(may Allah bless him and grant him peace) estimated it by the rear of the saddle, and the rear of the saddle varies in length and shortness; sometimes it is a cubit, and sometimes it is less than that. Thus, what approximates a cubit is sufficient for shielding oneself, and Allah knows best. As for its thickness and thinness, we know of no limit for it; it is permissible for it to be thin like an arrow or a spear, or thick like a wall, for the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) used to use an 'anaza (short spear) as a sutra. Abu Sa'id said: We used to use an arrow or a stone as a sutra in prayer. It was narrated from Sabra that the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: "Use a sutra in prayer, even if it is an arrow." Recorded by al-Athram. Al-Awza'i said: An arrow or a whip is sufficient. Ahmad said: Whatever is wider is more pleasing to me; this is because his saying "even if it is an arrow" indicates that something other than it is better.
Section: It is recommended for the one praying to draw near to his sutra, because of what was narrated by Sahl ibn Abi Hathma, reaching the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), that he said: "If one of you prays toward a sutra, let him draw near to it, so that the devil may not interrupt his prayer." Recorded by Abu Dawud. From Abu Sa'id, he said: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: "If one of you prays, let him pray toward a sutra, and let him draw near to it." Recorded by al-Athram. And from Sahl ibn Sa'd, he said: There was between the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) and
(17) Recorded by Muslim, in: The Chapter on the sutra of the one praying, from the Book of Prayer. Sahih Muslim 1/359. And al-Nasa'i, in: The Chapter on the sutra of the one praying, from the Book of the Qibla. Al-Mujtaba 2/48. (18) In [A] and [M]: "mukhtalif" (varying). (19) The 'anaza: A small spear between a staff and a spear, containing a metal tip (zun). (20) Recorded by Imam Ahmad, in: Al-Musnad 3/404. (21) In the manuscripts: "Khaythama". It is Sahl ibn Abi Hathma al-Ansari. See his biography in Tahdhib al-Tahdhib 4/248. (22) In: The Chapter on drawing near to the sutra, from the Book of Prayer. Sunan Abi Dawud 1/160. It was also recorded by al-Nasa'i, in: The Chapter on the command to draw near to the sutra, from the Book of the Qibla. Al-Mujtaba 2/49. And Imam Ahmad, in: Al-Musnad 4/2. (23) Recorded by Abu Dawud, in: The Chapter on what the one praying is commanded to push away from the passage in front of him, from the Book of Prayer. Sunan Abi Dawud 1/160. And Ibn Majah, in: The Chapter on pushing away as much as you can, from the Book of Establishing Prayer. Sunan Ibn Majah 1/307.
