Can Sins Be Forgiven Because Of Someone Else Asking For Forgiveness?
A’ssalamu alaikum The hadith in which a strict warning is mentioned applies to a specific context, namely deliberately and without excuse passing in front of a person who is praying. The prohibition specifically concerns a person intentionally passing between the praying person and their sutrah (barrier) or prayer mat, thereby disturbing their prayer. This narration is recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, where the severe warning is mentioned. However, if there is a valid excuse, the space is narrow, or there is a general crowd, the severity of the ruling changes. This is why in Masjid al-Haram and Al-Masjid an-Nabawi, it is observed that people pass in front of those praying, because due to the heavy crowd, complete avoidance is not possible. Scholars have exempted such situations under the concept of ‘Amm al-Balwa’ (general difficulty or unavoidable hardship). Jurisprudentially, it is also clarified that a praying person has a certain limit. If they have a sutrah or the boundary of their prayer mat, the prohibition applies between the sutrah or mat and the praying person. If someone enters this boundary, it is permissible to remove them by hand, but gently. Regarding the matter of one’s mother, it was different from the original context of the hadith. She was not merely passing in front of the praying person but performed a different kind of act. Therefore, the severe warning of the hadith does not directly apply to her. In such a case, if it was done out of ignorance, the severity of the sin is lessened, as in Islam both intention and knowledge are taken into account. Allah is Most Forgiving and Most Merciful, and it should be hoped that He will pardon, especially if a person resolves not to repeat the action. It is also established in authentic hadith that after death, the supplications of righteous children benefit a person, as mentioned in Sahih Muslim. Thus, the warning of this hadith should be understood according to its original context—deliberate and without excuse passing in front of someone praying—while in cases of necessity, ignorance, or other circumstances, the severity of the ruling differs.