Narrated by Abu Juhaim
If the one who passes in front of a person praying knew what is upon him, it would be better for him to stand for forty than to pass in front of him.
Sahih al-Bukhari 510, Sahih Muslim 507
What this hadith teaches
The narrator was not sure whether forty days, months or years were meant. Wait, or go around behind, or pass beyond the sutrah.
Reference and grade
- Grade
- Sahih: agreed upon by al-Bukhari and Muslim
- Narrator
- Abu Juhaim
- Chapter
- How to pray
The hadith in Arabic نص الحديث
لَوْ يَعْلَمُ الْمَارُّ بَيْنَ يَدَىِ الْمُصَلِّي مَاذَا عَلَيْهِ لَكَانَ أَنْ يَقِفَ أَرْبَعِينَ خَيْرًا لَهُ مِنْ أَنْ يَمُرَّ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ
Arabic text of Sahih al-Bukhari 510, as given on sunnah.com.