning is found in a report narrated by ‘Abd al-Razzaaq in al-Musannaf (2/26), Bab man salla ila

ghayri sutrah.

Whatever the case, the scholars are agreed that prayer without a sutrah is still valid, even though the reward

for it is less than that of one who prays facing a sutrah. But there is no report which indicates that this

detraction is as much as half of the reward.

Ibn Hajar al-Haytami (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “If a person prays without a sutrah when he is able

to do so, there is no difference of opinion concerning the fact that his prayer is valid.” [Al-Fataawa al-Fiqhiyyah

al-Kubra (1/160). What is meant is that the scholars are unanimously agreed that his prayer is valid].

The sutrah is mustahabb (recommended) according to the majority of fuqaha’, and some of them are of the

view that it is obligatory.

It says in al-Mawsoo’ah al-Fiqhiyyah (24/177): It is Sunnah for the worshipper, if he is praying alone or is

leading others in prayer, to have a sutrah in front of him that will prevent people from walking in front of him,

and enable him to focus properly on the actions of the prayer. That is because of the report narrated from Abu

Sa’eed al-Khudri (may Allaah be pleased with him), that the Prophet (صلى هللا عليه وسلم) said: “When one of you

prays, let him pray facing towards a sutrah and draw close to it, and not let anyone pass in front of him.” And

he (صلى هللا عليه وسلم) said: “Let one of you use a sutrah when he prays, even if it is an arrow.” This includes

when one is travelling and when one is at home, and it includes both obligatory and naafil prayers.

The idea behind it is that the worshipper should refrain from looking beyond the sutrah, and focus properly so

that his mind will not wander; the idea is also to prevent others committing sin by passing directly in front of

him.

Preferable or Obligatory?

The command in the hadeeth is to be understood as meaning that it is mustahabb, not obligatory. Ibn

‘Aabideen said: It is makrooh to omit it. There are reports to show that it is not obligatory such as the report

narrated by Abu Dawood from al-Fadl ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) who said: The Messenger

of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) came to us when we were in the desert and he prayed in

the desert with nothing in front of him.

The Hanbalis said something similar. Al-Bahooti said: That is not obligatory because of the hadeeth of Ibn

‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) who said that the Prophet ( لى هللا عليه وسلمص ) prayed in the open with

nothing in front of him.

It is mustahabb according to the Hanafis, and the well known view of the Maalikis, for the imam and the

person praying alone if they think that people will walk in front of them. Otherwise the sutrah is not

prescribed in those cases. And it was narrated that Maalik enjoined it in all cases. This was also the view of Ibn

Habeeb and was favoured by al-Lakhmi.

The Shaafa’is said that it is Sunnah in all cases, and they did not mention any limits.

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The Hanbalis said: The sutrah is Sunnah for the imam and the person who is praying alone, even if they do not

fear that anyone will pass in front of them.

For the person who is praying behind an imam, it is not mustahabb for him to use a sutrah, according to

consensus, because the sutrah of the imam is the sutrah for those who are praying behind him, or because the

imam is a sutrah for him. End quote.

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said, after quoting the evidence for both points of

view: The evidence of those who say that the sutrah is Sunnah, who are the majority, is stronger, and this is

the more correct opinion. End quote from al-Sharh al-Mumti’ (3/277).

Secondly:

There is nothing wrong with taking a person who is praying or sitting in front of you as a sutrah. Then if he

leaves and you find another sutrah close by, such as a wall or pillar, or another worshipper, you may move

towards it, and his moving will be forgiven, because it is for the sake of the prayer. But if there is nothing

nearby, you should complete your prayer as you are, and stop anyone who tries to walk in front of you.

It says in al-Mudawwanah (1/202): Maalik said: If a man is praying behind an imam and he missed part of the

prayer, and the imam says the salaam, and he has pillars on his right and on his left, there is nothing wrong

with moving back and standing behind the pillar on his right or on his left, if it is close by, to use it as a sutrah.

He said: The same applies if it is front of him and he moves forwards towards it, so long as it is not far away.

He said: The same applies if it is behind him; there is nothing wrong with moving backwards, if it is close. He

said: But if the pillar is far away from him, he should pray where he is, and he should try to prevent those who

want to pass in front of him as much as he can.

See also Appendix One

Establishing the Sutrah

Abu Sa'eed reports that the Prophet ( لى هللا عليه وسلمص ) said: "When one of you prays, he should pray toward his

sutrah and he should be close to it." This is related by Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah.

