❖ Imam Should Face the Congregation After Salam in Salah ❖
✍ Written by: Imran Ayub Lahori
➊ Narration from Samurah ibn Jundub رضي الله عنه:
"كان النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا صلى صلاة أقبل علينا بوجهه"
“When the Prophet ﷺ finished a prayer, he would face us with his face.”
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 845
➋ Narration from Yazīd ibn Aswad رضي الله عنه:
During Ḥajjat al-Wadāʿ, the Prophet ﷺ led us in Fajr prayer:
"ثم انحرف جالسًا واستقبل الناس بوجهه"
“Then he turned while sitting and faced the people.”
Musnad Aḥmad: 4/161
There are two apparently different narrations regarding which direction the Prophet ﷺ turned after prayer:
➊ Narration from ʿAbdullāh ibn Mas‘ūd رضي الله عنه:
"لقد رأيت النبي كثيرًا ينصرف عن يساره"
“Indeed, I have seen the Prophet ﷺ frequently turning to his left after prayer.”
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 852
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 707
Abū Dāwūd: 1042
Al-Nasā’ī: 3/81
Ibn Mājah: 930
➋ Narration from Anas ibn Mālik رضي الله عنه:
"أكثر ما رأيت رسول الله ينصرف عن يمينه"
“More often, I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ turning to his right.”
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 708
Al-Nasā’ī: 3/81
Al-Dārimī: 1/312
Imām Nawawī رحمه الله explains:
These narrations are both authentic and reconcilable—the Prophet ﷺ practiced both.
Each narrator simply reported what they saw more frequently.
Also, Ibn Masʿūd رضي الله عنه objected to those who claimed that turning only to the right is obligatory.
Sharḥ Muslim: 3/238
Ibn Ḥajar رحمه الله adds another perspective:
Fatḥ al-Bārī: 2/609
✔ Preferred View (Rājiḥ):
Both ways are permissible, but turning to the right is preferred according to general evidence and scholarly consensus.
Nayl al-Awṭār: 2/155
➌ Narration from Qabīṣah ibn Hulb عن أبيه:
"كان رسول الله يؤمنا فينصرف عن جانبيه جميعًا، عن يمينه وعن شماله"
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would lead us in prayer and then turn to both sides—sometimes to the right, and sometimes to the left.”
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Tirmidhī: 246
Ṣaḥīḥ Abū Dāwūd: 919
Ibn Mājah: 929
Ibn Ḥibbān: 1998
After narrating this, Imām Tirmidhī commented:
This is the practice of the scholars, and it is also narrated from ʿAlī رضي الله عنه that:
"إن كانت حاجته عن يمينه أخذ عن يمينه وإن كانت حاجته عن يساره أخذ عن يساره"
“If the Prophet ﷺ had a need on his right side, he would turn to the right; and if the need was on the left, he would turn to the left.”
✔ Facing the congregation after prayer is the Sunnah.
✔ Turning either right or left is permissible, though right is preferred.
✔ The Prophet ﷺ practiced both, and context or personal need can determine the direction.
✍ Written by: Imran Ayub Lahori
✦ Turning Toward the Congregation After Salah
➊ Narration from Samurah ibn Jundub رضي الله عنه:
"كان النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا صلى صلاة أقبل علينا بوجهه"
“When the Prophet ﷺ finished a prayer, he would face us with his face.”
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 845➋ Narration from Yazīd ibn Aswad رضي الله عنه:
During Ḥajjat al-Wadāʿ, the Prophet ﷺ led us in Fajr prayer:
"ثم انحرف جالسًا واستقبل الناس بوجهه"
“Then he turned while sitting and faced the people.”
Musnad Aḥmad: 4/161❖ Turning Right or Left – Which is Preferred?
There are two apparently different narrations regarding which direction the Prophet ﷺ turned after prayer:
✿ Turning to the
➊ Narration from ʿAbdullāh ibn Mas‘ūd رضي الله عنه:
"لقد رأيت النبي كثيرًا ينصرف عن يساره"
“Indeed, I have seen the Prophet ﷺ frequently turning to his left after prayer.”
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 852 Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 707 Abū Dāwūd: 1042 Al-Nasā’ī: 3/81 Ibn Mājah: 930✿ Turning to the
➋ Narration from Anas ibn Mālik رضي الله عنه:
"أكثر ما رأيت رسول الله ينصرف عن يمينه"
“More often, I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ turning to his right.”
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 708 Al-Nasā’ī: 3/81 Al-Dārimī: 1/312✦ Reconciliation Between the Two Narrations
Imām Nawawī رحمه الله explains:These narrations are both authentic and reconcilable—the Prophet ﷺ practiced both.
Each narrator simply reported what they saw more frequently.
Also, Ibn Masʿūd رضي الله عنه objected to those who claimed that turning only to the right is obligatory.
Sharḥ Muslim: 3/238 Ibn Ḥajar رحمه الله adds another perspective:- The narration of Ibn Mas‘ūd may relate to prayers in the mosque,
- Whereas that of Anas relates to travels or other contexts.
Since Ibn Masʿūd was more knowledgeable, senior, and closely associated with the Prophet ﷺ, his view is given preference.
Fatḥ al-Bārī: 2/609✔ Preferred View (Rājiḥ):
Both ways are permissible, but turning to the right is preferred according to general evidence and scholarly consensus.
Nayl al-Awṭār: 2/155✿ Turning Both Sides – Evidence for Flexibility
➌ Narration from Qabīṣah ibn Hulb عن أبيه:
"كان رسول الله يؤمنا فينصرف عن جانبيه جميعًا، عن يمينه وعن شماله"
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would lead us in prayer and then turn to both sides—sometimes to the right, and sometimes to the left.”
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Tirmidhī: 246 Ṣaḥīḥ Abū Dāwūd: 919 Ibn Mājah: 929 Ibn Ḥibbān: 1998 After narrating this, Imām Tirmidhī commented:This is the practice of the scholars, and it is also narrated from ʿAlī رضي الله عنه that:
"إن كانت حاجته عن يمينه أخذ عن يمينه وإن كانت حاجته عن يساره أخذ عن يساره"
“If the Prophet ﷺ had a need on his right side, he would turn to the right; and if the need was on the left, he would turn to the left.”
Conclusion
✔ Facing the congregation after prayer is the Sunnah.
✔ Turning either right or left is permissible, though right is preferred.
✔ The Prophet ﷺ practiced both, and context or personal need can determine the direction.
