How can women, donkeys and dogs interrupt Salah/Prayers ? Bukhari 489, Muslim 512

Question: Can you explain this hadith ?

Aisha reported: That which invalidates prayer was mentioned in her presence and they said, “Prayer is invalidated by a dog, a donkey, and a woman.” Aisha said, “You have turned us into dogs! I have seen the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, praying while I was between him and the direction of prayer, lying on the bed. If I needed something, I would not like to face him directly while he prayed, so I would slip away quietly.”
In another narration, Aisha said, “When the Prophet wanted to prostrate, he would nudge me my legs and I would pull them back.”

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 489, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 512

Answer:

Praise be to God,

Imam An-Nawawi said:

قَالَ مَالِكٌ وَأَبُو حَنِيفَةَ وَالشَّافِعِيُّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَجُمْهُورُ الْعُلَمَاءِ مِنَ السَّلَفِ وَالْخَلَفِ لَا تَبْطُلُ الصَّلَاةُ بِمُرُورِ شَيْءٍ مِنْ هَؤُلَاءِ وَلَا مِنْ غَيْرِهِمْ وَتَأَوَّلَ هَؤُلَاءِ هَذَا الْحَدِيثَ عَلَى أَنَّ الْمُرَادَ بِالْقَطْعِ نَقْصُ الصَّلَاةِ لِشُغْلِ الْقَلْبِ بِهَذِهِ الْأَشْيَاءِ وَلَيْسَ الْمُرَادُ إِبْطَالُهَا

" Malik, Abu Hanifa and Al-Shafi‘i , may Allah be pleased with them and the vast majority of the Scholars from Salaf and Khalaf (early and late) said that the Salah/prayers is not invalidated by the passage of any of them or any others. They concluded that the meaning is that they "will make the prayer imperfect" due to the distraction they cause in people's hearts (occupation of heart by these things).” (Sharah Al-Nawawi 2/266).

All these things mentioned here can disrupt one’s attention. A dog or an ass can become a source of distraction because of their course and loud voice and bad smell And a woman could distract because of her beauty while prayers need full time attention. This is enough to prove that it’s only about being a cause of distraction that women are mentioned with all these things.

Imam Badr al-Din al-'Ayni said:

 

لأن المرأة تغير الفكر فيها والحمار ينهق والكلب يهوش

"..because the woman can distract the mind to think about her, the donkey brays and the dog goes to and fro [barking/agitated].." ( Umdat Al-Qari)

 Allah knows best.

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