Does Prayer Get Interrupted by a Woman, a Donkey, and a Dog

The hadith about women, donkeys, and dogs passing in front of a person during prayer is often misunderstood without proper context. It’s important to clarify that the hadith addresses a specific situation where actions might disrupt the focus of the person praying. In Islamic teachings, it’s not about these entities being inherently wrong, but rather about avoiding distractions during a sacred act of worship. The hadith has context, and it’s not only women, donkeys, and dogs, but also men who may try to disrupt. Here is the complete context and reference,

📖Sahih Muslim 511
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: A woman, an ass and a dog disrupt the prayer, but something like the back of a saddle guards against that.

📖Sahih Muslim 505 a
Abu Sa’id al-Khudri reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: When any one of you prays he should not let anyone pass in front of him (if there is no sutra), and should try to turn him away as far as possible, but if he refuses to go, he should turn him away forcibly for he is a devil.

📖Sahih al-Bukhari 510
Narrated Busr bin Sa`id: that Zaid bin Khalid sent him to Abi Juhaim to ask him what he had heard from Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) about a person passing in front of another person who was praying. Abu Juhaim replied, “Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, ‘If the person who passes in front of another person in prayer knew the magnitude of his sin he would prefer to wait for 40 (days, months or years) rather than to pass in front of him.” Abu An-Nadr said, “I do not remember exactly whether he said 40 days, months or years.

• This hadith clarifies that it is not allowed for anyone to pass in front of a person who is praying. It refers to a human, and the punishment mentioned is for someone who knowingly does this. It indicates that they are disturbing a person, and they do not follow Islam or are not good people.

Explanation:

1. The context behind the hadith is crucial. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) mentioned in Sahih Muslim 505 a that “anyone” passing in front of someone praying can disrupt their focus—this includes men, women, and even animals. The term “anyone” is inclusive, meaning it refers to both humans and animals. However, in Sahih al-Bukhari 514, Aisha (RA) herself clarified the misunderstanding regarding this hadith. She expressed her discomfort with the comparison of women to donkeys and dogs, stating, “You have compared us (women) to donkeys and dogs. By Allah! I saw the Prophet (ﷺ) praying while I used to lie in (my) bed between him and the Qibla. Whenever I was in need of something, I disliked to sit and trouble the Prophet. So, I would slip away by the side of his feet. Aisha (RA) clarified that her actions of lying between the Prophet and the Qibla did not disrupt his prayer. This shows that the intention of the hadith was not to compare women to animals, but to highlight the potential disruption caused by anything—man, woman, or animal—passing in front of a person during prayer. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) clarified that it is anyone, regardless of gender or species, who could potentially disturb the prayer, not just women.
2. Furthermore, the term “devil” in Islam often refers to actions or individuals whose behavior leads others away from the path of God, just as Satan does. Thus, anyone—whether man, woman, or animal—intentionally distracting someone during prayer or leading them away from their focus can be seen in a similar light, as they are causing harm to the spiritual connection between the person and God.
3. In the same vein, Muslim women, like Aisha (RA), were free to move about and sleep without disturbing the prayer. The point is not about gender but about the intent and actions of those who cause unnecessary disturbance during prayer. If a person—whether a man or a woman—deliberately walks in front of a praying individual with the intention to distract or disturb them, it could be seen as a harmful act. Therefore, it’s encouraged to avoid this, not out of condemnation of any group but out of respect for the sanctity of the prayer.

It is unjust to selectively quote a single, ambiguous report that is open to interpretation, especially when it has little relevance to the subject matter being researched, in an attempt to criticize a perfect religion. This is particularly true for Islam, a religion that provides a comprehensive and clear set of guidelines on laws, ethics, and respect for all individuals, including women. One such powerful teaching, narrated by ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), is the hadith: “Women are the twin halves of men.” (Narrated by at-Tirmidhi, 113; classed as sahih by al-Albani in Sahih Abi Dawood, 234). This saying of the Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) is not just a recognition of equality between men and women, but an acknowledgment of the elevated and integral role that women play. The phrase “twin halves” suggests that women are not only equal to men but also carry a unique, honored status that complements and even uplifts men in profound ways.

