the House to his left (1). The evidence for this is as follows:

First: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, circumambulated in this manner—that is, keeping the House to his left—and said: “Learn your rites from me” (2).

Second: When a person stands before the Stone, he will turn away, and the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, encouraged giving precedence to the right. Thus, when he turns away, he will turn to the right; and if he turns to the right, the Kaaba must be on his left.

Third: The door of the Kaaba is also on its eastern side. The door is the front of the Kaaba, while behind it is its rear. Thus, when he turns to his right and keeps the Kaaba to his left, he gives precedence to the front of the Kaaba over its rear.

Fourth: When one keeps the House to his left, the movement of turning rests the right upon the left, which is more fitting, because the right is above the left. This differs from relying on the left upon the right, in which case the left would be uppermost.

Fifth: The heart is on the left side, and it is the abode of veneration for Allah, Mighty and Majestic, and the locus of His love. It is therefore fitting to keep the House to one’s left, so that the place of remembrance, worship, and veneration of Allah is brought close to the venerated House. Thus, when one keeps the Kaaba to one’s left, the heart is alongside the House. This is a wisdom mentioned by some scholars; but the most important matter is following the sunnah.