Author: Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amrpuri
Question:
What is the ruling on turning the face to the right and left during the Iqamah?
Answer:
Turning the face right and left during the Iqamah is not established from the Shari'ah (Islamic law). There is a narration often presented regarding this matter. Consider the following:
عن بلال، قال : أمرنا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، إذنا او اقمنا ان لا نزيل اقدامنا عن مواضعها
"Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) instructed us that when we give the call to prayer (adhan) or the Iqamah, we should not move our feet from their place." [Nasb al-Rayah by al-Zayla'i: 1/277]
The chain of this narration is considered "weak" (da'if) due to the following reasons:
➊ The Narrator Hasan bin ‘Ammarah:
He is deemed weak by the majority of Muhaddithin (scholars of Hadith).
He is also considered weak (da'if).
Some people claim that turning the face to the right and left (ilti’fat) is recommended during the Iqamah, similar to its recommendation in the adhan and when whispering in the ear of a newborn.
[Imdad al-Fatawa: 1/108]
However, this opinion is baseless and incorrect, as it lacks any authentic evidence.
Question:
What is the ruling on turning the face to the right and left during the Iqamah?
Answer:
Turning the face right and left during the Iqamah is not established from the Shari'ah (Islamic law). There is a narration often presented regarding this matter. Consider the following:
عن بلال، قال : أمرنا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، إذنا او اقمنا ان لا نزيل اقدامنا عن مواضعها
"Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) instructed us that when we give the call to prayer (adhan) or the Iqamah, we should not move our feet from their place." [Nasb al-Rayah by al-Zayla'i: 1/277]
The chain of this narration is considered "weak" (da'if) due to the following reasons:
➊ The Narrator Hasan bin ‘Ammarah:
He is deemed weak by the majority of Muhaddithin (scholars of Hadith).
- Allama Haythami (may Allah have mercy on him) states:
"Imam Shu’bah and a large group of scholars have declared him weak." [Majma' al-Zawa'id: 2/289] - Hafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy on him) mentions:
"The majority of scholars have considered him weak." [Tabaqat al-Mudallisin: 53]
Furthermore, he is also known to be a mudallis (one who omits the name of a weak narrator from a hadith chain). - Hafiz Ibn Hajar has specifically graded the chain of this narration as "weak." [Al-Talkhis al-Habir: 1/204, Hadith 299]
He is also considered weak (da'if).
Some people claim that turning the face to the right and left (ilti’fat) is recommended during the Iqamah, similar to its recommendation in the adhan and when whispering in the ear of a newborn.
[Imdad al-Fatawa: 1/108]
However, this opinion is baseless and incorrect, as it lacks any authentic evidence.