Importance of Praying Behind Sutrah

بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

Imam Bukhari(Rahimullah) had allocated a separate chapter for Sutra of a Musalli, yet we find people not realizing the importance of Sutrah. 

Sheik Muhammad Salih Al-Munajd states this as one of the ways to achieve Kushoo in Salah. It helps to restrict your field of vision, protect you from Shaytaan ad keep people from passing in front of you which causes a distraction and reduces the reward of the prayer.

Importance of Sutra:

أَخْبَرَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ حُجْرٍ، وَإِسْحَاقُ بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ سُلَيْمٍ، عَنْ نَافِعِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ أَبِي حَثْمَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ إِذَا صَلَّى أَحَدُكُمْ إِلَى سُتْرَةٍ فَلْيَدْنُ مِنْهَا لاَ يَقْطَعُ الشَّيْطَانُ عَلَيْهِ صَلاَتَهُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

It was narrated that Sahl bin Abi Hathmah said:

"When anyone of you prays toward a Sutra, let him get close to it and not allow the Shaitan to sever his prayer for him."

[Sunan an-Nasa'i 748, Sunan Abu Dawud :: Book 2 : Hadith 695,Sahih Ibn Khuzaimah, Chapter: Salat, Hadith No. 793]

How close one should stand to Sutrah:

٥٠٢ - حدثنا المكي قال: حدثنا يزيد بن أبي عبيد قال: كنت آتي مع سلمة بن الأكوع فيصلي عند الأسطوانة التي عند المصحف، فقلت: يا أبا مسلم! أراك تتحرى الصلاة عند هذه الأسطوانة؟ قال: فإني رأيت النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يتحرى الصلاة عندها. ء

Narrated Yazeed bin Abi ‘Ubayd: I used to accompany Salamah bin Al-Akwa’ and he used to offer the Salaat (prayer) behind the pillar which was near the place where the Qur’aans were kept. I said, “O Abu Muslim! I see you always seeking to offer As-Salaat (the prayers) behind this pillar.” He replied, “I saw Allah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم always seeking to offer As-Salaat near that pillar.” [Sahih Bukari 510, Sahih Muslim 881]

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حَدَّثَنِي يَعْقُوبُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الدَّوْرَقِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي حَازِمٍ، حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي، عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ السَّاعِدِيِّ، قَالَ كَانَ بَيْنَ مُصَلَّى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَبَيْنَ الْجِدَارِ مَمَرُّ الشَّاةِ ‏.‏

Sahl b. Sa'd al-Si'idi reported: Between the place of worship where the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) prayed and the wall, there was a gap through which a goat could pass. [Sahih Muslim 881]

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حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، - وَاللَّفْظُ لاِبْنِ الْمُثَنَّى - قَالَ إِسْحَاقُ أَخْبَرَنَا وَقَالَ ابْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ مَسْعَدَةَ، - عَنْ يَزِيدَ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ أَبِي عُبَيْدٍ - عَنْ سَلَمَةَ، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ الأَكْوَعِ أَنَّهُ كَانَ يَتَحَرَّى مَوْضِعَ مَكَانِ الْمُصْحَفِ يُسَبِّحُ فِيهِ ‏.‏ وَذَكَرَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يَتَحَرَّى ذَلِكَ الْمَكَانَ وَكَانَ بَيْنَ الْمِنْبَرِ وَالْقِبْلَةِ قَدْرُ مَمَرِّ الشَّاةِ ‏.‏

 Salama b. Akwa' reported:

He sought the place (in the mosque) where the copies of the Qur'an were kept and glorified Allah there, and the narrator made a mention that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) sought that place and that was between the pulpit and the qibla-a place where a goat could pass.

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The Height Of That Which Serves As A Sutrah For The One Who Is Praying (Chapter 50 in Sahih Muslim)

باب قَدْرِ مَا يَسْتُرُ الْمُصَلِّي

أَخْبَرَنَا الْعَبَّاسُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الدُّورِيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يَزِيدَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا حَيْوَةُ بْنُ شُرَيْحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي الأَسْوَدِ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، - رضى الله عنها - قَالَتْ سُئِلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي غَزْوَةِ تَبُوكَ عَنْ سُتْرَةِ الْمُصَلِّي فَقَالَ ‏ "‏ مِثْلُ مُؤْخِرَةِ الرَّحْلِ ‏"‏ ‏.

