1098 - Ali ibn Uthman narrated to us, he said: Sulayman ibn al-Mughirah narrated to us, from Humayd ibn Hilal, from Abdullah ibn al-Samit, from Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: "If a man does not have in front of him something like the back of a saddle, his prayer is invalidated by the woman, the donkey, and the black dog." He said: I asked Abu Dharr, "What is the matter with the black dog as opposed to the red dog or the white dog?" He replied, "O my nephew, I asked the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) about what you have asked me, and he said: 'The black dog is a devil.'"

Chapter: A woman praying parallel to a man or in front of him

• I said to Ahmad: "A man is praying while a woman is standing parallel to him praying, or in front of him?" He replied: "If she is parallel to him, it is easier than if she is in front of him." I asked: "Should he repeat the prayer?" He said: "I do not know." He also said: "If the woman is not in the middle of prayer, there is no harm, because Aishah was in front of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)."

• And I heard Ishaq say: "If a woman were to pray while I was behind her praying my own prayer, my prayer would be valid. And if a woman were to pray and there were men behind her praying, following her in prayer, their prayer would be void, and they would be disciplined."