Question:
Our Virtuous Shaykh, the presence of pieces of wood which people take as a Sutrah for the prayer become wide spread in our Masājid all over Morocco.
Is taking it as a Sutrah, or only praying infront of it, permissible?
Answer:
This is from the blameworthy burdening of oneself which is warned from, as declared as such by the Standing Committee with Ibn Bāz at its head.
It’s upon a person who entered the Masjid wanting to pray, to take whatever is easy for him, as a Sutrah.
This is what the Prophet ﷺ and his companions did.
When the call to the prayer was called they would go towards to the pillars, or one of them would take his brother as a Sutra, or the wall or other than this.
And they didn’t put anything in the Masjid for this purpose.
Contrary to the prayer while in open spaces, like a Musala, or while travelling; it was from the custom of the Prophet ﷺ to only pray in open spaces with an ‘Anazah (staff) infront of him, as mentioned by Al-Hāfidh in “Fathl Bāri”.
The ‘Anazah is a stick which is half the size of a spear, with metal on its lower part.
And in the two Sahihs on the authority of Ibn ‘Umar, is that the Prophet ﷺ would when leaving to pray on the day of ‘Eid request for a spear and it would be placed it infront of him, and pray towards it, and the people behind him.
And likewise would do this while travelling.
Answered by:
Shaykh Abu Hatim Yusuf Al-‘Inaabi Al-Jazaa’iree – may Allah preserve him.
Source:
t.me/abouhatem/20
Answered on:
27th, Muharram, 1438H
Translated by:
Abu ‘Abdirrahman ‘Abdullaah bin Ahmed Ash-Shingaani