It was narrated that Aisha(ra) said: "The messenger of Allah(sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) was asked during the campaign of Tabuk about the Sutra of one who is praying. He said: "Something as high as the back of a camel saddle."

‏[Sunan an-Nasa'i 746, Sahih Muslim 861]

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حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، وَقُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، وَأَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ قَالَ يَحْيَى أَخْبَرَنَا وَقَالَ الآخَرَانِ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الأَحْوَصِ، عَنْ سِمَاكٍ، عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ طَلْحَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ إِذَا وَضَعَ أَحَدُكُمْ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مِثْلَ مُؤْخِرَةِ الرَّحْلِ فَلْيُصَلِّ وَلاَ يُبَالِ مَنْ مَرَّ وَرَاءَ ذَلِكَ ‏"‏ ‏.

Musa b. Talha reported it on the authority of his father:

The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: When one of you places in front of him so me. thing such as the back of a saddle, he should pray without caring who passes on the other side of it.

[‏Sahih Muslim]

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حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ ابْنُ عُلَيَّةَ، ح قَالَ وَحَدَّثَنِي زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ يُونُسَ، عَنْ حُمَيْدِ بْنِ هِلاَلٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الصَّامِتِ، عَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ إِذَا قَامَ أَحَدُكُمْ يُصَلِّي فَإِنَّهُ يَسْتُرُهُ إِذَا كَانَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مِثْلُ آخِرَةِ الرَّحْلِ فَإِذَا لَمْ يَكُنْ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مِثْلُ آخِرَةِ الرَّحْلِ فَإِنَّهُ يَقْطَعُ صَلاَتَهُ الْحِمَارُ وَالْمَرْأَةُ وَالْكَلْبُ الأَسْوَدُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قُلْتُ يَا أَبَا ذَرٍّ مَا بَالُ الْكَلْبِ الأَسْوَدِ مِنَ الْكَلْبِ الأَحْمَرِ مِنَ الْكَلْبِ الأَصْفَرِ قَالَ يَا ابْنَ أَخِي سَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَمَا سَأَلْتَنِي فَقَالَ ‏"‏ الْكَلْبُ الأَسْوَدُ شَيْطَانٌ ‏"‏ ‏.

Abu Dharr reported: The Messenger of 'Allah (may peace be upon him) said: When any one of you stands for prayer and there is a thing before him equal to the back of the saddle that covers him and in case there is not before him (a thing) equal to the back of the saddle, his prayer would be cut off by (passing of an) ass, woman, and black Dog. I said: O Abu Dharr, what feature is there in a black dog which distinguish it from the red dog and the yellow dog? He said: O, son of my brother, I asked the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) as you are asking me, and he said: The black dog is a devil.

[‏Sahih Muslim]

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وَحَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، أَخْبَرَنَا الْمَخْزُومِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَاحِدِ، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ زِيَادٍ - حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الأَصَمِّ، حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ الأَصَمِّ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ يَقْطَعُ الصَّلاَةَ الْمَرْأَةُ وَالْحِمَارُ وَالْكَلْبُ وَيَقِي ذَلِكَ مِثْلُ مُؤْخِرَةِ الرَّحْلِ ‏"

Abu Huraira reported:The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: A woman, an ass and a dog disrupt the prayer, but something like the back of a saddle guards against that.

[‏Sahih Muslim]

The Sutrah’s height must be no less than one forearm's length (i.e. the height of the rear end of a camel's saddle)

People who quote the hadith that the sutra is not required
Narrated Al-Fadl ibn Abbas:

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came to us accompanied by Abbas when we were in open country belonging to us. He prayed in a desert with no sutrah in front of him, and a she-ass and a bitch of ours were playing in front of him, but he paid no attention to that.
Sunan Abi Dawud 718 Da'if (Al-Albani) 

 Narrated Ibn `Abbas:

Once I came riding a she-ass when I had just attained the age of puberty. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was offering the prayer at Mina with no wall in front of him and I passed in front of some of the row. There I dismounted and let my she-ass loose to graze and entered the row and nobody objected to me about it. Sahih al-Bukhari 493

Also see:

1.) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutrah

2.) http://www.almuflihoon.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=96:the-sutrah-and-mistakes-regarding-it-&catid=35:worship&Itemid=143

3.) http://www.islamqa.com/en/3404