The Book of the Qiblah - Sunan an-Nasa'i 746

"The messenger of Allah(ﷺ) was asked during the campaign of Tabuk about the Sutra of one who is praying. He said: 'Something as high as the back of a camel saddle.'"

Commentary on the Hadith

This noble hadith from Sunan an-Nasa'i establishes the minimum height requirement for a sutra (prayer screen) that a worshipper should place in front of them while performing salah. The Prophet ﷺ specified that it should be approximately the height of a camel saddle's back.

Scholars have determined that the back of a camel saddle is roughly equivalent to one cubit (approximately 45-50 cm). This demonstrates that the sutra need not be excessively large to serve its purpose of marking the prayer space and preventing interruptions.

The context of this ruling during the Tabuk campaign indicates its universal application, as the Prophet ﷺ provided this guidance while traveling, showing that even in open spaces without built structures, a Muslim should place some object as a sutra when praying.

Legal Rulings Derived

Using a sutra is strongly recommended (sunnah mu'akkadah) for both congregational and individual prayers.

Anything that meets the minimum height requirement - whether a stick, wall, pillar, or any other object - suffices as a proper sutra.

The sutra creates a sacred boundary that prevents others from passing directly in front of the worshipper, thus maintaining the concentration and sanctity of the prayer.