Does Passing in front of a Person who is Performing Prayer Invalidate that Person’s Prayer?

Does passing in front of a person who is performing prayer invalidate that person’s prayer?

One should not pass in front of a person who is performing prayer whether in an indoor or outdoor venue unless there is an obligation. The Prophet Muhammad (saw) said that it would have been better to wait for 40 years instead of passing in front of a person who establishes prayer (Muslim, Salat, 261). A person who will establish prayer also should take some precautions such as standing in a suitable place or putting an object (sutrah) in front of him in order to hinder people from passing directly in front of him. Because the Prophet (saw) advises to the people who establish prayer in places where there is the possibility for humans and animals to pass in front of them to place a sutrah (a stick or some other object) in front of themselves (Muslim, Salat, 241, 242). It is makruh not to use a sutrah.

In the prayers established in congregation, it is enough when only the imam has a sutrah; others do not need to place a sutrah (Bukhari, Salat, 90). Passing in front of the sutrah does not pose a problem. Prayer of the person is not invalidated when someone passes in front of him although the person who passes becomes responsible. But in big mosques, it is permissible to pass a long distance away from those who are establishing prayer (Kasani, Bada’i, I, 217).

Source: Presidency Of Religious Affairs The Turkey, High Board of Religious Affairs FATWAS