Is it disliked to pray facing a person?

Chapter on Imamate and Congregational Prayer

Al-Mughni

Book of Prayer

Book 3 · Issue 1 · Bab 10

Open in Qurani

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.