as a sign of respect.

What did the Messenger of Allah (saw) lead as prayer direction for sixteen or seventeen months?
 Abu Ishaq reported:                      I heard al-Bara' saying: We prayed with the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) (with our faces) towards Bait-ul-Maqdis for sixteen months or seventeen months. Then we were made to change (our direction) towards the Ka'ba.