[Q 589] Walking Before a Praying Person in Haramayn

QUESTION:

When praying in Madinah
Masjid nabawai and Makkah people tend to go in front of person praying is that allowed or is that only allowed in Mecca and if it is allowed, is it allowed because of crowd or is it allowed because of a saying of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ ?

ANSWER:

Masjid al-Haram and Masjid al-Nabawi are both from the kabeer masaajid (large mosques). In these two mosques, it is permissible to pass in front of a person praying beyond the موضعِ سجود (mawdi‘ al-sujood – place of prostration), even without a sutrah (barrier). The reason for this concession given by the fuqaha (jurists) is to prevent hardship and difficulty for the Ummah due to large crowds.

However, passing within the area of the place of prostration (mawdi‘ al-sujood) without a sutrah is not permissible.

The place of prostration refers to the area in front of the praying person where his gaze naturally falls during Salah when observing proper humility and focus. According to the experience mentioned by Sayyidi A‘la Hazrat Imam Ahmad Raza Khan رحمۃ اللہ علیہ, this area extends to approximately three گز (gaz – yards) in front of the person.

It is mentioned in Malfuzat-e-A‘la Hazrat:

“خشوع کے ساتھ نماز پڑھنے والا جب قیام میں اپنی نظر موضعِ سجود پر جماتا ہے تو نظر اس سے کچھ آگے بڑھتی ہے، میرے تجربے میں یہ جگہ تین گز ہے، اس حد کے اندر سے گزرنا بالکل جائز نہیں، البتہ اس سے باہر صحراء اور بڑی مسجد میں گزر سکتا ہے۔”

Translation: When a person prays with proper humility and fixes his gaze at the place of prostration, the vision extends slightly beyond it. In my experience, this area is about three yards. Passing within this boundary is absolutely not permissible; however, beyond this, in open areas and large mosques, one may pass.

(Malfuzat-e-A‘la Hazrat, Part 1, Page 133, Maktabat al-Madinah, Karachi)

Answered by: Usman Madani (Ask Mufti Scholar)
Translated answer
Date: 25th March 2026.
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