حَدَّثَنَا سُوَيْدُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُسْهِرٍ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ إِذَا صَلَّى يَوْمَ عِيدٍ أَوْ غَيْرَهُ نُصِبَتِ الْحَرْبَةُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ فَيُصَلِّي إِلَيْهَا وَالنَّاسُ مِنْ خَلْفِهِ ‏.‏ قَالَ نَافِعٌ فَمِنْ ثَمَّ اتَّخَذَهَا الأُمَرَاءُ ‏.‏

It wasnarrated that Ibn ‘Umar said: “When the Prophet (PBUH) prayedonthe day of ‘Eid or on another occasion, a small spear was set up infront of him, and he prayed facing it, and the people were behindhim.” Nafi` said: It is from here that the leaders have taken this practice. Translation Not Available

Book Ref: Sunan Ibn Majah Book 5 Hadith 1305
Web Ref:  Sunan Ibn Majah Vol 1 Book 5 Hadith 1305

---