Is it disliked to pray facing a person?
Chapter on Imamate and Congregational Prayer
Al-Mughni
Book of Prayer
Primary text
It is disliked to pray facing a human being. Umar administered disciplinary punishment for doing so. The Prophet, peace be upon him, used to pray in the middle of the bed while Aisha lay between him and the Qiblah. If she needed something, she would slip away rather than face him directly. This is disliked because it resembles prostration towards that person.