Ibn 'Umar relates that "when the Prophet ( لى هللا عليه وسلمص ) went out to pray salatul 'id, he asked for a spear

and placed it in front of himself and he offered salah toward it and the people prayed behind him. And he

would do that while he was traveling so that those in authority [for the affairs of the Muslims] would also do

this." This is related by al-Bukhari, Muslim, and Abu Dawud.

Sabrah ibn Mu'abid reports that the Messenger of Allaah ( لى هللا عليه وسلمص ) said: "When one of you prays, he

should make a partition for his salah, even if it is an arrow." This is related by Ahmad and by al-Hakim who said

it is sahih according to the criteria of Muslim. Al-Haithami observes: "Ahmad's narrators are sound."

Abu Hurairah relates that the Prophet ( لى هللا عليه وسلمص )said: "When one of you prays, he should place

something in front of him. If he cannot find anything, he should prop up his staff [in front of him]. If he does

not have a staff, he should draw a line [on the ground in front of him] then nothing that passes in front of him

will harm him." This is related by Ahmad and Abu Dawud and Ibn Hibban. The later classifies it sahih as did

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Ahmad and Ibn al-Madini. Al-Baihaqi says: "There is no problem with that hadith regarding that ruling, Allaah

willing."

Talhah says: "We used to pray and the animals would pass in front of us. We mentioned that to the Prophet

( لى هللا عليه وسلمص ) and he said: "If anything the size of a saddle is in front of you, nothing that passes beyond it

would harm you." [This is related by Ahmad, Muslim, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, and at-Tirmidhi who calls it

hasan sahih]

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Appendix One

Imam 'Abdul-'Azeez bin Baaz (rahimahullaah) replied to the following question:

Question: Many of the brothers are very strict in the matter of the Sutrah, so much so that a person will wait

until a Sutrah becomes available (before praying) if he is in a Masjid and he doesn't find an empty pillar (i.e. a

pillar that doesn't already have someone prayig toward it). Also, he will rebuke those who do not pray towards

a Surtah. Some other people are lax in this matter (of praying toward a Sutrah). So what is the truth in this?

And does the line (drawn on the ground) take the place of the Sutrah when one is not available, and is there

anything reported that proves this?

Answer: Praying towards a Sutrah is a stressed Sunnah (Sunnah Mu'akkadah) and it is NOT OBLIGATORY

(laysat waajibah). So if a person does not find anything erected (to use as a Sutrah) then the line (on the

ground) suffices him. And the proof concerning what we have mentioned is his (the Prophet's), sallAllaahu

'alayhi wa sallam, statement, "When one of you prays, let him pray toward a Sutrah and let him draw near to

it." Reported by Aboo Dawud with an authentic (Saheeh) chain of narration. And his, sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa

sallam, statement, "The Muslim man's prayer is cut off, if there is not in front of him something like the end of

a saddle, by: the woman, the donkey and the black dog." Reported by Muslim in his Saheeh.

There is also the statement of the Prophet, sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, "When one of you prays, then let him

place something in front of his face (i.e. like a wall or pillar), and if he does not find anything, then let him

erect a stick, and if he does not find one, then let him draw a line (on the ground), then whoever passes in

front of him will not harm him." Reported by Al-Imaam Ahmad and Ibn Maajah with a good (Hasan) chain of

narration. This is what was said by Al-Haafidh Ibn Hajar, rahimahullaah, in Bulooghul-Maraam. And it has been

confirmed from him, sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, that he sometimes prayed towards other than a sutrah (i.e.

without one), and this proves that it is not obligatory (Waajibah). And excluded from this (prayer towards a

Sutrah) is the prayer in Al-Masjid ul-Haraam, for verily the person who prays (in Al-Masjid ul-Haraam in

Makkah) does not need a Sutrah in it. This is due to what is confirmed from Ibn Az-Zubayr (radhiyAllaahu

'anhumaa) that he used to pray in Al-Masjid ul-Haraam towards other than a Sutrah (i.e. without one) and the

people making Tawaaf would be in front of him (i.e. passing in front of him). It has also been reported from

the Prophet (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) that which proves this, but it's chain of narration is weak.

