Hadith from Sahih Bukhari Volume 1, Book 8, Number 410: Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah’s Apostle said, “Do you consider or see that my face is towards the Qibla? By Allah, neither your submissiveness nor your bowing is hidden from me, surely I see you from my back.”
Does this mean that Prophet (PBUH) could have seen at things behind him as well? Please clarify.
Answer
The prophet, alaihisslaam, could see whatever the Almighty enabled him to see. He was able to see Gibrael, alaihissalaam, whom no body else from his companions could normally see. Similarly, it seems from the quoted hadith that the Almighty enabled him to see his companions praying even though he himself used to be praying and they used to be behind him. This may not be always the case, but it seems that it did happen sometimes. The reason for making such an arrangement was that prayers was a part of the message the prophet was made responsible to teach the Muslims. It is understandable that the Almighty would have given him extra abilities to see whether Muslims are praying properly behind him or not.