If anyone of you is praying behind something that conceals him from people and somebody tries to pass in front of him, he should push him away; if he refuses, the praying person should use force against him for he is a devil · Explained ḥadīths

عن أبي سعيد الخدري رضي الله عنه مرفوعًا: «إذا صلَّى أَحَدُكُم إلى شيء يَسْتُرُهُ مِنَ النَّاس، فأَرَاد أحَد أن يَجْتَازَ بين يديه، فَلْيَدْفَعْهُ، فإن أبى فَلْيُقَاتِلْهُ؛ فإنما هو شيطان». وفي رواية: «إذا كان أَحَدُكُمْ يُصَلِّي فلا يَدَعْ أحدا يمُرُّ بين يديه، فإنْ أبى فَلْيُقَاتِلْهُ؛ فإن معه القَرِينَ».

Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "If anyone of you is praying behind something that conceals him from people and somebody tries to pass in front of him, he should push him away; if he refuses, the praying person should use force against him for he is a devil." Another narration reads: "If anyone of you is praying, he should not let anyone pass in front of him; if he refuses then use force, for he has a (devil) companion with him."

Narrated by Muslim - Narrated by Bukhari & MuslimGradeAuthentic hadith

Explanation

Before a Muslim starts praying, he can place something in front of him to conceal him from people so that the reward of his prayer is not reduced by their passing in front of him. When he starts communication with his Lord, he should lightly repel anyone who wishes to pass in front of him. If that person is not repelled with ease, this means he has violated the limits and become an aggressor. In this case, it is permissible to push him away and stop his aggression by force. Passing in front of the praying person belongs to the deeds of the devils who wish to spoil people's acts of worship and confuse them during their prayer.

Reference

صحيح البخاري، محمد بن إسماعيل البخاري الجعفي، تحقيق: محمد زهير الناصر، دار طوق النجاة (مصورة عن السلطانية بإضافة ترقيم: محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي)، الطبعة: الأولى 1422هـ. صحيح مسلم، مسلم بن الحجاج القشيري النيسابوري، تحقيق محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي، دار إحياء التراث العربي، بيروت، الطبعة: 1423هـ. توضيح الأحكام مِن بلوغ المرام، عبد الله بن عبد الرحمن البسام، مكتبة الأسدي، مكة المكرّمة، الطبعة: الخامِسَة 1423هـ، 2003م. منحة العلام في شرح بلوغ المرام، عبد الله صالح الفوزان، دار ابن الجوزي، الطبعة: الأولى 1428هـ، 1432هـ. تسهيل الإلمام بفقه الأحاديث من بلوغ المرام، صالح بن فوزان بن عبد الله الفوزان، اعتنى بإخراجه عبدالسلام بن عبد الله السليمان، الرسالة، بيروت، الطبعة: الأولى 1427هـ، 2006م.

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