Is it disliked to pray facing a sleeping person?
Chapter on Imamate and Congregational Prayer
Al-Mughni
Book of Prayer
Primary text
There is differing opinion regarding praying facing a sleeper. Some traditions indicate it is disliked, a view attributed to Ibn Mas'ud and Sa'id bin Jubayr. Ahmad reported a view suggesting it is disliked only in the obligatory prayer (Fard) but not in the supererogatory prayer (Nawafil). The evidence for the permissibility in Nawafil is that the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to pray at night while Aisha lay across in front of him like the arrangement for a bier, which is agreed upon (Muttafaq 'alayh).
Supporting text
Another opinion suggests that it is not disliked in either obligatory or voluntary prayers because the Hadith prohibiting it is weak, whereas the Hadith of Aisha is sound. Furthermore, it is stated that prioritizing the deduction from the sound narration over the weak one is preferable. Conversely, another view holds that the prohibition applies generally unless exempted by the Hadith of Aisha, leaving the obligatory prayer under the general prohibition. Ahmad himself is reported to have said there is no difference between obligatory and voluntary prayers in this regard, except for the prayer of a mounted person.