Question
What is the distance beyond which a person is not sinning if he passes in front of one who is praying? Some people make out that it is a very great distance whilst others say it is just in front of their hands. What is the right answer?
Answer
Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and peace and blessings be upon the
most noble of prophets and messengers, our Prophet Muhammad, and upon all his
family and companions.
This is a significant question concerning one of the important etiquettes
and rulings of the prayer (salah), namely the issue of passing in front of a
person who is praying and the distance that determines whether such an act
constitutes a sin. The scholars have given this matter considerable attention,
deriving their rulings from the authentic Sunnah and the practice of the
righteous predecessors.
The Importance of Using a Sutrah (Screen)
First and foremost, it is essential to understand that the foundation of
this ruling is the emphasis placed by the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam)
on the use of a sutrah—an object placed in front of the worshipper to serve as
a barrier. The Muslim is encouraged, and according to some scholars it is even
obligatory, to place something in front of him when praying, whether a wall, a
pillar, a stick, a saddle, or any other object that can serve as a screen. This
is a confirmed Sunnah that was consistently practiced by the Prophet
(Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam).
The wisdom behind the sutrah is multifaceted. It creates a private space
for the worshipper to stand before his Lord, it prevents others from passing
directly in front of him, and it protects the prayer from being invalidated or
diminished in reward. When a worshipper prays with a sutrah placed before him,
he is permitted to prevent anyone from passing between himself and that sutrah,
and anyone who does pass in that area bears a sin.
The Severe Warning Against Passing in Front of a
Worshipper
The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) issued a stern warning to those
who would pass in front of a person engaged in prayer. This warning underscores
the gravity of this act and the reverence that should be shown to one who is
standing in direct communion with Allah.
In Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, Abu Juhaym (Radhiyallahu Anhu)
narrated:
الْحَدِيثُ: «لَوْ يَعْلَمُ
الْمَارُّ بَيْنَ يَدَيْ الْمُصَلِّي مَاذَا عَلَيْهِ، لَكَانَ أَنْ يَقِفَ أَرْبَعِينَ
خَيْرًا لَهُ مِنْ أَنْ يَمُرَّ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ» قَالَ أَبُو النَّضْرِ: لَا أَدْرِي
أَقَالَ أَرْبَعِينَ يَوْمًا، أَوْ شَهْرًا، أَوْ سَنَةً
Translation: “If the one who passes in front of a person who is praying
knew what (burden of sin) is upon him, he would rather stand for forty than
pass in front of him.” Abu An-Nadr said: “I do not know whether he said forty
days, or months, or years.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, 480; Sahih Muslim, 507)
This hadith demonstrates the severity of the sin incurred by one who
knowingly passes directly in front of a worshipper who has not placed a sutrah.
The mention of “forty” is understood by scholars to indicate a very long
period, whether days, months, or years, emphasizing that the sin is so grave
that the passerby would prefer to endure a lengthy period of standing rather
than commit it.
However, it is crucial to note that this severe warning applies
specifically to passing between the worshipper and his sutrah, or, if he has no
sutrah, passing directly in front of him within a certain distance that is
considered to be “in front of him” according to the Shariah. This brings us to
the core of the question: what exactly constitutes that distance?
The Scholarly Debate on the Permissible Passing
Distance
The scholars have held differing views regarding the distance beyond which
a person may pass in front of a praying individual without incurring sin. These
views can be categorized into two main approaches, one of which is considered
stronger by many contemporary scholars, while the other is based on specific
textual evidence from the Sunnah.
First View: The Distance is Determined by Local
Custom (‘Urf)
Some scholars, including Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Aziz ibn Baz (Rahimahullah), have
held that the determination of what constitutes “passing in front” of a
worshipper is based on what is customarily considered to be “in front” of a
person. According to this view, if a person passes at a distance that is
customarily regarded as far enough that he is not considered to be walking
directly in front of the worshipper, then no sin is incurred. This is similar
to the principle that if a person passes beyond the sutrah, he is not
considered to be passing in front.
