The ruling on the preacher turning his back to the qiblah in the Friday sermon
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In the Friday sermon, is it obligatory for the preacher to turn his back to the qiblah?
It is better for him to face the congregation, but it is not obligatory.
The questioner: Is there any act of worship in which a person must turn his back to the qiblah?The Shaykh: There is no act of worship in which it is obligatory to turn one’s back to the qiblah. I told you that this is not an obligation, but rather the standard practice. However, sometimes a person must turn his back to the qiblah, or face the qiblah, or have it on his right or left, according to what the texts specify. I do not recall an example right now, but it is divided into all directions of the earth: turning one’s back, facing, being on the right, and being on the left.
It is better for him to face the congregation, but it is not obligatory.
The questioner: Is there any act of worship in which a person must turn his back to the qiblah?The Shaykh: There is no act of worship in which it is obligatory to turn one’s back to the qiblah. I told you that this is not an obligation, but rather the standard practice. However, sometimes a person must turn his back to the qiblah, or face the qiblah, or have it on his right or left, according to what the texts specify. I do not recall an example right now, but it is divided into all directions of the earth: turning one’s back, facing, being on the right, and being on the left.