4/47. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 499b — Sutrah and Passing in Front
The Sutrah (Screen) For One Who Is Praying, And The Recommendation To Pray Facing A Sutrah. The Ruling On Passing In Front Of One Who Is Praying, And Preventing One Who Wants To Pass In Front. It Is Permissible To Lie Down In Front Of One Who Is Praying, Praying Towards One's Mount. The Command To Stand Close To The Sutrah. The Height Of The Suirah, And Related Matters
Sutrah in Salah: Hadith About Animals Passing in Front
Sahih Muslim : 499b
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 499b
وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ نُمَيْرٍ، وَإِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ إِسْحَاقُ أَخْبَرَنَا وَقَالَ ابْنُ نُمَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عُمَرُ بْنُ عُبَيْدٍ الطَّنَافِسِيُّ، عَنْ سِمَاكِ بْنِ حَرْبٍ، عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ طَلْحَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ كُنَّا نُصَلِّي وَالدَّوَابُّ تَمُرُّ بَيْنَ أَيْدِينَا فَذَكَرْنَا ذَلِكَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ " مِثْلُ مُؤْخِرَةِ الرَّحْلِ تَكُونُ بَيْنَ يَدَىْ أَحَدِكُمْ ثُمَّ لاَ يَضُرُّهُ مَا مَرَّ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ " . وَقَالَ ابْنُ نُمَيْرٍ " فَلاَ يَضُرُّهُ مَنْ مَرَّ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ " .
Musa bin Talhah Narrated from:
We used to say prayer and the animals moved in front of us. We mentioned it to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and he said: If anything equal to the back of a saddle is in front of you, then what walks in front, no harm would come to him. Ibn Numair said: No harm would come whosoever walks in front.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 499bIn-book reference : Book 4, Hadith 274USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1007
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 499b
This narration explains sutrah in salah through a real prayer situation. Musa b. Talha reported from his father that they used to pray while animals moved in front of them. When they mentioned this to the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم), he said that if something equal to the back of a saddle is placed in front of a person, then what passes in front will not harm him. The wording is focused on the presence of a sutrah and the movement beyond it. It does not tell people to ignore prayer manners. Rather, it shows that placing a clear barrier helps the worshipper continue prayer without being disturbed by what passes beyond that point.
What we learn from this hadith
- A sutrah helps define the space of prayer.
- The hadith mentions animals passing in front when a sutrah is present.
- The worshipper is taught to pray with focus after placing the barrier.
