between him and the Qibla. I would have a need, and I would dislike to stand up and face him, so I would slip away gradually." Agreed upon (44). This is because it resembles prostrating to that person. It is also disliked to pray toward a fire. Ahmad said: If an oven is in the direction of the Qibla, one should not pray toward it. Ibn Sirin also disliked this. Ahmad said regarding a lamp or a lantern that is in the direction of the Qibla: "I dislike it, and I dislike everything." Even (45) they used to dislike placing anything in the direction of the Qibla, including a Mushaf (copy of the Quran). This is only disliked because fire is worshiped instead of Allah, so praying toward it resembles praying to it. Ahmad said: "Do not pray toward a statue or image erected before you," because an image is worshiped instead of Allah. It has been narrated from Aisha that she said: "We had a cloth with images on it, and I placed it in front of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) while he was praying, and he forbade me," or she said, "He disliked that." Recorded by Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi Hatim with his chain of narration. Furthermore, images distract the person praying by looking at them, causing him to become oblivious to his prayer. Ahmad said: "It is disliked for there to be anything hanging in the direction of the Qibla, whether it is a Mushaf or otherwise, but there is no harm if it is placed on the ground." Mujahid narrated: "Abdullah ibn Umar would not leave anything between him and the Qibla without removing it, neither a sword nor a Mushaf." Recorded by al-Khallal with his chain of narration. Ahmad said: "Nothing should be written in the direction of the Qibla," because it distracts the heart of the one praying, and he might become preoccupied with reading it instead of his prayer. Likewise, decorating it is disliked, as is everything that distracts the one praying from his prayer. It has been narrated that the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) prayed in a khamisa (46) (a patterned garment) with markings on it, and when he finished his prayer, he said: "Take this to Abu Jahm ibn Hudhayfah, for it just distracted me from my prayer. And bring me his anbajaniyya (47) (a simple garment)." Agreed upon (48). It has been narrated that the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said to Aisha: "Remove