1107 - 'Abd al-Wahid ibn al-Dahhak narrated to us, he said: Isma'il ibn 'Ayyash narrated to us, from 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Abd Allah, from al-Haytham, who said: Ibrahim al-Nakha'i was asked about a man who prays, utilizing a rope placed horizontally as a sutrah? He said: "If the rope were lengthwise, it would be more beloved to me."

1108 - Muhammad ibn al-Wazir narrated to us, he said: Al-Walid said: And Hisham ibn al-Ghazi informed me, from 'Amr ibn Shu'ayb, that he informed him from his father, from his grandfather 'Abd Allah ibn 'Amr, that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to pray facing a wall he had taken as a sutrah, and a young animal (bahmah) wanted to pass in front of him, so the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) began trying to repel it from that; intending for it to pass behind him, until I saw the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) pressed against the wall, and it passed behind him.

Chapter: One who performs prayer following the Imam in his house

• I said to Ahmad: "O Abu 'Abd Allah, the mosque of Basra is very crowded, and outside the mosque are houses where people perform prayer following the Imam, and between them and the mosque is a road where people walk; is this permissible?" He said: "Yes," and he used as evidence the hadith of Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him), that he prayed in a room overlooking the mosque following the Imam. It was said: "Should he pray alone in these places?" He said it is more beloved that someone else be with him.