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Direction of Prayer

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Direction of Prayer

الْقِبْلَة

The Qibla (الْقِبْلَة) is the sacred direction Muslims around the world face during their five daily prayers (Salat). It serves as a unifying focal point, reminding believers of their collective devotion and submission to Allah. Initially, the early Muslim community in Medina prayed facing Jerusalem. However, Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, yearned for a change to the ancient house built by Abraham in Mecca. Allah answered this longing, commanding him to [turn your face toward al-Masjid al-Haram] (the Sacred Mosque in Mecca, housing the Kaaba). This shift was a profound moment, a test of obedience and faith for the nascent Muslim community. The Quran explains it was to [make evident who would follow the Messenger from who would turn back on his heels]. While the change prompted questions from some, the Quran clarifies that [To Allah belongs the east and the west], signifying that all directions are His. The Qibla, therefore, is not about the direction itself, but about establishing unity, discipline, and a shared spiritual focus for the global Muslim community, allowing them to [race to [all that is] good] together in their worship.

Quran 8 verses

سَيَقُولُ ٱلسُّفَهَآءُ مِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَا وَلَّىٰهُمْ عَن قِبْلَتِهِمُ ٱلَّتِى كَانُوا۟ عَلَيْهَا قُل لِّلَّهِ ٱلْمَشْرِقُ وَٱلْمَغْرِبُ يَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ

Sayaqoolus sufahaaa'u minan naasi maa wallaahum 'an Qiblatihimul latee kaanoo 'alaihaa; qulo lillaahil mashriqu walmaghrib; yahdee mai yashaaa'u ilaa Siraatim Mustaqeem

The foolish among the people will say, "What has turned them away from their qiblah, which they used to face?" Say, "To Allah belongs the east and the west. He guides whom He wills to a straight path."

احمق لوگ کہیں گے کہ مسلمان جس قبلے پر (پہلے سے چلے آتے) تھے (اب) اس سے کیوں منہ پھیر بیٹھے۔ تم کہہ دو کہ مشرق اور مغرب سب خدا ہی کا ہے۔ وہ جس کو چاہتا ہے، سیدھے رستے پر چلاتا ہے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: The orientation of Qiblah قبلہ "Qiblah قبلہ " signifies the direction to which one turns one's face. It goes without saying that a true Muslim turns in every form of worship towards Allah alone, and Allah is not limited to any particular direction but transcends all dimensions. The logic of this fac...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: The fools the ignorant among the people that is the Jews and the idolaters will say ‘What matter has turned them the Prophet s and the believers from the direction they were facing in their prayers formerly?’ this being the Holy House bayt al-maqdis sc. Jerusalem; the sīn of sa-yaqūlu ‘they will say...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Changing the Qiblah @ Direction of the Prayer Imam Al-Bukhari reported that Al-Bara' bin `Azib narrated: "Allah's Messenger ﷺ offered his prayers facing Bayt Al-Maqdis (Jerusalem) for sixteen or seventeen months, but he wished that he could pray facing the Ka`bah (at Makkah). The first prayer which ...

وَكَذَٰلِكَ جَعَلْنَٰكُمْ أُمَّةً وَسَطًا لِّتَكُونُوا۟ شُهَدَآءَ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ وَيَكُونَ ٱلرَّسُولُ عَلَيْكُمْ شَهِيدًا وَمَا جَعَلْنَا ٱلْقِبْلَةَ ٱلَّتِى كُنتَ عَلَيْهَآ إِلَّا لِنَعْلَمَ مَن يَتَّبِعُ ٱلرَّسُولَ مِمَّن يَنقَلِبُ عَلَىٰ عَقِبَيْهِ وَإِن كَانَتْ لَكَبِيرَةً إِلَّا عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ هَدَى ٱللَّهُ وَمَا كَانَ ٱللَّهُ لِيُضِيعَ إِيمَٰنَكُمْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِٱلنَّاسِ لَرَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ

