regarding the ‘ sutra ‘ for Salaah – would like any / all possible referances to this from the ahaadith? as well as the opinions / writings of our ulama / akaabireen regarding the same and the need or use for them? I have read in the Fa’thaail A’maal that one should always carry this with few other things especially for safar; but stand corrected?
Please kindly if possible provide me all the relevant ahaadith with their sources ( and also if they are regarded as strong or weak ) or even the referances of which kitaabs to find / search for them ( english – medium ) ?
It would be easier for me to receive them in full as I personally dont own any of the books of ahadith!
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
Consider the following Ahadith:
The following hadith is mentioned in Bukhari:
عن ابن عمر: أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم كان إذا خرج يوم العيد أمر بالحربة، فتوضع بين يديه، فيصلي إليها والناس وراءه، وكان يفعل ذلك في السفر، فمن ثم اتخذها الأمراء
Ibn Umar Radiallahhu Anhu narrates that when Rasulullah Sallallahhu Alayhi Wa Sallam would come out on the day of Eid He would ask for a spear. The spear would then be inserted in front of him. Then, he would pray towards the spear while the people would be behind him. He would do this in journeys as well and it is from this that the rulers adopted this habit. (Bukhari vol 2-494 Darul Bashair)
The following hadith is mentioned in Muslim:
عائشة، أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم سئل في غزوة تبوك عن سترة المصلي؟ فقال: كمؤخرة الرحل
Aisha Radiallahu Anha narrates that Rasulullah Sallallahhu Alayhi Wa Sallam was asked about the sutrah of a person that intended to pray and He said “like the plank at the back of the saddle”. (Muslim vol 2- 500 Darul Fawaid)
The following hadith is mentioned in Nasai:
عن ابن عمر عن االنبى صلى الله عليه و سلم قال كان يركز الحربة ثم يصلى اليها
Ibn Umar Radiallahhu Anhu narrates that Rasulullah Sallallahhu Alayhi Wa Sallam would insert a spear then pray towards it. (Nasai page 122 Qadeemi)
The following hadith is mentioned in Tirmizi:
عن موسى بن طلحة، عن أبيه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: إذا وضع أحدكم بين يديه مثل مؤخرة الرحل فليصل، ولا يبالي من مر وراء ذلك
Musa bin Talha Radiallahhu Anhu narrates from his father that Rasulullah Sallallahhu Alayhi Wa Sallam said when one of you puts infront of him like the pole at the back of the saddle, then he should pray and he should not be worried about those that pass infront of it. (Tirmizi vol 1 – 335 Risalatul Alamiyh)
The following hadith is mentioned in Musannaf ibn Abi Shayba:
عن ابن عمر أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم كانت تركز له الحربة فى العيد فيصلي اليها
Ibn Umar Radiallahhu Anhu narrates that a spear would be inserted for Rasulullah Sallallahhu Alayhi Wa Sallam on the day of Eid and He would pray towards it. (Musannaf ibn Abi Shayba vol 2-2869 Darul Qibla)
حدثنا معن بن عيسى عن ثابت بن قيس الغفارى ابي الغصن قال رأيت نافع بن جبير يصلي الى سوط في السفر و الى العصا
Thabit bin Qays Rahimahullah narrates I saw Nafi bin Jubair pray towards a whip during his travels and towards a staff. (Musannaf ibn Abi Shayba vol 2-2873 Darul Qibla)
Here under are a few basic masail about sutrah:
- The sutrah should be at least an arm’s length and no more than three arm’s length.
(قوله قدر ذراع) بيان لاقلها و الظاهر ان المراد به ذراع اليد..(دون ثلاثة اذرع).. السنة ان لا يزيد ما بينها عل ثلاثة اذرع(الرد المحتار ج1 ص 637 سعيد)
- The sutrah should be as thick as a finger.
و غلظه اصبع (الرد المحتار ج1 ص 637 سعيد)
- It should be inserted i.e. it should be vertical not horizontal.[1]
قوله و لا يكفى الوضع أى وضع السترة على الارض اذا لم يمكن غرزها (الرد المحتار ج1 ص 637 سعيد)
- The sutrah can be place on the surface if it cannot be inserted.
و قيل يكفى اى كل من الوضع و الخط..ثم قيل يضعه طولا لا عرضا على مثال الغرز و يسن الخط(الرد المحتار ج1 ص 637 سعيد)
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Ismail Dawoodjee
Student Darul Iftaa
Zambia
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
المراجع لبحث السترة: الرد المحتار ج1 ص 637 سعيد, البحر الرائق ج2 ص17 سعيد, احسن الفتاوى ج3 ص411 سعيد, فتاوى محمودية ج11 ص189 م محمودية, عمدة الرعاية ج2 ص 186 علمية