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Thirty Three Ways of developing Khushoo’ in Salaah
Writer: Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid • Sections: 1
Section 12
Praying with a barrier (sutrah) in front of one and praying close to it
Another thing that will help one to have khushoo’ is paying attention to the matter of having a sutrah and praying close to it, because this will restrict your field of vision, protect you from the Shaytaan and keep people from passing in front of you, which causes a distraction and reduces the reward of the prayer.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “When any one of you prays, let him pray facing a sutrah, and let him get close to it.” (Reported by Abu Dawood, no. 695, 1/446; Saheeh al-Jaami’, no. 651).
Getting close to the sutrah is very beneficial, as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “When any one of you prays facing a sutrah, let him get close to it so that the Shaytaan cannot interrupt his prayer.” (Reported by Abu Dawood, no. 695, 1/446; Saheeh al-Jaami’, no. 650).
The Sunnah in getting close to the sutrah is to have three cubits between it and the spot where one prostrates, or to allow enough space for a sheep to pass between the two, as is reported in the saheeh ahaadeeth. (Al-Bukhaari; see al-Fath, 1/574, 579).
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) advised the one who is praying not to allow anyone to pass between him and his sutrah. He said: “When any one of you is praying, he should not allow anyone to pass in front of him, and he should prevent him as most as he can. If he insists, he should fight him, for he has a companion [i.e., shaytaan] with him.” (Reported by Muslim, 1/260; Saheeh al-Jaami’, no. 755).
Al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “The wisdom in using a sutrah is to lower your gaze and not to look beyond it, and to prevent anyone from passing in front of you… and to prevent the Shaytaan from passing in front of you and trying to corrupt your prayer.” (Sharh Saheeh Muslim, 4/216).
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “When any one of you prays, let him pray facing a sutrah, and let him get close to it.” (Reported by Abu Dawood, no. 695, 1/446; Saheeh al-Jaami’, no. 651).
Getting close to the sutrah is very beneficial, as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “When any one of you prays facing a sutrah, let him get close to it so that the Shaytaan cannot interrupt his prayer.” (Reported by Abu Dawood, no. 695, 1/446; Saheeh al-Jaami’, no. 650).
The Sunnah in getting close to the sutrah is to have three cubits between it and the spot where one prostrates, or to allow enough space for a sheep to pass between the two, as is reported in the saheeh ahaadeeth. (Al-Bukhaari; see al-Fath, 1/574, 579).
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) advised the one who is praying not to allow anyone to pass between him and his sutrah. He said: “When any one of you is praying, he should not allow anyone to pass in front of him, and he should prevent him as most as he can. If he insists, he should fight him, for he has a companion [i.e., shaytaan] with him.” (Reported by Muslim, 1/260; Saheeh al-Jaami’, no. 755).
Al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “The wisdom in using a sutrah is to lower your gaze and not to look beyond it, and to prevent anyone from passing in front of you… and to prevent the Shaytaan from passing in front of you and trying to corrupt your prayer.” (Sharh Saheeh Muslim, 4/216).
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