Wa kazaalika ja'alnaakum ummatanw wasatal litakoonoo shuhadaaa'a 'alan naasi wa yakoonar Rasoolu 'alaikum shaheedaa; wa maa ja'alnal qiblatal latee kunta 'alaihaaa illaa lina'lama mai yattabi'ur Rasoola mimmai yanqalibu 'alaa 'aqibayh; wa in kaanat lakabeeratan illaa 'alal lazeena hadal laah; wa maa kaanal laahu liyudee'a eemaanakum; innal laaha binnaasi la Ra'oofur Raheem

And thus we have made you a just community that you will be witnesses over the people and the Messenger will be a witness over you. And We did not make the qiblah which you used to face except that We might make evident who would follow the Messenger from who would turn back on his heels. And indeed, it is difficult except for those whom Allah has guided. And never would Allah have caused you to lose your faith. Indeed Allah is, to the people, Kind and Merciful.

اور اسی طرح ہم نے تم کو امتِ معتدل بنایا ہے، تاکہ تم لوگوں پر گواہ بنو اور پیغمبر (آخرالزماں) تم پر گواہ بنیں۔ اور جس قبلے پر تم (پہلے) تھے، اس کو ہم نے اس لیے مقرر کیا تھا کہ معلوم کریں، کون (ہمارے) پیغمبر کا تابع رہتا ہے، اور کون الٹے پاؤں پھر جاتا ہے۔ اور یہ بات (یعنی تحویل قبلہ لوگوں کو) گراں معلوم ہوئی، مگر جن کو خدا نے ہدایت بخشی (وہ اسے گراں نہیں سمجھتے) اور خدا ایسا نہیں کہ تمہارے ایمان کو یونہی کھو دے۔ خدا تو لوگوں پر بڑا مہربان (اور) صاحبِ رحمت ہے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: The verse qualifies the Islamic nation (Ummah) with the objective Wasat which signifies "moderate, middle or central", and is usually applied to a thing considered to be the best of its kind. According to a hadith reported by al-Tirmidhi from the blessed Companion Abu Said al-Khudri ؓ ، the word Was...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Thus in the same way that We guided you to it We appointed you O community of Muhammad (s) a midmost community excellent and upright that you might be witnesses to the people on the Day of Resurrection that their messengers delivered the Message to them; and that the Messenger might be a witness to ...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Changing the Qiblah @ Direction of the Prayer Imam Al-Bukhari reported that Al-Bara' bin `Azib narrated: "Allah's Messenger ﷺ offered his prayers facing Bayt Al-Maqdis (Jerusalem) for sixteen or seventeen months, but he wished that he could pray facing the Ka`bah (at Makkah). The first prayer which ...

قَدْ نَرَىٰ تَقَلُّبَ وَجْهِكَ فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ فَلَنُوَلِّيَنَّكَ قِبْلَةً تَرْضَىٰهَا فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ وَحَيْثُ مَا كُنتُمْ فَوَلُّوا۟ وُجُوهَكُمْ شَطْرَهُۥ وَإِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ لَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ ٱلْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ وَمَا ٱللَّهُ بِغَٰفِلٍ عَمَّا يَعْمَلُونَ

Qad naraa taqalluba wajhika fis samaaa'i fala nuwalliyannaka qiblatan tardaahaa; fawalli wajhaka shatral Masjidil haaraam; wa haisu maa kuntum fawalloo wujoohakum shatrah; wa innal lazeena ootul Kitaaba laya'lamoona annahul haqqu mir Rabbihim; wa mal laahu bighaafilin 'ammaa ya'maloon

We have certainly seen the turning of your face, [O Muhammad], toward the heaven, and We will surely turn you to a qiblah with which you will be pleased. So turn your face toward al-Masjid al-Haram. And wherever you [believers] are, turn your faces toward it [in prayer]. Indeed, those who have been given the Scripture well know that it is the truth from their Lord. And Allah is not unaware of what they do.

