Project "Revive a Sunnah" Week 18

Week 18: February 2nd-9th 2007

(14th-21st of Muharram 1428 AH)

Have you ever seen someone place a chair in front of them and then start praying? Moreover, have you wondered, “What is this brother/sister doing with that chair?” Well, get ready to have your questions answered and your curiosity resolved, insha Allah.

As some of you may have already guessed, this week’s sunnah to be revived is the placing of a “sutrah” in front of the one praying. A “sutrah” is basically a partition to keep others from passing in front of the one praying. For some reason, there is very little awareness in various different Muslim communities of this sunnah. I’ve seen communities who are well-aware of the sunnah, and implement it, and I’ve also seen communities in which almost no one seems to be aware of it or practice it. So what is this sunnah? Let us take a look at it from the ahadith.

From the Ahadith:

1.
Abu Sa'id reports that the Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said: "When one of you prays, he should pray toward his sutrah and he should be close to it."
[Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah]

2.
Sabrah ibn Mu'abid reports that the Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said: "When one of you prays, he should make a partition for his salah, even if it is an arrow."
[Ahmad and al-Hakim]

3.
Sahl ibn Sa'd says: "Between the Messenger of Allah [and his sutrah] was enough space for a sheep to pass."
[Bukhari and Muslim]

I really feel it’s about time someone addressed this issue on a larger scale, and I hope that Project “Revive a Sunnah” will serve this cause.

For detailed information on placing a “sutrah,” please visit:
http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/law/fiqhussunnah/fus2_29.html

You are most welcome to direct any Feedback/Comments/Suggestions/Nominations to albosnawi@gmail.com

May Allah reward you all.
Praise be to Allah and may the blessings be upon the Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam).

Wa Salaamu Alaykoum,

Kemal Smajlovic