Sutrah height is: Sibra (So, what’s Sibra?)

Sutrah height is: Sibra (So, what’s Sibra?)

It has been a long time that i see sisters putting a pillow in front of one praying as a sutrah to pass in front of the one praying. What i learned back in days from Bulough Al-Maram always stood in my back so i knew that was not correct. Today, i learned again what should be the height of the sutrah from the lecture of Shaykh Rslan. (Found here:http://www.rslan.com/vad/items.php?chain_id=75 – second lecture and in first lecture too).

So the height of the sutrah has to be sibra which is: the space between the thumb and the pinky finger in the stressed position. See the Arabic definition to know it exactly. (The image helps exactly as desired).

الشِّبْرُ – شِبْرُ :

الشِّبْرُ ما بين طَرَفي الخِنْصَرِ والإِبهام بالتفريج المُعتاد ( مذكَّر ) . والجمع : أَشْبار .
المعجم: المعجم الوسيط -

Looking up this word in English does not help much unless there is an Arabic to English dictionary that goes in such detail.

The Shaykh said, it cannot be a line as some people do. Also, passing in front of the praying person means passing between the person’s standing position place and the place of prostration, and passing beyond the place of prostration and the sutrah is alright. A woman who reached the age of menstruation if passes between a person and his sutrah nullify the person’s salah likewise a black dog and donkey. Also, one can walk toward the sutrah (place of prostration) to let the passer pass behind the person. Passing between the person and his sutrah is a major sin.

**><** Be careful of the women because in the masajid and open places, women with lack of knowledge and awareness tend to do this. So protect your salah. You can walk in front to let the person pass behind you. InshaaAllah.

Check the details in the lectures found in the linked page.

Wassalamualikum…