What does it mean not to face the sutrah directly?
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The questioner : Well, Shaykh, may Allah reward you. Ibn al-Qayyim, in *Zad al-Ma'ad*, mentioned that the sutrah is from the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), that it should not be directly in front of him, or facing him, but rather should be to his right or to his left.
The Shaykh : Not facing it directly.
The questioner : Facing it directly.
The Shaykh : Yes
The questioner : Could you clarify this, Shaykh?
The Shaykh : It means: the scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) say: if you place a sutrah in prayer, do not face it directly; place it somewhat to your right, or somewhat to your left, because a hadith regarding this has been reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). However, the hadith reported on this matter is weak, meaning: it has some weakness in it.
And the apparent evidence is that the sutrah should be directly in front of the one praying, and that he should face it without it being to his right or to his left.
And the matter in this is broad. If he faces it directly, there is no harm, and a person is far from making it like an idol. And if he places it somewhat to his right or to his left, there is no harm.
The Shaykh : Not facing it directly.
The questioner : Facing it directly.
The Shaykh : Yes
The questioner : Could you clarify this, Shaykh?
The Shaykh : It means: the scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) say: if you place a sutrah in prayer, do not face it directly; place it somewhat to your right, or somewhat to your left, because a hadith regarding this has been reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). However, the hadith reported on this matter is weak, meaning: it has some weakness in it.
And the apparent evidence is that the sutrah should be directly in front of the one praying, and that he should face it without it being to his right or to his left.
And the matter in this is broad. If he faces it directly, there is no harm, and a person is far from making it like an idol. And if he places it somewhat to his right or to his left, there is no harm.