(اے محمدﷺ) ہم تمہارا آسمان کی طرف منہ پھیر پھیر کر دیکھنا دیکھ رہے ہیں۔ سو ہم تم کو اسی قبلے کی طرف جس کو تم پسند کرتے ہو، منہ کرنے کا حکم دیں گے تو اپنا منہ مسجد حرام (یعنی خانہٴ کعبہ) کی طرف پھیر لو۔ اور تم لوگ جہاں ہوا کرو، (نماز پڑھنے کے وقت) اسی مسجد کی طرف منہ کر لیا کرو۔ اور جن لوگوں کو کتاب دی گئی ہے، وہ خوب جانتے ہیں کہ (نیا قبلہ) ان کے پروردگار کی طرف سے حق ہے۔ اور جو کام یہ لوگ کرتے ہیں، خدا ان سے بے خبر نہیں

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: The orientation to Qiblah قبلہ This verse begins by speaking of how deeply the Holy Prophet ﷺ ،; wished that the Ka'bah کعبہ be appointed as the Qiblah قبلہ of the Muslims. This inclination has been explained in different ways, but there is no real contradiction involved in these different views. Fo...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: We have indeed qad ‘indeed’ is for affirmation seen you turning your face about in the direction of the heaven looking around for the Revelation and longing for the command to face the Ka‘ba he the Prophet wished for this because it was the prayer-direction of Abraham and would be more conducive to ...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The First Abrogation in the Qur'an was about the Qiblah `Ali bin Abu Talhah related that Ibn `Abbas narrated: The first abrogated part in the Qur'an was about the Qiblah. When Allah's Messenger ﷺ migrated to Al-Madinah, the majority of its people were Jews, and Allah commanded him to face Bayt Al-Ma...

وَلَئِنْ أَتَيْتَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ بِكُلِّ ءَايَةٍ مَّا تَبِعُوا۟ قِبْلَتَكَ وَمَآ أَنتَ بِتَابِعٍ قِبْلَتَهُمْ وَمَا بَعْضُهُم بِتَابِعٍ قِبْلَةَ بَعْضٍ وَلَئِنِ ٱتَّبَعْتَ أَهْوَآءَهُم مِّنۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَكَ مِنَ ٱلْعِلْمِ إِنَّكَ إِذًا لَّمِنَ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ

Wa la'in ataital lazeena ootul kitaaba bikulli aayatim maa tabi'oo Qiblatak; wa maaa anta bitaabi'in Qiblatahum; wa maa ba'duhum bitaabi''in Qiblata ba'd; wa la'init taba'ta ahwaaa;ahum mim ba'di maa jaaa'aka minal 'ilmi innaka izal laminaz zaalimeen

And if you brought to those who were given the Scripture every sign, they would not follow your qiblah. Nor will you be a follower of their qiblah. Nor would they be followers of one another's qiblah. So if you were to follow their desires after what has come to you of knowledge, indeed, you would then be among the wrongdoers.

اور اگر تم ان اہلِ کتاب کے پاس تمام نشانیاں بھی لے کر آؤ، تو بھی یہ تمہارے قبلے کی پیروی نہ کریں۔ اور تم بھی ان کے قبلے کی پیروی کرنے والے نہیں ہو۔ اور ان میں سے بھی بعض بعض کے قبلے کے پیرو نہیں۔ اور اگر تم باوجود اس کے کہ تمہارے پاس دانش (یعنی وحئ خدا) آ چکی ہے، ان کی خواہشوں کے پیچھے چلو گے تو ظالموں میں (داخل) ہو جاؤ گے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: In continuing the discussion on the subject of the Qiblah قبلہ ، or the divinely-ordained orientation, the present verse provides yet another instance of the maliciousness of the People of the Book اھل کتاب . It is not that they demand solid and convincing arguments in order to be able to accept the...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Yet if wa-la-in the lām is for oaths you should bring to those who have been given the Scripture every sign about your truthfulness in the matter of the direction of prayer they will not follow your direction out of obduracy and you are not a follower of their direction this is a categorical negatio...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Stubbornness and Disbelief of the Jews Allah describes the Jews' disbelief, stubbornness and defiance of what they know of the truth of Allah's Messenger ﷺ , that if the Prophet brought forward every proof to the truth of what he was sent with, they will never obey him or abandon following their...

