Putting the feet or turning the back towards the Qiblah

22-6-2005 | IslamWeb

Question:

I would like to ask whether there is any sound Hadeeth which says that while sleeping one should not put his feet in the direction of Makkah. Many people say that while doing some work also we should not turn our back toward the Ka'bah. But I see many Imaams after praying place their backs to the Ka'bah while making Du'aa. And I have also seen some imams placing their feet in the direction o Ka'bah. Will you please provide me with an answer will sound Hadeeth mentioned?
And secondly, is there any Hadeeth that we should not cut our nails or let children play after Maghrib Namaz? My granny used to say that the earth weeps if someone plays or jumps after Maghrib time? Please advice.
Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

 

We do not know any evidence from the Book of Allaah, or the Sunnah of the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) or a saying of a companion which suggests that it is forbidden to turn one's back towards the Qiblah. However, there is evidence in the Sunnah about the Imaam turning his back towards the Qiblah after the prayer. 'Aa'ishah may Allaah be pleased with her narrated that: "When the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) prayed he did not remain in his position except for the period of time he says: "Allaahumma antas-salaam waminkas-salaam, tabaraktaa yaa thal-jalaali wal-ikraam." [O Allaah, You are As-Salaam (which implies the One Who is free from all defects and deficiencies) and from You is all peace, blessed are You, O Possessor of majesty and honour." [Muslim] Moreover, Samurah Ibn Jundub may Allaah be pleased with him said: "Whenever the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) completed leading Fajr prayer with us, he would turn towards us." [At-Tirmithi] The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) turning his face towards the people after the prayer means that he turned his back towards the Qiblah.

Nonetheless, Imaam Ahmad may Allaah have mercy upon him disliked for a person who is sitting in the mosque to turn his back towards the Qiblah. It might be that the reason he disliked this is that the person who sits in the mosque should engage himself in reading the Quran or mentioning Allaah, in which case it is recommended to be sitting facing the Qiblah. If he turns his back to the Qiblah, he loses the merit and excellence of facing the Qiblah. Abu Hurayrah may Allaah be pleased with him narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: "Everything has a master, and the master (i.e. the best) of sitting is by sitting facing the direction of Qiblah." However, we do not know any evidence that it is disliked to turn one's back towards the Qiblah in other places than the mosque and in circles (of mentioning Allaah).

Some scholars may Allaah have mercy upon them disliked putting the feet towards the Qiblah as a sign of glorification and exaltation to it. Yet, it should be noted that the dislikeability is a religious ruling which has to be supported by evidence from the Book of Allaah, or the Sunnah, or correct analogy, or consensus of the scholars may Allaah have mercy upon them and we are not aware of any evidence that it is dislikeable to put one's feet towards the Qiblah.

For other questions read Fataawa: 82233 , 86711 and 89202. 

Allaah Knows best.

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