وَحَدَّثَنِي عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَحْيَى بْنِ حَبَّانَ، عَنْ عَمِّهِ، وَاسِعِ بْنِ حَبَّانَ، أَنَّهُ قَالَ كُنْتُ أُصَلِّي وَعَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عُمَرَ مُسْنِدٌ ظَهْرَهُ إِلَى جِدَارِ الْقِبْلَةِ فَلَمَّا قَضَيْتُ صَلاَتِي انْصَرَفْتُ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ قِبَلِ شِقِّي الأَيْسَرِ فَقَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عُمَرَ مَا مَنَعَكَ أَنْ تَنْصَرِفَ عَنْ يَمِينِكَ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ رَأَيْتُكَ فَانْصَرَفْتُ إِلَيْكَ . قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ فَإِنَّكَ قَدْ أَصَبْتَ إِنَّ قَائِلاً يَقُولُ انْصَرِفْ عَنْ يَمِينِكَ فَإِذَا كُنْتَ تُصَلِّي فَانْصَرِفْ حَيْثُ شِئْتَ إِنْ شِئْتَ عَنْ يَمِينِكَ وَإِنْ شِئْتَ عَنْ يَسَارِكَ .
Yahya related to me from Malik from Yahya ibn Said from Muhammadibn Yahya ibn Habban that his paternal uncle Wasi ibn Habban said, "Iwas praying, and Abdullah ibn Umar was resting his back on the wall ofthe qibla. When I had finished the prayer I turned towards him on myleft hand side. Abdullah ibn Umar said, 'What stopped you from turningaway to your right?' I replied, 'I saw you and turned towards you.'Abdullah said, 'You have spoken correctly. People say that you shouldturn away to your right, but when you pray, you can turn whichever wayyou wish. If you like, to your right, and if you like, to your left.'" Translation Not Available
Book Ref: Muwatta Imam Malik Book 9 Hadith 412
Web Ref: Muwatta Imam Malik Book 9 Hadith 81