Bismillaah-ir-Rahmaan-ir-Raheem
It is part of the etiquette of those listening to the Khutbah of the Imaam on Jumu'ah to fix their gazes at the person of Imaam while he delivers the khutbah.
Al-Imaam Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah - rahmatullaah alayhi - said in Zaad al-Mi'aad, 1/430:
'It was from the guidance of the Prophet - sallallaahu alahyi wa sallam - and his Companions regarding the Khutbah of Jumu'ah, that whenever he delivered the Khutbah standing, his Companions would turn their faces to him; his face would become their qiblah as the Khutbah went on.'
Some people would rest on the masjid walls thereby facing directions other than that of the Imaam; this is not correct.
The wisdom behind facing the Imaam is that it brings more concentration from the listener and it depicts him as a person of good etiquette.
Al-Imaam As-Sana'aanee - rahmatullaah alahyi - said in Subulus-Salaam, 2/82:
'That the listeners face the khateeb is an established practice (from the time of the Companions), in fact, we ca say there is a consensus as to its desirability...'
Adapted from: Al-Qaulul Mubeen of Ash-Shaykh Mash'hoor Hasan Aal Salmaan - hafidhahullaahu. Pp.354 - 356.
In the past edition:
