and she passed across. When the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, concluded the prayer, he said: “They are too overpowering.” (1) He did not repeat the prayer.

This may be answered in two ways:

First, this hadith is weak, and no proof can be established on the basis of a weak hadith.

Second, the girl was young, whereas the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “a woman.” (2) A woman is one who is grown and has reached maturity. We agree with you that a young girl does not invalidate the prayer.

Accordingly, the stronger view in this matter is that the prayer is invalidated by the passing of a woman, a donkey, or a black dog, since this is authentically established from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. There is nothing to counter this hadith such that we could say that it has been abrogated or qualified. Rather, the prayer is invalidated, and it must be restarted; it is not permissible to continue it, even if it is a voluntary prayer. For were one to continue, one would be continuing in an invalid act of worship, and continuing in invalid acts of worship is prohibited and constitutes a form of mockery of Allah, exalted is He. How can one seek nearness to Allah through that which He does not approve?

Among the principles of the scholars is: “Every invalid contract, every invalid condition, and every invalid act of worship—it is prohibited to proceed with it.” Thus, when the people of Barirah stipulated that the right of patronage should belong to them, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, stood and addressed the people, condemning them: