1115 - Muhammad ibn Yahya al-Quta'i narrated to us, he said: Mu'adh narrated to us, he said: Ash'ath narrated to us, from al-Hasan, who said: "A river serves as a barrier (sutrah) for the one praying."

Chapter: Placing an object in the direction of the Qiblah

• I heard Ahmad ibn Hanbal express dislike for having any object in the direction of the Qiblah, even a Mushaf (copy of the Quran).

1116 - Ahmad ibn Yunus narrated to us, he said: Za'idah narrated to us, from Khasif, from Mujahid, who said: "Abdullah ibn 'Umar would not leave anything between himself and the Qiblah without removing it; neither a sword nor a Mushaf."

Chapter: One who prays behind a Dhimmi (non-Muslim subject)

• Ahmad was asked: "A man prayed behind a Dhimmi while he did not know [that he was a Dhimmi]?" He said: "He must repeat the prayer."

• And I heard Ahmad—on another occasion—being asked about a man who prayed behind a Dhimmi? He said: "He must repeat the prayer."

• Ishaq was asked about a Jew who led a people in prayer for a month while they did not know? He said: "The Jew is to be disciplined, and they must repeat the prayer." It was said: "Does Islam not become binding upon him [by his leading them]?" He said: "No." It was said: "What if he gave the Adhan and said in his Adhan: 'I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah'?" He said: "It is not binding upon him except through [sincere] conviction."

1117 - Mahmud ibn Khalid al-Dimashqi narrated to us, he said: 'Umar ibn 'Abd al-Wahid narrated to us, he said: I heard al-Awza'i say—regarding a Christian who traveled with Muslims and led them in prayer, and then they realized that afterwards—he said: "They must repeat [the prayer], and he is to be punished." It was said: "What if it were a Muslim woman [who led them]?" He said: "Their prayer is valid."