5/164. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 1305 — Praying Behind a Sutrah
What was narrated concerning carrying a spear on the day of ‘Eid
Praying Behind a Sutrah: Eid and Other Occasions
Sunan Ibn Majah : 1305
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 1305
حَدَّثَنَا سُوَيْدُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُسْهِرٍ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ إِذَا صَلَّى يَوْمَ عِيدٍ أَوْ غَيْرَهُ نُصِبَتِ الْحَرْبَةُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ فَيُصَلِّي إِلَيْهَا وَالنَّاسُ مِنْ خَلْفِهِ . قَالَ نَافِعٌ فَمِنْ ثَمَّ اتَّخَذَهَا الأُمَرَاءُ .
Ibn 'Umar Narrated from:
When the Prophet (ﷺ) prayed on the day of ‘Eid or on another occasion, a small spear was set up in front of him, and he prayed facing it, and the people were behind him.” Nafi` said: It is from here that the leaders have taken this practice.
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 1305In-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 503English translation : Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 1305
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 1305
This hadith about praying behind a Sutrah adds another detail to the Eid prayer setting. Ibn ‘Umar says that when the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم prayed on Eid or on another occasion, a small spear was set up in front of him. He prayed facing it, and the people prayed behind him. Nafi‘ then said that leaders took this practice from there. The focus of the hadith is not only Eid, but the broader act of placing a small spear before the imam as a Sutrah. For users searching for Sutrah in prayer hadith, this narration shows a practical example: the imam faced the barrier, and the people prayed in rows behind him. The wording keeps the lesson simple and direct.
What we learn from this hadith
- A small spear was placed in front of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم when he prayed.
- The people prayed behind him while he faced the Sutrah.
- Nafi‘ connected this practice with what later leaders adopted.
