destruction. If it must be done, then let it be in a voluntary prayer, not an obligatory one.” (1) This is also because turning around is a movement for which there is no justification, and the basic principle is that movements in prayer are disliked. Moreover, turning around entails turning away from Allah. When a person stands to pray, Allah, Most High, is before his face. For this reason, it is forbidden for one who is praying to spit phlegm in front of himself, for that is bad etiquette towards Allah.

However, if turning around is due to a need, there is nothing wrong with it. An example of such a need occurred with the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, on the day of Hunayn, when he sent a scout to watch for the enemy. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, would pray while looking towards the mountain pass from which the scout was expected to come (2)—a scout being a spy. Likewise, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, instructed a person who experiences satanic whisperings during his prayer to spit dryly three times to his left and seek Allah’s refuge from Satan, the accursed (3). This is turning around for a need.

Another example is when a woman has her young child with her and fears for him, so she turns to look at him. This is a need, and there is nothing wrong with it, because it is a slight action that a person needs to perform.

Then know that turning around is of two types:

1. Physical turning of the body, which is turning the head.

2. Inner turning of the heart, namely the whispers and passing thoughts that come to the heart.