Shaykh Ibn Baz (Rahimahullah) stated in his Majmu’ Fatawa (11/380): “When a
person crosses an area which is not directly in front of the one who is praying
and there is no sutrah, he is not sinning, because if he is far away from him
according to what is regarded as far away in local custom, he is not regarded
as one who passes in front of him; this is like one who passes beyond the
sutrah.”
This view prioritizes flexibility and recognizes that what is considered
“in front” may vary depending on the context and the physical space in which
the prayer is being performed. However, some scholars have noted that this
approach is somewhat vague and does not provide a clear, measurable standard
that can be consistently applied in all situations.
Second View: The Distance is Measured by Specific Textual Evidence
(Stronger View)
The second view, which is considered by many scholars—including the
majority of the Hanbali school and a number of contemporary researchers—to be
stronger and more precise, is that the distance is defined by specific
measurements derived from the practice of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi
Wasallam) and his Companions. According to this view, the area in front of the
worshipper that is considered protected and into which it is forbidden to pass
extends either:
1. Three cubits (approximately 1.5 meters) from the place where the
worshipper stands, or
2. The space equivalent to the distance that a sheep would need to pass,
which is similar to the distance prescribed for the sutrah itself.
This view is supported by several authentic narrations that establish the
practice of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) regarding the placement of
his sutrah and the space he left between himself and it.
Sahl ibn Sa’d (Radhiyallahu Anhu) narrated:
الْحَدِيثُ: «كَانَ بَيْنَ
مُصَلَّى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَبَيْنَ الْجِدَارِ مَمَرُّ
الشَّاةِ»
Translation: “Between the place where the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu
Alaihi Wasallam) prayed and the wall was a space that would allow a sheep to
pass.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, 474; Sahih Muslim, 508)
This hadith indicates that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) would
place his sutrah—in this case, a wall—at a distance that allowed an animal to
pass between him and it. This distance, therefore, is understood by scholars to
be the area that is considered “in front” of the worshipper. If one passes
beyond that distance, he is not considered to be passing directly in front of
the worshipper.
Further support for this measurement comes from another narration regarding
the practice of ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (Radhiyallahu Anhuma). It was narrated from
Nafi’ that:
الْحَدِيثُ: «أَنَّ عَبْدَ
اللَّهِ بْنَ عُمَرَ كَانَ إِذَا دَخَلَ الْكَعْبَةَ، مَشَى مُسْتَقْبِلَ الْوَجْهِ،
وَجَعَلَ الْبَابَ خَلْفَهُ، فَمَشَى حَتَّى يَكُونَ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ الْجِدَارِ
الَّذِي يُقَابِلُ وَجْهَهُ نَحْوًا مِنْ ثَلَاثَةِ أَذْرُعٍ، ثُمَّ صَلَّى»
Translation: “Whenever ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar entered the Ka’bah, he would
walk towards the opposite wall, with the door behind him. So he would walk
towards the wall until he was three cubits away from it, then he would pray in
the place which Bilal told him the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) had
prayed.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, 484)
In this narration, Ibn ‘Umar (Radhiyallahu Anhuma) would position himself
approximately three cubits away from the wall, using it as a sutrah. This
distance—three cubits—is understood by scholars to be the same as the space
that would allow a sheep to pass, as both measurements effectively indicate the
same approximate range. A cubit is roughly the length of a forearm,
approximately 50-60 centimeters, so three cubits would be about 1.5 to 1.8
meters.
Synthesizing the Evidence: What Does “In Front of
the Worshipper” Mean?
When we combine these narrations, a clear picture emerges. The Prophet
(Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) would place his sutrah at a distance that allowed
a sheep to pass. This distance is approximately three cubits (about 1.5
meters). The area between the worshipper and his sutrah is considered the
protected zone. Anyone who passes through this area, between the worshipper and
his sutrah, has committed a sin and has incurred the warning mentioned in the
hadith of Abu Juhaym.
