What is the ruling on turning one’s head during prayer?

Question:
A questioner says: We see many people praying and turning their heads during their prayer. What is the ruling on their turning during prayer?

Answer:
Turning one’s head during prayer is disliked. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: So when you pray, do not turn your heads. He forbade turning like the turning of a fox. The Muslim in prayer looks at the place of his prostration, faces the qiblah, looks at the place of his prostration, and does not turn his head as long as he is praying. This is disliked, but it does not invalidate the prayer unless he turns away from the qiblah. If he turns away from the qiblah, his prayer is invalid. But if he turns only his head or his face, that is disliked. Yes.