A decision has been made to remove items specifically designed as ‘Sutrah’ from mosques, as their placement is deemed undesirable. A Sutrah is defined as a stick or any other object placed in front of a worshipper to prevent people from passing in front of them during prayer. Currently, a significant number of such specially made Sutrah items are found in mosques for this purpose.
The Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed, noted that recently, various forms of specially crafted items, designated as Sutrah, have been introduced into mosques for placement in front of worshippers during prayer. The Minister stated that he would request the City Council to remove these items from mosques. Minister Shaheem emphasized the importance of adhering to the practice outlined in the Sunnah, rather than placing such Sutrahs. He elaborated that an existing pillar, a wall, or any other commonly available object can serve as a Sutrah. The Minister believes that adopting this approach would align the practice directly with the Sunnah.
“This practice was not observed during the lifetime of the Prophet (PBUH), nor during the lives of his companions, nor in the three blessed centuries of Islam. It is inappropriate for such practices, which contradict the concept of Sutrah as clarified in the Sunnah, to spread,” stated the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed.
Furthermore, the Minister also highlighted the presence of numerous various perfume bottles within some mosques. He noted a recent increase in practices such as applying perfume before every prayer and even applying it to the person standing next to oneself in the prayer line. The Minister pointed out that applying perfume before every prayer is not a practice mandated by the Sunnah. He stressed that it is Sunnah to ensure cleanliness and purity when leaving home to go to the mosque. The Minister specified that the only two occasions for applying fragrance before an act of worship, as established by authentic Sunnah, are before assuming Ihram for Hajj and Umrah, and when proceeding for Friday prayers. Otherwise, he clarified, applying perfume repeatedly in connection with a specific act of worship is not part of the Sunnah. The Minister also stated the need to stop the sound of alarms for Iqamah inside mosques, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the reverence and sanctity of mosques.
Given the placement of Sutrahs in mosques, the Fatwa Council issued a fatwa last week to clarify its ruling on the matter. According to the fatwa, using a Sutrah and specifically creating a dedicated item for use as a Sutrah is not considered advisable. The fatwa concerning Sutrah explains that the practice of specially making and placing an object as Sutrah within mosques is a newly emerging issue, which, like other matters of Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence), is subject to scholarly disagreement. While some scholars consider this act to be an aspect of assisting in good deeds, others prohibit it.
The fatwa states that during the time of the Prophet (PBUH), no special object was used as a Sutrah. Even outside the mosque during that era, common items were used for Sutrah, not specially manufactured ones.
