Passing in front of a person praying

Question

How close in front of a person praying is it that one may not pass? Is it that one may not pass within the furthest reach of the worshipper’s gaze? Or that one may not pass up to where an ordinary person’s gaze ends from the place where the worshipper is praying? Or is there some reckoning in gaz (a unit of length, about a yard, ≈ 0.9 m) or the like?

Answer

If he is praying in a small mosque, one should not pass in front of him at all, however great the distance. If he is in a large mosque or in an open field, then, with the gaze fixed on the place of prostration, as far as a person can see — one should not pass within that distance; this is about three rows, i.e., four or five gaz.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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