What is the ruling on a Sutra in prayer, and does the passing of a dog, woman, or donkey invalidate it, and what is our position regarding the saying of Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her: "Have you made us like dogs and donkeys?"

The Sutra (barrier) is a confirmed Sunnah (definition), not obligatory, because the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "When one of you prays, let him pray towards a Sutra and draw near to it." It is also authentically reported that he sometimes prayed without a Sutra. As for what nullifies the prayer, it is: a donkey, a black dog, and a mature woman, based on his saying, peace and blessings be upon him: "The prayer of a Muslim is nullified if there is not in front of him something like the back of a saddle: a woman, a donkey, and a black dog." Aisha's objection, may Allah be pleased with her, to the comparison was her personal interpretation, and the objection is not merely passing. What nullifies the prayer is the passing of one of the three mentioned between the hands of the worshiper or between him and the Sutra. However, if the woman is young and has not reached puberty, or the dog is not black, or something else passes, like a camel or a sheep, etc., then all of these do not nullify the prayer. It is prescribed for the worshiper not to let anything pass in front of him, even if it does not nullify the prayer; because the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "If one of you prays towards something that screens him from people, and someone wants to pass in front of him, let him push him away. If he refuses, let him fight him, for he is a devil."