• Al-Khattaabi explained that the words “twin halves” mean that men and women are peers, sharing similar characteristics and duties. However, when we consider the idea of “twin over men,” it emphasizes that women’s role is foundational and essential to the balance and flourishing of society. Women are often seen as the heart and guiding force of family and community, with qualities such as nurturing, compassion, and wisdom that are irreplaceable in creating a harmonious society.

Islam, therefore, honors women in a manner unparalleled by any other religion, law, or legal system. The teachings place women on a pedestal of respect, protection, and equality that is unmatched. The role of women is not secondary but foundational, and they are seen as integral to the overall well-being of society. It is important to recognize these comprehensive and inclusive teachings of Islam, rather than focusing on isolated reports taken out of context that fail to capture the full dignity and honor granted to women.

📖Quran 33:50
Indeed, the Muslim men and Muslim women, the believing men and believing women, the obedient men and obedient women, the truthful men and truthful women, the patient men and patient women, the humble men and humble women, the charitable men and charitable women, the fasting men and fasting women, the men who guard their private parts and the women who do so, and the men who remember Allah often and the women who do so – for them Allah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward.

• The Qur’an verse itself clarifies this, and based on its context, the two hadiths are not referring to Muslim men and women who know Islam and follow it. Rather, they refer to any men or women who may not know and may come in front of a person who is praying and disturb him. Based on this verse, a Muslim man or woman who is obedient, truthful, humble, and fearful of God cannot do these things, except for a person who does not know. Those who know yet disturb others are not obedient, truthful, or humble. Rather, those who do not believe in God are trying to lead people away from God. Therefore, the two hadiths are referring not to all men and women, but to those who try to lead people away from God, those who disturb a person or trying to mock them and playing with their emotions.

Can a Good Person Disturb Someone Who Is Praying?

Can a good person disturb a man or a woman who is praying? As for donkeys and dog or anything else if these are animals, then it is our duty to move them if they do not go, because they may come in front of a person who is praying, and their sounds may disturb the person’s prayer. The same applies to a person who does not know Islam or is trying to lead someone away from God. However, a good man or woman, even a non-Muslim, would not do this.

Secondly:

Comparing or likening, from a logical and linguistic point of view is based on four principles: the item being likened to something else, the thing to which it is likened, the aspects in which they are similar, and the words used to highlight this similarity. If we ask about the ruling on a particular comparison and whether it is made by way of condemnation or of praise, then it is not right to limit our focus to the thing to which it is being likened. Rather we must also think of the ways in which they are similar.

📖Narrated by al-Bukhari (347) and Muslim (368). It was narrated from one of the Ṣahābah=Companions that he likened his own action to the action of an animal, as ‘Ammaar ibn Yaasir (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) sent me on an errand and I became junub=The religious status of not having a full shower after having intimacy with the spouse. I could not find any water, so I rolled in the clean earth like an animal.

• No one understood this as meaning that he likened himself to an animal in all aspects in a blameworthy manner – Allah forbid – because from a linguistic point of view it can never be taken to mean such a thing. So, it is essential to understand Arabic, which is the language of the Qur’an and Sunnah, before indulging in such baseless specious arguments, which are indicative of utter ignorance of Arabic style and usage. And it is essential to examine the ways in which the two things are similar, before making accusations that this likening is an insult to all women or is derogatory to womankind.

Old Testament

The Book of Leviticus Chapter 15: And if a woman has an issue of her blood many days out of the time of her separation, or if it run beyond the time of her separation; all the days of the issue of her uncleanness shall be as the days of her separation: she shall be unclean. (25) Every bed whereon she lieth all the days of her issue shall be unto her as the bed of her separation: and whatsoever she sitteth upon shall be unclean, as the uncleanness of her separation (26) And whosoever touched those things shall be unclean, and shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even (27)

• Here In the Old Testament of the Bible, women were often treated worse than anything else, but we don’t consider the message to be true because humans wrote down the stories. We don’t have issues with that because we know the errors in the Torah and the Gospel were corrected by the Qur’an. Yet, Evangelical Christians and some Jews ignore their own books and insult others by quoting Islamic scriptures out of context.

Additional Information

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