2/77. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 615 — Standing on the Right Side
The Imam Should Turn Around After The Taslim
Hadith About Standing on the Prophet’s Right Side in Prayer
Sunan Abi Dawud : 615
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 615
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رَافِعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أَحْمَدَ الزُّبَيْرِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا مِسْعَرٌ، عَنْ ثَابِتِ بْنِ عُبَيْدٍ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ بْنِ الْبَرَاءِ، عَنِ الْبَرَاءِ بْنِ عَازِبٍ، قَالَ كُنَّا إِذَا صَلَّيْنَا خَلْفَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَحْبَبْنَا أَنْ نَكُونَ عَنْ يَمِينِهِ فَيُقْبِلُ عَلَيْنَا بِوَجْهِهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم .
Al-Bara' bin 'Azib Narrated from:
When we would pray behind the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), we liked to be on his right side. He (the Prophet) would sit turning his face towards us (and back towards the Ka'bah) (ﷺ).
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 615In-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 225English translation : Book 2, Hadith 615
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 615
This Hadith is centered on the phrase right side in prayer hadith. Al-Bara' ibn Azib says that when they prayed behind the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم, they liked to be on his right side. He also mentions that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم would sit turning his face toward them after prayer. The narration is about love for a place close to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم in the prayer setting and about his post-prayer facing of the people. It does not give a broad rule about every row or every mosque arrangement. The safest explanation is that the companions loved being on his right side, and the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم would turn his blessed face toward them after the prayer.
What we learn from this hadith
- The companions liked to be on the Prophet’s right side during prayer.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم would turn his face toward them after prayer.
- The Hadith shows the companions’ love for closeness in prayer.
- The text reports an observed practice, not a long legal discussion.
