QUESTION:

What do the scholars of the Dīn and muftīs of the Sacred Law state regarding the following issue: In which direction should the Imam turn his face after Salah, should he turn his face towards the left side or the right side?

Questioner: Bashir from UK

ANSWER:

بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم
الجواب بعون الملک الوھاب اللھم ھدایۃ الحق والصواب

After salam, for the Imam it is sunnah to turn his face to the right side or the left side. As is in the hadith Mubarak of Jami Tirmidhi;

“كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَؤُمُّنَا، فَيَنْصَرِفُ عَلَى جَانِبَيْهِ جَمِيعًا: عَلَى يَمِينِهِ وَعَلَى شِمَالِهِ”

The Noble Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) would lead the prayer and turn in both directions, i.e. would turn towards the right side and left side.

(جامع ترمذی باب ماجاء فی الانصراف۔۔۔ رقم 301)

After this Imam Tirmidhi states;

“وَقَدْ صَحَّ الأَمْرَانِ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ”

The Noble Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) turning right or left are both proven through sahih hadith.

And it is in Bahar e Shariat; after salam it is sunnah for the Imam to turn towards the right and the right side is better. Also, he can sit facing towards the followers, if only there is no follower praying in front of him, even if he is praying in a row further back.

(بہارشریعت ج1 حصہ 3 ص 537)

واللہ تعالی اعلم ورسولہ اعلم صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم
کتبہ ابو الحسن محمد قاسم ضیاء قادری

Answered by Mufti Qasim Zia al-Qadri
Translated by Hamza Hussain

Read the original Urdu answer here: [Q-ID0679] After finishing leading the prayer, in which direction should the Imam face towards – right or left?

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