And because Al-Masjid ul-Haraam is usually expected to be crowded and there is a lack of ability to safe from

people passing in front of the one who is praying, then this legislation is dropped in this case due to what has

preceded. Also, Al-Masjid un-Nabawee is included in this ruling during the time when there is crowding, and

likewise other places of crowding. This is acting according to the statement of Allaah, 'Azza wa Jall, "So fear

Allaah as much as you are able." [At-Taghaabun:16]

And the Prophet's (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) statement, "If I have commanded you with something, then

do it as much as you are able." It's authenticity is agree upon. And Allaah is the Giver of success.

[Source: Fataawaa Muhimmah Tata'allaqu bis-Salaah, pp. 36-38, no. 24.

Translated by Aqeel Walker]

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Appendix Two

General Issues Pertaining to the Prayer: Questions and Answers on the Sutrah by Shaykh Muhammd ibn Saleh

al Uthaymeen (rahimahullaah).

Q1 : What is a Sutrah?

A : Something used by a person performing Salaah (as a barrier) between himself and one passing in-front-of

him.

Q2 : What is its ruling?

A : It is compulsory, and whoever disregards it, has commited a sin. This is based on the saying of the

Messenger Muhammad e,: "If any of you wish to perform Salaah, then he must perform it towards a Sutrah

(ie:with a Sutrah in front of him) and draw close to it". [Aboo Daawood and Ibn Maajah..among others]

And his saying: "Do not perform Salaah except that there is a Sutrah in front of you". (Muslim)

And his saying: "If any of you wish to perform Salaah, then let him place a Sutrah in front of him and draw

close to it for indeed (shaytan) the evil-one passes in front of him". [Ibn Khuzaymah]

And his saying: "Let any one of you place something similar to (the size of) the rear of a camel's saddle (in

front of him), then perform Salaah". [Ibn Jaarood]

Q3 : Is it permissible to stay far away from it (the Sutrah)?

A : No! And whoever stays further than three forearms1 length away from it, has sinned and has placed his

Salaah in a position to have it spoilt by shaytan. This is evident from the hadeeth of the Messenger of Allaah

(sallAllaahu alayhi wasallam) ,: "And let him draw close to it and don't let shaytan break his Salaah." [Ahmad,

Aboo Daawood, Ibn Khuzaymah Ibn Hibbaan, Al-Haakim, and others]

And the hadeeth: "And let him draw close to it for indeed shaytan passes between him and it (the Sutrah)".

[Ibn Hibbaan]

And the hadeeth: "And let him draw close to the Sutrah for indeed shaytan passes in front of him". [Ibn

Khuzaymah]

And the hadeeth: "There was, between the spot on which the Prophet (sallAllaahu alayhi wasallam)

performed Salaah and the wall, the distance of the path of one sheep". [Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim]

And in another hadeeth it states that: "When the Prophet (sallAllaahu alayhi wasallam) entered the Ka'bah he

put a distance of three forearms between himself and the wall then performed Salaah". [Al-Bukhaaree]

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Q4 : What is the smallest size that the Sutrah can be?

A : It is the height of one forearm (*2) above the place of Salaah - that is the height of the rear end of a camel's

saddle. As for it's width, there is no stipulated size. One can therefore use something even as thin as an arrow

or a spear. It is not permissible, however, to take a Sutrah less than the height of the rear of a camel's saddle.

If on the other hand, after some effort to find one, none is found, one may use whatever is available, whatever

the size. This is taken from the Qur'aanic saying in surah At-Taghaabun verse 16:

"So keep your duty to Allaah (and fear Him) as much as you can..."

And from the hadeeth of the Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wasallam) ,: "If I order you to do

something then do as much of it as you are able to". [Muslim]

The Prophet Muhammad e also said: "If any of you places something like (the size of) the rear of a camel's

saddle in front of him, then performs Salaah, then do not bother about whoever passes beyond that".

[Muslim]

The Prophet Muhammad e was also asked during the battle of Tabook, about the Sutrah of a person

performing Salaah, so he said: "Like the rear end of a camel's saddle". [Muslim]

He e also said: "If there is something like (the size) of the rear end of a camels' saddle between you and the

pathway, then whoever passes in front of you would not harm you: (i.e. invalidate your Salaah)". [Ibn Abi

Shaybah/Abdur-Razaak and others]

. . . . . . . and other hadeeths some of which are to come.

In addition the Prophet (sallAllaahu alayhi wasallam) performed Salaah with a spear, or sometimes a bow in

front of him. [as reported in Muslim]

It is not therefore the width of the Sutrah that is considered, as we previously mentioned.

