Which Way Should the Imām Face After Ṣalāh?

Question:

Country: United Kingdom

After the fardh salah of fajr and asr the imam normally turns around and faces the people but after the other salahs he does not, the reason being that there are sunan to pray after the fardh. What is the ruling regarding this according to hanafi mazhab and should you turn around in all the salahs?

Answer:

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

According to the Ḥanafī madhhab, it is desirable for the imām to turn away from the qiblah after fajr and ‘aṣr. It is undesirable for the imām to remain seated facing the qiblah after these two ṣalāhs. The imām may simply turn away from the qiblah either to the right or to the left. He may also turn fully and face the congregation.

After ẓuhr, maghrib and ‘ishā’, the imām should not stay seated after the ṣalāh but should stand up to perform the sunnah prayers. [1]

And Allah knows best           

(Mufti) Bilal al-Mahmudi

10 Ramaān 1439 – 26 May 2018


 [1] فإن كانت صلاة لا تصلَّى بعدها سنة كالفجر والعصر فإن شاء الإمام قام وإن شاء قعد في مكانه يشتغل بالدعاء؛ لأنه لا تطوع بعد هاتين الصلاتين فلا بأس بالقعود، إلا أَنه يكره المكث على هيئته مستقبل القبلة. (بدائع الصنائع، ج ١، ص ١٥٩. دار الكتب العلمية)

وكذا يكره مكثه قاعدا في مكانه مستقبل القبلة في صلاة لا تطوع بعدها كما في شرح المنية عن الخلاصة، والكراهة تنزيهية كما دلت عليه عبارة الخانية. (رد المحتار على الدر المختار، ج ١، ص ٥٣٩. دار الفكر)

وإن كان لا يتنفل بعدها يقعد مكانه، وإن شاء انحرف يمينا أو شمالا، وإن شاء استقبلهم بوجهه إلا أن يكون بحذائه مصل سواء كان في الصف الأول أو في الأخير. (البحر الرائق شرح كنز الدقائق، ج ١، ص ٣٥٥. دار الكتاب الإسلامي)

وكذا في: (حاشية الطحطاوي على الدر المختار، ج ١، ص ٢٣٣. دار المعرفة)

(فتاوى محمودية. ج ٥، ص ٦٥٠. جامعة فاروقية)

(كتاب النوازل. ج ٤، ص ٧٨)

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IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ FIRST
  • The ruling given is based specifically on the question posed and should only be read in conjunction with that question.
  • Due to the number of queries received, please allow a minimum of 7 days for your question to be answered.
  • If two questions are asked at once or the question requires a detailed research, please allow up to three or four weeks for your question to be answered. Urgent queries will be given priority.
  • Kindly do not submit more than three questions at once.
  • If you do not receive a response within 10 days, kindly resubmit your query.
  • Our responses may reach your junk folder and not your inbox. Be sure to check your junk folder before resubmitting your query.
  • Note: Not all answers are published on the site. All efforts are made to conceal the questioner’s identity. Please note that we do not answer social queries or dream interpretation questions.