Shaykh al-Albani was asked the following question:
Questioner:
The issue of a sutrahs which are connected to the ground and they have pillars and are not completely stuck on the ground: Should they be taken as a sutrah and should the person praying place their legs to the right or left of him? Like for example, this table or should he pray towards the opening [of the table]?
Shaikh:
He should not pray to this opening. He should pray to the leg.
Questioner:
Alright. The Hadith of the bed. Oh Shaikh. the Prophet sallahu alayhi wa salam prayed towards the bed. Is it not understood that the bed had an opening?
Shaikh:
prayed towards the bed?
Questioner:
Yes
Shaikh:
Alright, we do not have an official picture nor a descriptive image that it was open nor covered. So why do we go into detail with this when we know that a sutrah is anything in front of a praying person even if it is a spear? So if he prayed towards a bed, then it is a must for us to suppose that the affair is not ordinary and the affair is actually ordinary. The ordinary affair is to use as a sutrah with something fixed and not something open. So if he prays towards a bed and we suppose that the bed is like a table which is in front of us, that it had a open space between the legs, then no doubt we pray towards one of the two legs. This is if we suppose that it is open and not covered. We are close to this in a lot of situations in our room. We find a bed and there is a cloth for example. This cloth is covering the bed such that it covers the opening. So if you pray to this opening of the bed in this situation, you are not praying towards the opening. You are praying towards the screen which is this cloth. As comes in the narration of Ali may Allah be pleased with him in the Musnad that he said that if a narration comes to you from the Messenger of Allah sallahu alahi wa salam, (then) this is the meaning of the Hadith, not the actual wording. Carry the Hadith to the best of meaning. Do you remember the wording?
Questioner:
We think that is what it is.
Shaikh:
Possibly yes
Questioner:
In Ibn Majah also
Shaikh:
Therefore, we carry the Hadith upon the best of meaning. We carry the Hadith according to what agrees with other Hadith. Not upon what is incompatible. Yes
Questioner:
Alright, oh Shaikh: we recall in this speech that the Prophet sallahu alayhi wa salam prayed towards a saddle. And a saddle is well-known to have a hole.
Shaikh:
The saddle is standing upon air?
Questioner:
It is standing upon the earth, however…
Shaikh:
The affair is ended. Your position is clear that is your speech is about the table
Another Questioner:
The table itself
Shaikh:
The table itself
Questioner:
Jazakallahu Khairan
Shaikh:
Wa iyyaka
[Silsilatul Huda wan-Nur no. 812 side A]
Translated by
Faisal Ibn Abdul Qaadir Ibn Hassan
Abu Sulaymaan
