Section: When praying toward a pole, a pillar, or something similar to them, it is recommended for the person to deviate slightly from it and not face it directly. This is due to what Abu Dawud (40) recorded from al-Miqdad ibn al-Aswad, who said: I never saw the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) pray toward a pole, a pillar, or a tree without placing it on his right or left eyebrow, and he would not face it directly. This means he would not face it such that he places it in the center. The meaning of "samd" (facing directly) is intent.
Section: It is disliked to pray toward people who are talking, so that he does not become preoccupied with their conversation. There is a difference of opinion regarding praying toward someone sleeping; it has been reported that it is disliked, and this is narrated from Ibn Mas'ud and Sa'id ibn Jubayr. From Ahmad, there is that which indicates it is disliked specifically for the obligatory prayer, but not for the supererogatory prayer, because the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) used to pray at night while Aisha was lying crosswise in front of him like a funeral bier. Agreed upon (41). Ahmad said: This applies to the supererogatory prayer, whereas the obligatory prayer is more serious. It has been reported that the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) forbade praying toward a sleeping person or one who is talking. Recorded by Abu Dawud (42). Thus, the supererogatory prayer is excluded from its general meaning due to the hadith of Aisha, and the obligatory prayer remains upon its general requirement. It is said: It is not disliked in either case, because the hadith of Aisha is authentic, while the hadith of prohibition is weak. This was stated by al-Khattabi (43). Ahmad has said: There is no difference between the obligatory and the supererogatory prayer, except in the prayer of one riding. Giving precedence to the analogy of an authentic report is better than following a weak report.
Section: It is disliked to pray facing a person's face, because Umar disciplined someone for that. In the hadith of Aisha, it is mentioned that the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) used to pray facing the middle of the bed while I was lying
(40) In: The Chapter on where to place a pole or similar object if one prays toward it, from the Book of Prayer. Sunan Abi Dawud 1/159. It was also recorded by Imam Ahmad in: Al-Musnad 6/4. (41) Previously mentioned on page 41. (42) In: The Chapter on praying toward those who are talking or sleeping, from the Book of Prayer. Sunan Abi Dawud 1/160. It was also recorded by Ibn Majah in: The Chapter on whoever prays while there is something between him and the Qibla, from the Book of Establishing Prayer. Sunan Ibn Majah 1/308. (43) In [A] and [M]: "It was stated". It is found in Ma'alim al-Sunan 1/187.
