SECTION ON PRAYER · 108 – The Authority to Prevent Passage in Front of [Someone]
Abū Sa’īd al-Hudrī (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said: "When any of you prays, let no one pass in front of him, and let him prevent them as much as he is able. If they insist on passing, then that is Satan." [449]
**Explanation:**
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) would approach the screen (sutrah) very closely. There was only enough space between the place where he stood to pray and the screen in front of him for one to be able to prostrate. This space was equivalent to the distance a sheep or goat could pass through freely. In the narration of al-Bukhari, it is stated that there is room for a sheep to pass.
*Velyedra:* Means “to prevent” or "to obstruct."
If someone wants to pass in front of one who is praying with a screen, they can block them by extending their right hand to prevent them from passing. If the person persists and insists on passing, one should resist him. Because the one who insists on passing despite being warned has been influenced by Satan’s whisperings and is under his influence; he needs to be reminded of his negligence. However, if there is no screen erected, one cannot prevent someone from passing.
From 'Abd ar-Rahman’s son, Abu Sa'id al-Hudri, may Allah be pleased with him, from his father: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “When one of you prays, let him pray facing a partition and approach it.” Then the narrator related in the meaning of the preceding hadith.
Abu Ubayd al-Hajib Sulayman said: I saw Ata’ ibn Yazid al-Laythi standing in prayer, and as I passed before him, he forbade me from passing and said: Abu Sa'id al-Hudri, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, informed him: “Let each of you prevent anyone from entering between himself and the qibla if he is able to do so.”
Humayd bin Hilal (may Allah be pleased with him) relates:
Abū Salih said, “Relate to me what Abū Sa’īd al-Hudrī saw and heard.” Abū Sa’īd entered upon Mervan, and he said, ‘I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say: If any of you prays and a person wishes to pass in front of him, let him prevent him by pushing him with his chest. And if he insists on passing, then let him fight him; for indeed it is Satan.’” [450]
Abū Dāwūd relates that Sufyān al-Sahrī said, “I obstruct anyone who passes before me while I am praying, but I do not prevent the weak (humble) person.”