SECTION ON PRAYER · 113 – THOSE WHO SAY THAT PRAYER IS NOT INVALIDATED IF A DONKEY PASSES IN FRONT
715 – It is narrated from Ibn ʿAbbās (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: I came while riding on a female donkey. At that time, I was about to reach puberty. The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) was leading the prayer at Minā. I passed (with the donkey) between some of the rows. I dismounted from the donkey and let it graze. Then I joined the row. No one criticized me for this action, he said. [455] Abū Dāwūd said: This is the wording of Kaʿnabī and it is more complete. Mālik said: I see in this hadith a dispensation for passing between the rows when the prayer has commenced.
EXPLANATION
This hadith abrogates the previously mentioned hadith of Abū Dharr. For there, it was stated that a donkey, a woman, and a black dog would cut off the prayer. Also, if this hadith does not abrogate the Abū Dharr hadith number 702, it can be explained as follows: The sutra (barrier) of the imam is considered a sutra for the congregation as well. Since there was a sutra in front of the imam, the fact that Ibn ʿAbbās passed in front of the congregation on a donkey and the congregation did not say anything about it may be due to this. Also, during the Hajj season at Minā, the congregation is crowded. Because of the crowd, they may not have objected to such an action.
716 – It is narrated from Abū’s-Saḥbāʾ (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: We discussed with Ibn ʿAbbās the things that invalidate the prayer. Ibn ʿAbbās said: A child from the sons of ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib and I came on a donkey. The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) was leading the prayer. The child and I dismounted and left the donkey in front of the row. The Prophet did not mind the donkey being left in front of them. Two girls from the sons of ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib also came and joined the row; he did not mind this either.
EXPLANATION
This incident narrated by Ibn ʿAbbās, according to the narration, happened twice. The first was on the day of the Conquest of Mecca, and the second during the Farewell Pilgrimage.
717 – From Manṣūr (may Allah be pleased with him): It was narrated with the same isnād and in the same meaning as the previous hadith. Two girls from the sons of ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib came and quarreled (among the rows). The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) held them. ʿUthmān ibn Abū Shaybah says: He separated them from each other. Dāwūd ibn Miḥraq says: He separated one from the other. He did not give it any importance. [456]