on ‘Arafah [mount] at that time.’ How could the prophet ( - صلى الله عليه وسلم -) do the opposite of that to which he ordered his Sah?bah’. (1)
I believe that the lack of buildings does not entail not taking a Sutrah in Sal?t; this is clearly stated in Ibn Abb?s’ ’Athar. He ( - رضي الله عنه -) said: The prophet ( - صلى الله عليه وسلم -) used to do his Sal?t in Mina not towards a wall’. (2)
Ibn ‘Abb?s said in another narration: ‘A staff was rooted before the prophet ( - صلى الله عليه وسلم -) while being on ‘Arfah and he performed his Sal?t towards it. A donkey passed behind it’. (3)
Ibn At-Turkum?n? said: ‘Lacking a wall does not entail the non existence of any other Sutrah, so on what basis did Im?m M?lik hold such an opinion?!’ (4)
According to the previous discussion, we conclude the following points:
[1/ 15] Those who perform their Sal?t with out taking a Sutrah have indeed committed a great mistake, even if there is a slight chance of any body -or thing- to pass in front of them, as is the case when being in a desert. This ruling applies to Makkah and else where. (5)
(1) (*) This is a weak had?th as Al-Alb?n? said in “Tam?mul Minnah” (p. 305). He said: ‘It is fully narrated in “Al-Ah?dithud Da‘?fah” (no. 5814) with another similar ahad?th.
( ) Sah?h Ibn Khuzaimah (vol. 2 / pp. 27 - 8).
(2) Narrated by Al-Bukh?r? in his “Sah?h” (no. 76, 493, 861, 1857, 4412), Ahmad in “Al-Musnad” (vol. 1 / no. 341) and M?lik in “Al-Muwatta’ “(vol. 1 / no. 131), and others.
(3) Narrated by Ahmad in “Al-Musnad” (vol. 1. no. 243), Ibn Khuzaimah in “As-Sah?h” (no. 840) and At-Tabar?n? in “Al-Mu‘jam Al-Kab?r” (vol. 11 / no. 243). Ahmad’s chain of narrators is a sound one.
(4) “Al-Jawharun Naq?” (vol. 2 / p. 273). See also: “Ahk?mus Sutrah “(pp. 88 ... ).
(5) More about this in “As-Silsilah Ad-Da‘ifah wal Mawd?‘ah” (no. 928) and “Ahk?mus Sutrah in Makkah wa Ghairiha” (pp. 46 - 8), (120 - 6). As for the permissibility to pass in front of a praying muslim at times of need and dire necessity, this is something unescapable- especially at times of over crowdedness. At-H?fith Ibn Hajar held this opinion as is stated in his “Al-Fath” (vol. 1 / p. 576) and so did Az-Zarq?n? in “Sharh Mukhtasar Khal?l” (vol. 1 / p. 209). All?h ( - عز وجل -) knows best.