If the worshipper does not have a sutrah, then the area that is considered
“in front of him” is the same distance—approximately three cubits or 1.5
meters—directly in front of his place of prostration. If a person passes at a
distance greater than this, he is not considered to be passing directly in
front of the worshipper, and he does not incur the sin, though it is still
preferable to avoid passing close to anyone engaged in prayer out of respect.
Imam Ibn Qudamah (Rahimahullah) stated in Al-Mughni (2/214): “The area that
is considered in front of the worshipper is the place of his prostration and
the space up to the point where his sutrah would be. If he has a sutrah, no one
may pass between him and it. If he has no sutrah, then the area that is
forbidden to cross is up to three cubits in front of him, because this is the
furthest distance for which a sutrah is prescribed, and what is beyond that is
not considered to be in front of him.”
This is the view that many contemporary scholars, including the Permanent
Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta in Saudi Arabia, have adopted as the
strongest and most precise. Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymin (Rahimahullah) also supported
this view, stating in his Sharh al-Mumti’ (4/207) that the distance is
approximately three cubits, based on the practice of Ibn ‘Umar and the hadith
of the sheep.
Practical Considerations and Etiquette
While the precise measurement provides a clear ruling, there are important
practical considerations and etiquettes that Muslims should observe:
1. The One Who Is Praying Should Use a Sutrah: It is highly recommended—and
obligatory according to some scholars—for a person to place something in front
of him when praying, whether a wall, a pillar, a chair, a bag, or even a line
drawn on the ground. By doing so, he clearly defines the protected area and can
legitimately prevent anyone from passing between himself and that sutrah.
2. The One Who Wishes to Pass Should Wait: If a person sees someone praying
and there is no sutrah, or if the only path available passes within the
prohibited distance (approximately 1.5 meters in front of the worshipper), he
should wait until the worshipper completes his prayer or until he can pass at a
distance greater than that. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) taught us
to show reverence to those who are engaged in worship.
3. Passing in Large Congregations: In crowded places such as the Grand
Mosque in Makkah or the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, or in any crowded prayer
hall, the ruling is relaxed because it is often impossible to avoid passing in
front of some worshippers. In such situations, the principle of necessity and
the general ease of the Shariah apply, and the sin is lifted from those who
must pass, especially if they have no alternative path. Imam An-Nawawi
(Rahimahullah) mentioned in Al-Majmu’ (4/271) that in crowded situations,
passing in front of a worshipper is excused due to necessity.
4. Passing in Front of a Woman Praying: The rulings regarding passing in
front of a woman who is praying are similar to those for a man. If she has
placed a sutrah, no one may pass between her and her sutrah. If she has no
sutrah, the protected area is the same distance in front of her place of
prostration.
Conclusion
After reviewing the evidence and the opinions of the scholars, the
strongest and most comprehensive view is that the distance beyond which a
person may pass in front of a worshipper without sinning is approximately three
cubits (about 1.5 meters). This measurement is derived from the authentic
practice of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), who left a space
equivalent to the passage of a sheep between himself and his sutrah, and from
the practice of his Companions, such as Ibn ‘Umar (Radhiyallahu Anhuma), who
would place his sutrah approximately three cubits away.
If a worshipper has a sutrah, the protected area is between him and that
sutrah. If he does not have a sutrah, then the protected area is the space
directly in front of him up to approximately three cubits. Anyone who passes
within this area incurs the sin mentioned in the hadith. Anyone who passes
beyond this distance is not considered to be passing directly in front of the
worshipper and does not bear that sin, though it remains recommended to show
respect by avoiding unnecessary close passage.
This ruling balances the clear textual evidence from the Sunnah with
practical considerations, providing Muslims with a clear and actionable
guideline that honors the sanctity of prayer while acknowledging the realities
of shared spaces.
Wallahu A’alam (Allah knows best).
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