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lion. It was called a sutrah,29’ and it was respected as a barrier by
others who came near the praying person. To cross between a per-
son and his sutrah was forbidden (haram). If a worshipper failed
Io put a sutrah in front of himself in an area where people were
passing, he was guilty if someone passed in front of him while he
prayed. However, if he placed a sutrah in front the person violat-
ing the barrier became guilty.

The sutrah also served as a weapon against harmful reptiles, in-
sects, and dangerous animals. If one was threatened by such a
i feature while praying, it was permissible to strike out to the right
or left to kill it. Once the threat was removed the worshipper con-
tinued the prayer. If it became necessary for the worshipper to
turn his chest away from the direction of the Ka'bah to kill a harm-
ful creature, his prayer was invalidated and it had to be performed
again from the beginning.

The sutrah was placed only far enough in front of the worship-
per to allow him to prostrate without touching it, or at a distance