Those who used to face the imam on Friday

Adi bin Thabit said: When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) delivered the khutbah, his Companions used to sit with their faces turned towards him.

Al-Sha'bi said: Shurayh used to face the imam during the khutbah on Friday and would not turn this way or that.

Sa'sa'ah used to sit facing the imam during the khutbah on Friday.

Al-Sha'bi said: It is the Sunnah to sit facing the imam during the khutbah on Friday.

Humayd said: Al-Nadr bin Anas used to sit facing the imam during the khutbah on Friday.

Mansur said: I saw Ibrahim on Friday enter through the gates of Kindah and sit down, and he kept his face towards the minbar.

Wasil bin al-Sa'ib al-Raqashi said: I saw Ata, Tawus and Mujahid; all of them used to sit facing the imam during the khutbah on Friday.

Al-Mustamir bin al-Rayyan said: I saw Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) on Friday sitting near the first door, facing the minbar.

Jabir said: Salim and al-Qasim used to sit facing the imam during the khutbah on Friday.

Hakim bin al-Daylam said: Zadhan used to sit facing the imam during the khutbah on Friday.

Abd al-Hamid bin Ja'far al-Ansari said: The noble Companions used to come on Friday and sit around the minbar, and they would turn their faces towards the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).

Umar bin Abd al-Aziz said: The preacher (the imam) is a qiblah, meaning one should face towards him.