Abu Juhaifah Wahb bin `Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I saw the Prophet (PBUH) by Al-Abtah valley in Makkah, in a red tent made from tanned skin. Bilal brought him ablution water. Then Messenger of Allah (PBUH) came out wearing a red mantle; and I can still remember looking at whiteness of his shanks. So he made his ablution, and Bilal (PBUH) pronounced the call for prayer (Adhan). I kept following the movement of his (Bilals) face to the right and to the left when he recited: `Come to the prayer; come to the success. Then a spear was fixed (as a Sutrah) in front of Messenger of Allah (PBUH) who then stepped forward and led the prayer. Dogs and donkeys passed in front of him (beyond the spear) and no one prevented them from doing so.[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
Commentary:
`Al-Abtah' is the name of a place which is also called the Muhassab valley. Lexically `Al-Abtah' means a sloping ground. Since it was the passage of rainy water owing to its downward slope, it came to be known by this name. Here the Prophet (PBUH) encamped in a tent.
This Hadith provides for wearing red-coloured clothes as mentioned in detail in the preceding Hadith. Second, it points out an issue concerning the ritual prayer. The worshipper should place something before him as a symbol of obstruction (Sutra) so that somebody who goes past him may not divert his attention. Yet, there is no harm if the passer is an animal.
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