What is the ruling regarding someone passing in front of a praying person who lacks a barrier?
Chapter on Imamate and Congregational Prayer
Al-Mughni
Book of Prayer
Primary text
If a person passes in front of a worshipper who does not have a barrier, the worshipper must repel them. If the passerby refuses to stop, the worshipper should fight or struggle against them, as the Prophet, peace be upon him, stated that such a passerby is like a devil. Evidence includes the hadith that if a passerby knew the weight of the sin, standing for forty (units of time/years) would be better than passing. The general consensus of most scholars, including Ibn Mas'ud, Ibn 'Umar, and the companions of Abu Hanifa, is that the worshipper must prevent the passage. The severity of 'fighting' is interpreted as using extreme force to repel the person, stopping short of actions that would invalidate the prayer itself, such as excessive movement. This ruling is supported by the Prophet’s actions of gesturing to stop 'Abdullah and Zaynab bint Abi Salama.
Supporting text
A dissenting view suggests that the command to repel or fight only applies if the person persists after an initial push. Some narrations from Imam Ahmad indicate a dislike for physical fighting within the prayer, preferring strong repulsion as long as it does not lead to the corruption (invalidation) of the prayer. It is also mentioned that the Prophet, peace be upon him, did not exert extreme force when repelling 'Abdullah and Zaynab.