due to the report of Ibn Umar, from Bilal, that the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) prayed at the front of the House (the Kaaba), and there was between him and the wall three cubits (33). The closer one is, the better it is, because of the reports and meanings we have mentioned.

Section: There is no harm in using a camel or an animal as a sutra, and this was practiced by Ibn Umar and Anas. It is narrated from al-Shafi'i that one should not use a beast of burden as a sutra. Our evidence is what Ibn Umar narrated: that the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) prayed facing a camel. Recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim (34). In one wording, he said (35): The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) would present his riding camel and pray facing it. He said: I asked, "What if the mounts have gone?" He replied: He would present the saddle and pray facing its hind part. If one uses a person as a sutra, there is no harm, because (37) they stand in place of another form of sutra. It has been narrated from Humayd ibn Hilal, who said: Umar ibn al-Khattab saw a man praying while people were passing in front of him, so he turned his back to him, made a gesture with his garment like this, and spread his hands like this, and said: "Pray, and do not rush." From Nafi', he said: When Ibn Umar could not find a way to a pillar among the pillars of the mosque, he would say: "Turn your back to me." Both were recorded by al-Najjad (38) with his chain of transmission.