Jami' at-Tirmidhi — Hadith #29120

Hanad narrated to us, Waki’ narrated to us, on the authority of Israel, on the authority of Abu Ishaq, on the authority of Al-Bara’ ibn Azib, who said when the Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, came to Medina He prayed towards the Holy House for six or seventeen months, and the Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, liked to face the Kaaba. Then God revealed: (We may see the turning of your face in the sky, so We will certainly turn you to a direction that pleases you. Then turn your face toward the Sacred Mosque.) He faced the Kaaba and he liked that, so a man with him prayed the afternoon prayer. Then he passed by a group of the Ansar who were kneeling in the afternoon prayer. Towards the Holy House, and he said, “He bears witness that he prayed with the Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, and that he was directed to the Kaaba.” He said, “So they turned away while bowing.” Abu Issa said: This is a hasan and authentic hadith, and Sufyan al-Thawri narrated it on the authority of Abu Ishaq.