It is part of the Sunnah to turn one’s face towards the khateeb and look at him

Friday Prayers ~ During the Friday khutbah,some of the worshippers
look at the khateeb; some look straight ahead; some look at the
ground; and some close their eyes. Is there a specific Sunnah
regarding this matter?
Praise be to Allaah.
It was narrated in a saheeh hadeeth that one of the companions of the
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: when the
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) mounted the
minbar, we would turn our faces towards him.
(al-Silsilat al_Saheehah by al-Albaani, no. 2080)
It was narrated that Abaanibn 'Abd-Allaah al-Bajili said: I saw 'Udayy
ibn Thaabit turning to face theimaam when he stood to deliver the
khutbah. I said to him, I saw you turn your face towards the imaam. He
said, I saw the Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) doing that.
It was narrated that 'Abd-Allaah ibn Mas'ood said: when the Messenger
of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) mounted the
minbar, we would turn our faces towards him him. This was narrated by
al-Tirmidhi, who said, in the same chapter there are reports narrated
from Ibn 'Umar and Muhammadibn al-Fadl. According to the scholars
among the companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) and others, thisis to be followed. They regard it as
mustahabb to turn to face the imaam when he delivers the khutbah. This
is the view of Sufyaan al-Thawri, al-Shaafa'i, Ahmad and Ishaaq.
It was narrated that Yahyaa ibn Sa'eed al-Ansaari said: "The Sunnah
when the imaam sits on the minbar on Friday is for all the people to
turn their faces towardshim."
It was narrated from Naafi' that Ibn 'Umar used to finish his tasbeeh
before the imaam came out; when he came out, hewould turn to face him
before the imaam even satdown.
Al-Albaani (may Allaah have mercy on him) compiled these ahaadeethin
al-Silsilat al-Saheehah, no. 2080, and commented on them.
It was narrated that Abu Sa'eed al-Khudri (may Allaah be pleased with
him) said: "The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) sat on the minbar and we sat aroundhim." (Narrated by
al-Bukhaari, 921)
Al-Bukhaari narrated the hadeeth in "Chapter: The imaam facing the
people, and the people turning their faces towards the imaam when he
delivers the khutbah, and Ibn 'Umar and Anas (may Allaah be pleased
with them) turning their faces towards the imaam."
The point of the hadeeth is that the fact that they sat around him to
listen tohis words implies that they were looking at him in most
cases. This is not affected by what was said earlier about the khateeb
standing during the khutbah, because this implies that he used to
speak whilst he was sitting in a high place and they were sitting at a
lower point. If that was the case at times other than the khutbah,
then it is more appropriate to do that at the time of the khutbah
because there is the command to listen to it attentively.
He said:
"One of the reasons for their turning their faces towards the imaam is
to facilitate their listening to his words, and to observe good
manners when listening to him. If a person turn his face towards him
with the proper physical posture and a focused mind, that will better
enable them to understand his preaching and is in accordance with the
reason why the khateeb is commanded to stand."
And Allaah knows best.

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