A sutrah is an object used by a person performing salat as a barrier between himself and one passing in front of him. The person praying should be positioned at less than or equal to three forearms' length away from the Sutrah. The Sutrah’s height must be no less than one forearm's length, whereas its width has no stipulated size. The Sutrah is compulsory for anyone performing salat. While it is apparent that it might appear like the performer is praying to the object in front of him/her, it's not absolutely necessary while praying. It can be substituted by facing a wall or simply blocking the way of a passer with a hand. It is also forbidden for someone to pass in-between a person praying and his Sutrah, or to pass closer than 3 forearms' length to the person who has no Sutrah in front of him. However, a person is allowed to pass between the rows of a congregational salat.
Hadiths related to Sutrah
Sahl ibn Abu Hathmah narrated: رواه سهل بن أبو هاثماه The Prophet said: When one of you prays facing a sutrah he should keep close to it, and not let the devil interrupt his prayer. Abu SaeedAl Khudri narrated: رواه أبو سعيد الخدري The Prophet said: When one of you prays facing a sutrah he should keep close to it, and not let anyone pass in front of it The Messenger of Allah said: لا تصل إلا إلى سترة، ولا تدع أحداً يمر بين يديك، فإن أبى فلتقاتله؛ فإن معه القرين Pray facing a sutrah, and let no one cross in front of you while praying. If he insists, then prevent him by force because he is accompanied by shaitan.'''
Rulings on Sutrah
According to Hanafi Madhab,one's prayer will not be nullified if someone crosses one without sutrah.
A sutrah is an object or a barrier that is placed in front of one to serve as a partition between him and anyone that may walk in front of him. Taking sutrah is a confirmed Sunnah as narrated in many hadiths. For example, it was narrated from `Abdur-Rahman ibn Abu Sa`id that his father said: “The Messenger of Allah said: ‘When anyone of you performs prayer, let him pray facing towards a Sutrah, and let him get close to it, and not let anyone pass in front of him. If someone comes and wants to pass in front of him, let him fight him, for he is a Shaitan.’” In another hadith, Abu Juhaim narrated that Mohammed said: “If anyone who passes in front of a man who is praying knew the responsibility he incurs, he would stand still forty rather than to pass in front of him”, Abu Nadr said: I do not know whether he said forty days or months or years.
