Sayyiduna Miqdad bin Aswad (may Allah be pleased with him) says that I did not see the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) ever pray facing directly towards a pillar, wood, or tree; rather, he would turn it to his right or left side and would not stand directly in front of it.
Hadith Referenceالفتح الربانی / أبواب المساجد / 1481
Hadith Gradingمحدثین:ضعیف
Hadith Takhrij«اسناده ضعيف جدا، الوليد بن كامل لين الحديث، والمھلب بن حجر وضباعة مجھولان، أخرجه ابوداود: 693 ، (انظر مسند أحمد ترقيم الرسالة: 23820 ترقیم بيت الأفكار الدولية: 24321»
Brief Explanation
Benefits: … This hadith is weak. The requirement of the other ahadith in this chapter is that there should be, in front of the one praying, at least something equal in height to the rear wooden part of a camel’s saddle.