Whoever adopts the method of discarding a report when two reports conflict will proceed as follows:
• If he also upholds the principle that an established consensus remains in force unless new evidence overturns it, he will categorically rule that prayer inside the Kaʿbah is impermissible.
• If he does not recognize the continued authority of consensus, the discussion returns to whether someone who prays inside the Kaʿbah may still be called “one who faces the House.” Whoever deems that description valid permits the prayer; whoever does not—and this is the more apparent view—deems prayer inside the Kaʿbah invalid.
The scholars, by unanimous agreement, regard it as recommended (mustaḥabb) for a worshiper—whether praying alone or leading others—to place a sutrah (a barrier) between himself and the qiblah. They base this on the Prophet’s statement, peace and blessings be upon him:
“When any one of you sets up in front of him something like the back of a saddle, let him pray.”
They disagreed, however, about drawing a line on the ground when no physical sutrah is available.
• The majority hold that no line need be drawn.
• Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal held that one should draw a line in front of himself.
The reason for their disagreement lies in the varying assessments of the authenticity of the hadith concerning the line. The report—narrated by Abū Hurayrah—states that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
“When one of you prays, let him place something before his face; if he cannot, let him plant a staff; if he has no staff, let him draw a line, and whoever passes in front of him will not harm him.”
Abū Dāwūd recorded the report. Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal considered it sound, whereas al-Shāfiʿī did not. It has also been reported that the Prophet prayed without any sutrah, while the sound, well-established narration is that “a short spear (ʿanzah) would be set up for him.”
These, then, are the foundational principles of this section, comprising four issues.
[Chapter Four of the Second Section: Covering the ʿAwrah and Dress in Prayer]
[First Sub-section: Covering the ʿAwrah]