Q5 : Is there any one exempted from placing a Sutrah in front-of him while making Salaah

A : Yes, only those performing Salaah behind an Imaam. We gather this from the fact that the Prophet

Muhammad e when he led the Salaah, placed a Sutrah in front of him and no one performing Salaah behind

him did so. [As has been mentioned in a number of hadeeths in both Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim]

Q6 : What are the different types of Sutrah?

A : Everything that is the height of one arm's length. As is evident from the saying of the Prophet Muhammad

( لى هللا عليه وسلمص ): "Like (the size of) the rear end of a camel's saddle."

It has also been authentically reported on the Prophet (sallAllaahu alayhi wasallam) that he performed Salaah

with a wall in front of him, as well as a spear, a lance, a pole, a camel, a tree, a bed with a woman sleeping on

it, and the wall of a room.

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It is not permissible however, to perform Salaah with a grave in front of you. As is evident from the hadeeth in

which the Prophet Muhammad e prevented such actions, he said: "Do not perform Salaah with graves in front

of you, nor sit on them." [Muslim]

In addition, it is disliked to perform Salaah in front of that which distracts. For the Prophet (sallAllaahu alayhi

wasallam) said to `Aaishah:

"Remove your curtain! for indeed its pictures keep appearing during my Salaah". [Al-Bukhaaree]

Q7 : Is the Sutrah (waajib) compulsory in Makkah or not?

A : The Sutrah is (Waajib) compulsory in Makkah as elsewhere. There is, too, no evidence to support any

differentiation between Makkah and other places. In addition, the Prophet (sallAllaahu alayhi wasallam)

placed a spear in front of him in the plain of Makkah (*1) and then performed Salaah-ul-Dhur and Asr. (*1)

When he entered the Ka'bah too, he used its wall as a Sutrah. When he made Tawaaf around the Ka'bah, he

placed the Maqaam (station) of Ibraheem between himself and it, then performed Salaah. (*2) This was what

was done also, by the Sahaaba's after him.

Q8 : What is the verdict on someone passing in front of a person performing Salaah?

A : Passing in front of a person performing Salaah is among the Major Sins that warrant the punishment of the

Hell fire. This verdict applies, if he passes between the Sutrah and the person performing Salaah, or closer

than three forearms1 length to the person who has no Sutrah in front of him. Because three forearms1 length

is the furthest distance which one can stay away from a Sutrah. The evidence supporting this, is the hadeeth of

the Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wasallam) : "If only the one passing in front of another performing

Salaah, knew the magnitude of the sin that he committed he would prefer to wait for (forty days, months or

years) rather than to pass in front of him." [Al-Bukhaaree]

Q9 : Is anyone exempted from this verdict?

A : Yes, the one passing through the rows in congregational Salaah, is exempted: For it has been reported that

Ibn 'Abbaas said: "Fodle and I came riding on a female donkey, while the Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu

alayhi wasallam) was at `Arafah, so we passed in front of some of the rows, then we dismounted and we left

the donkey to graze. We then entered (the Salaah) with the Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wasallam)

, and the Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wasallam) did not say anything to us (about it)." [Al-

Bukhaaree, Muslim, Al-Humaydee]

And in another version it states that the female donkey passed in-front-of part of the first row.

Abdullaah Ibn 'Amr said: "We rested with the Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wasallam) from Thanyatu

(the mountain pass) of Azaakhir. The time for Salaah came, so he performed Salaah facing a wall in the

direction of the Qib'la, and we were behind him. Then an animal came and tried to pass in front of him. He

kept on warding it off, until he stuck his stomach to the wall and the animal passed behind him." [Ahmad,

Aboo Daawood]

Q10 : What must the person performing Salaah do if someone tries to pass in front of him?

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A : If anyone tries to pass in front of a person performing Salaah, he must prevent him from doing so. If he

insists, then push him away, and if he persists, then fight him without using a weapon. If, in the event of his

fighting him to prevent him from passing, he dies, then there is no sin on the one who caused his death, and

no penalty nor blood money nor expiation is demanded of him. This is so, whether the person was performing

Salaah, towards a Sutrah, or without a Sutrah. If they dispute with each other, the matter is taken to court.

(i.e. before the judge). This is because that person (deliberately) passing in front of another who is performing

Salaah, is possessed by evil. The evidence in support of this, is the hadeeth of the Messenger of Allaah

(sallAllaahu alayhi wasallam) : "If any of you perform Salaah then do not let anyone pass in front of you. And if

someone insists ( on passing) then fight him, for indeed he is possessed". [Muslim]

Aboo Saaleh said: "I saw Aboo Sa'eed Al-Khudree, on the Day of Jum'ah, performing Salaah in front of

something which he used as a Sutrah. A youth from the tribe of Banee Abi Mu'ayt wanted to pass in front of

him, so Aboo Sa'eed repulsed him with a push on his chest. The youth, looking around, saw no other place to

pass, except in front of Aboo Sa'eed. He therefore tried to pass again. Aboo Sa'eed this time pushed him even

harder. The youth Abused Aboo Sa'eed and went to Marwaan to lodge a complaint against Aboo Sa'eed. Aboo

Sa'eed then entered after him. When he came in, Marwaan asked him: "What is it, that you have with the son

of your brother, Oh Aboo Sa'eed?" Aboo Sa'eed said: I heard the Prophet (sallAllaahu alayhi wasallam) say: "If

any of you perform Salaah, with a Sutrah blocking you from the people, and someone tried to pass in front of

you, then fight him, for indeed he is (shaytan) evil". [Al-Bukhaaree]

In another version it says: "Shove him away by his neck".

And in another narration it says: " . . . Try to stop him twice and if he refuses then fight him".

And in yet another version, it is added: " . . . Indeed you have hit shaytan". [Ibn Khuzaymah]

Many other narrations were reported without (stipulating) limiting it to having a Sutrah.

And in another version it says: (Indeed shaytan is with him).

The Prophet (sallAllaahu alayhi wasallam) also repelled shaytan when he wanted to cut across his Salaah. The

Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wasallam) also repelled the animal when it wanted to pass in front of

him, as we previously mentioned. The one performing Salaah therefore, must not allow anything to pass in

front of him, whether it may be big or small, whether it be a person or otherwise. Even if, it means that he

must move (forward), until his stomach sticks to his Sutrah, as has been authentically reported on the Prophet

(sallAllaahu alayhi wasallam) , as we previously mentioned.

There is too, no difference between Makkah and any other place, when it comes to preventing someone from

passing in front of you. The son of (Ibn) `Umar t, used to perform Salaah in the Ka'bah and never let anyone

pass in front of him. As for the one who passes between the rows of a congregational Salaah, he is exempted

from that which was previously mentioned.

Q11 : Why is the one, attempting to pass in-front-of one performing Salaah, repelled and fought?

A : The one attempting to pass is repelled and fought, because he decreases the blessing of the Salaah.

Sometimes, he even destroys it altogether. Ibn Mas'ood said: "Whoever from amongst you is able to perform

Salaah without anyone passing in front of him, then do so. For indeed the person passing in front of the one

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making Salaah receives less blessings than the one in front of whom he passed". [Abdur-Razaak, Ibn Abi

Shaybah]

This is further emphasized by the hadeeth of the Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wasallam) when he

said: "(If) Similar to (the size of) the rear end of a camel's saddle is in front of anyone of you all, then whatever

passes in-front of you would not harm you". (i.e. would not effect your Salaah)

In addition, the one attempting to pass, is repelled as an act of enjoining right and forbidding wrong. This is

because, if he passes, he would be committing a major sin. He must therefore, be prevented from doing so.

Q12 : You said that the one passing, sometimes invalidates the Salaah. So what exactly invalidates the

Salaah?

A : Among the things that invalidate the Salaah by their passing are:

1 - The shaytan

2 - A black dog

3 - A donkey

4 - A woman passed puberty

The evidence in support of this is taken from the hadeeth of the Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi

wasallam) concerning Sutrah. In which he said: "Let him draw close to it, and don't let shaytan break his

Salaah".

And another hadeeth which he e said: "Indeed a malicious Jinn pounced on me last night trying to break my

Salaah". [Muslim]

In another version it says: "Indeed shaytan wanted to pass in-front-of me, so I choked him until I felt the

coldness of his tongue on my hand". [Ahmad]

Preventing shaytan from breaking one's Salaah therefore, is done by drawing close to the Sutrah, as was

mentioned in the previous hadeeths.

Preventing other than shaytan, is achieved by repulsion or by the placing of a Sutrah, from the types

mentioned before, in front of you. The Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wasallam) said: "A woman,

donkey and a dog all invalidate Salaah (if they pass in front of a person performing Salaah) and this is

prevented by (placing) something similar in size to the rear end of a camel's saddle (in front of you)". [Muslim]

He also said: "Salaah is invalidated by (the passing of) a black dog or a menstruating woman, (i.e. a woman

who has reached puberty)." [Ahmad and Aboo Daawood]