from us your qiram (49) (thin curtain), for its images keep appearing to me during my prayer." Recorded by al-Bukhari (50). If the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), despite the immunity and khushu‘ (devotional focus) with which Allah the Almighty supported him, was distracted (51) by that, then others are even more so.

Section: It is disliked for a person to pray while in front of him is a woman praying, because of the saying of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace): "Put them back where Allah has put them back" (52). As for outside of prayer, it is not disliked, because of the report of Aisha. Abu Hafs narrated with his chain of narration from Umm Salama, who said: "My bed was positioned facing the place where the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) prayed" (53). If she is to his right or left, it is not disliked, even if she is in prayer. Ahmad disliked for a person to pray while a disbeliever is in front of him. This has also been narrated from Ishaq, because the polytheists are impure.

Section: There is no harm in praying in Makkah without a sutra (barrier). This has been narrated from Ibn al-Zubayr, ‘Ata’, and Mujahid. Al-Athram said: It was said to Ahmad: "What about a man who prays in Makkah and does not screen himself with anything?" He replied: "It has been narrated from the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) that he prayed there (54) while there was no sutra between him and those performing tawaf (circumambulation)" (55). Ahmad said: "This is because Makkah is not like other places; it is as if Makkah is special." This is due to what Kathir ibn Kathir ibn al-Muttalib narrated from his father, from his grandfather al-Muttalib, who said: "I saw the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) praying facing the Hijr, and people were passing in front of him." Recorded by al-Khallal with his chain of narration (56). Al-Athram narrated with his chain of narration from al-Muttalib, who said: "I saw the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) when he...