When one is in jamat and gives salam following the iman, do we look towards our shoulers or to the far right of the congegations line, and left? Normally in pray I look at the tip of my shoulders when reading alone. Is this also correct?.


Praise be to Allaah.

There is no text in the Sunnah – as far as we know – which
states where the worshipper should look when saying the salaam at the end of
the prayer. What is narrated in Saheeh Muslim is that he should turn
towards the person who is beside him. 

It was narrated that Jaabir ibn Samurah (may Allaah be
pleased with him) said: I prayed with the Messenger of Allaah (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and when we said the salaam we said
with our hands, “Al-salaamu ‘alaykum, al-salaamu ‘alaykum.” The Messenger of
Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) looked at us and
said, “Why do you gesture with your hands like the tails of spooked horses.
When one of you says salaam, let him turn to his companion and not gesture
with his hand.” Narrated by Muslim, 421. 

“Spooked horses” refers to nervous horses that will not
settle down. 

There is also a report which indicates that one should turn
far to the right and left. 

It was narrated from ‘Aamir ibn Sa’d that his father said: I
used to see the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) saying the salaam to his right and left, turning so far that I
could see the whiteness of his cheek. Narrated by Muslim, 582 

Al-Nasaa’i (1329) narrated from ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Mas’ood (may
Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to say salaam to his right,
“Al-salaamu ‘alaykum wa rahmat-Allaah,” until the whiteness of his right
cheek could be seen, and to his left, “Al-salaamu ‘alaykum wa
rahmat-Allaah,” until the whiteness of his left cheek could be seen. Classed
as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Nasaa’i. 

That cannot happen unless one turns a long way, as al-Kasaani
said in Badaa’i’ al-Sanaa’i’, 1/214. 

What we learn from these
ahaadeeth is that the worshipper should turn to his right and left, and he
should turn a long way, towards those who are on his right and left, and he
may look at his neighbour or at his shoulder; the matter is broad in scope. 

And Allaah knows
best.