What is the ruling on turning one’s back to the Ka'bah?
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The questioner : Regarding turning one’s back, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : There is no difference between facing and turning one’s back, because the hadith regarding turning one’s back does not state that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did so while remembering, nor does it state that he did so after the prohibition of facing or turning one’s back to the qiblah while urinating or defecating, as mentioned earlier in the hadith of Abu Ayyub. Thus, this hadith does not distinguish between facing and turning one’s back. If, in the hadith of Ibn 'Umar—which I think is the one you are referring to—it is stated that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) was turning his back to the qiblah while on the roof of Hafsa’s house, this does not indicate that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did so while remembering, nor does it indicate that he did so after the prohibition of turning one’s back or facing the qiblah. Therefore, it is possible that this occurred before the revelation of this legal ruling.
Therefore, the stronger opinion is to adhere to the hadith of Abu Ayyub al-Ansari and its narrator, as we discussed today. I do not know if you were present or not, but the narrator who witnessed the Messenger and heard his words is more knowledgeable about his narration than others. As you can see, he came to the land of Sham and found the latrines facing the qiblah, so he said: “We seek forgiveness from Allah.” Therefore, the practice is based on this hadith, with the note that buildings do not block the sanctity of the House. If they did block it, prayer in buildings would not be valid, and if they did block it, the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) would not have threatened the one who spits toward the qiblah, because his spittle would come to him on the Day of Resurrection between his eyes.
Therefore, it is obligatory to maintain the generality of this hadith, as it is befitting the sanctity of the Ka'bah. This is all I have.
The Shaykh : There is no difference between facing and turning one’s back, because the hadith regarding turning one’s back does not state that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did so while remembering, nor does it state that he did so after the prohibition of facing or turning one’s back to the qiblah while urinating or defecating, as mentioned earlier in the hadith of Abu Ayyub. Thus, this hadith does not distinguish between facing and turning one’s back. If, in the hadith of Ibn 'Umar—which I think is the one you are referring to—it is stated that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) was turning his back to the qiblah while on the roof of Hafsa’s house, this does not indicate that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did so while remembering, nor does it indicate that he did so after the prohibition of turning one’s back or facing the qiblah. Therefore, it is possible that this occurred before the revelation of this legal ruling
When you go to relieve yourselves, do not face the qiblah with your urine or excrement, but face east or west.
إذا أتيتم الغائط فلا تستقبلوا القبلة ببول أو غائط ولكن شرّقوا أو غرّبواTherefore, the stronger opinion is to adhere to the hadith of Abu Ayyub al-Ansari and its narrator, as we discussed today. I do not know if you were present or not, but the narrator who witnessed the Messenger and heard his words is more knowledgeable about his narration than others. As you can see, he came to the land of Sham and found the latrines facing the qiblah, so he said: “We seek forgiveness from Allah.” Therefore, the practice is based on this hadith, with the note that buildings do not block the sanctity of the House. If they did block it, prayer in buildings would not be valid, and if they did block it, the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) would not have threatened the one who spits toward the qiblah, because his spittle would come to him on the Day of Resurrection between his eyes.
Therefore, it is obligatory to maintain the generality of this hadith, as it is befitting the sanctity of the Ka'bah. This is all I have.