Direction of Imam in Dua After Salat

By Moulana Muhammad ibn Moulana Haroon Abassommar
Posted: 27 Safar 1424, 17 April 2004

Checked & Approved: MUFTI EBRAHIM DESAI (FATWA DEPT.)

A.) The Ulama have mentioned that the Qiblah (prescribed direction) for dua is the sky. (That's why the hands face the sky). It is amongst the etiquettes of dua that the person making dua should face the Ka'bah. (Silaahul-Mumin pg.101, Al-Hisnul-Haseen pg.57)

If one leaves it out, he will not be sinful just like it is etiquette to be in the state of wudu whilst making dua. This too if left out (as is the case in many a situation) the dua will still be correct. As for the practice of the imams of turning away from the direction of the Qiblah after the Fajr and Asr Salats, the Fuqahaa (Jurists) have stated that if the imam intends to remain seated in his place after those Fard Salats that are not followed by any Sunnah salat, then he (the imam) should turn away from the direction of the Qiblah. (It is Mustahab to do so.). He could turn so as to face the people or towards the right or left. It is Makrooh-e-Tanzihi for the imam to remain seated in the direction of the Qiblah. (Shaami vol.1 pg.531) And if he has to perform the Sunnah salat after the Fard, he should stand up immediately and not perform the Sunnah on the same spot (ibid). Also see Fathul Baari vol.2 pg.431, Musannaf-ibn-Abi-Shaybahvol.1 pg.336,337.

This has been recorded as the practice of Rasulullah and various Sahaba (RA) as well. Sayyiduna Samura bin Jundub (RA) is reported to have said, "Rasulullah used to turn around after completing the (Fard) salat and he would face us. (Sahih Bukhari no.845). This was in the case when Rasulullah wanted to sit for a while (Fathul-Baari) and if not then Rasulullah would stand up immediately (Musannaf-Abdur-Razzaaq vol.2 pg.246). Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Masood (RA) is reported to have said; "When the imam completes the salam, he should immediately stand up, and if not then he should at least turn away. He was asked as to whether it would suffice for the imam to move from his spot and face the Qiblah? He replied; "He should face the east or west (i.e. He should face a direction other than the Qiblah.) (Musannaf-Abdur-Razzaaq vol.2 pg.242,243). In fact, it is reported about Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (RA) that once he completed the Fard Salat (as an imam), he would immediately stand up. The narrator states, "He would do so, so quickly as though he were on burning coal." (Musannaf-Abdur-Razzaaq vol.2 pg.242,246). And Allah Ta'ala Knows Best