Q 2: What is the ruling on a child passing before a woman offering Salah (Prayer) at home? Is her Salah invalidated or not fully rewarded?

A: Passing in front of a person offering Salah detracts from the Salah, but does not invalidate it, except if the Salah is interrupted by the passage of an adult woman, a donkey, or a black dog in front of the worshiper or between him and the Sutrah (barrier placed in front of a person praying), as the passage of any of them in front of a person offering Salah nullifies it. (Part No. 5; Page No. 431) It is prescribed for the person who offers Salah to turn away whoever wants to pass in front of him whether old or young, a human or an animal. It is authentically reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “When any one of you prays facing something that is screening him from the people and someone wants to pass in front of him, let him push him back, and if he insists then let him fight him, for he is a devil.” (Agreed upon by Al-Bukhari and Muslim) It is also authentically narrated by `Amr ibn Shu`ayb from his father from his grandfather (may Allah be pleased with them) that he said: “We came down with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) from Thanyat Adhakhir and then the time for Salah came, so he prayed facing a wall taking it as a Qiblah (direction faced for Prayer towards the Ka‘bah) and we were (in rows) behind him. An animal came and wanted to pass in front of him, and he kept pushing it back until he stuck his stomach to the wall, and so it passed from behind him.” (Related by Ahmad and Abu Dawud through a Hasan (good) Sanad [chain of narrators])May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.