Where should the one praying look during the prayer?
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The questioner : ... the imam in the prayer.
The Shaykh : ... meaning, for example, we are now behind the imam, and we can see him without turning to the right or left. So, do we see him, or do we see him ... from the position of prostration? Did you understand this? So, the answer: we said that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) ... the Companions used to look at him, but does this apply to anyone else? Or do we say they do not look at the Messenger because he is the legislator, so they look to see what he is doing? We said the more apparent view is that this is specific to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), because he is the legislator, unless the one praying behind the imam is deaf and does not follow him except by seeing him, in which case that is a different matter.
The Shaykh : ... meaning, for example, we are now behind the imam, and we can see him without turning to the right or left. So, do we see him, or do we see him ... from the position of prostration? Did you understand this? So, the answer: we said that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) ... the Companions used to look at him, but does this apply to anyone else? Or do we say they do not look at the Messenger because he is the legislator, so they look to see what he is doing? We said the more apparent view is that this is specific to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), because he is the legislator, unless the one praying behind the imam is deaf and does not follow him except by seeing him, in which case that is a different matter.