وَلِكُلٍّ وِجْهَةٌ هُوَ مُوَلِّيهَا فَٱسْتَبِقُوا۟ ٱلْخَيْرَٰتِ أَيْنَ مَا تَكُونُوا۟ يَأْتِ بِكُمُ ٱللَّهُ جَمِيعًا إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

Wa likullinw wijhatun huwa muwalleehaa fastabiqul khairaat; ayna maa takoonoo yaati bikumullaahu jamee'aa; innal laaha 'alaa kulli shai'in qadeer

For each [religious following] is a direction toward which it faces. So race to [all that is] good. Wherever you may be, Allah will bring you forth [for judgement] all together. Indeed, Allah is over all things competent.

اور ہر ایک (فرقے) کے لیے ایک سمت (مقرر) ہے۔ جدھر وہ (عبادت کے وقت) منہ کیا کرتے ہیں۔ تو تم نیکیوں میں سبقت حاصل کرو۔ تم جہاں رہو گے خدا تم سب کو جمع کرلے گا۔ بے شک خدا ہر چیز پر قادر ہے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: The change of Qiblah The question of religious orientation being of the highest significance for an Ummah (or a traditional community), these verses continue and enlarge upon the theme of the Qiblah, and lay down further raisons d'etre for the change. It is, the commentators point out, an observable...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Every person of every community has his direction wijha his qibla to which he turns muwallīhā ‘he turns to it’ is also read as muwallāhā ‘he is made to turn to it’ in his prayers so vie with one another in good works strive with acts of obedience and acceptance of these. Wherever you may be God will...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Every Nation has a Qiblah Al-`Awfi reported that Ibn `Abbas said: وَلِكُلٍّ وِجْهَةٌ هُوَ مُوَلِّيهَا (For every nation there is a direction to which they face (in their prayers)) "This talks about followers of the various religions. Hence, every nation and tribe has its own Qiblah that they choose,...

وَمِنْ حَيْثُ خَرَجْتَ فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ وَإِنَّهُۥ لَلْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكَ وَمَا ٱللَّهُ بِغَٰفِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ

Wa min haisu kharajta fawalli wajhaka shatral Masjidil Haraami wa innahoo lalhaqqu mir Rabbik; wa mallaahu bighaafilin 'ammaa ta'maloon

So from wherever you go out [for prayer, O Muhammad] turn your face toward al- Masjid al-Haram, and indeed, it is the truth from your Lord. And Allah is not unaware of what you do.

اور تم جہاں سے نکلو، (نماز میں) اپنا منہ مسجد محترم کی طرف کر لیا کرو بےشک وہ تمہارے پروردگار کی طرف سے حق ہے۔ اور تم لوگ جو کچھ کرتے ہو۔ خدا اس سے بے خبر نہیں

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: The change of Qiblah The question of religious orientation being of the highest significance for an Ummah (or a traditional community), these verses continue and enlarge upon the theme of the Qiblah, and lay down further raisons d'etre for the change. It is, the commentators point out, an observable...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: From whatever place you issue on a journey turn your face towards the Sacred Mosque; it is the truth from your Lord. God is not heedless of what you do ta‘malūna ‘you do’ may also be read as ya‘malūna ‘they do’ as already appears above sc. 2144; its repetition is intended to point out that the stipu...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Why was changing the Qiblah mentioned thrice This is a third command from Allah to face Al-Masjid Al-Haram (the Sacred Mosque) from every part of the world (during prayer). It was said that Allah mentioned this ruling again here because it is connected to whatever is before and whatever is after it....

وَمِنْ حَيْثُ خَرَجْتَ فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ وَحَيْثُ مَا كُنتُمْ فَوَلُّوا۟ وُجُوهَكُمْ شَطْرَهُۥ لِئَلَّا يَكُونَ لِلنَّاسِ عَلَيْكُمْ حُجَّةٌ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ مِنْهُمْ فَلَا تَخْشَوْهُمْ وَٱخْشَوْنِى وَلِأُتِمَّ نِعْمَتِى عَلَيْكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ

Wa min haisu kharajta fawalli wajhaka shatral Masjidil Haraam; wa haisu maa kuntum fawalloo wujoohakum shatrahoo li'allaa yakoona linnaasi 'alaikum hujjatun illal lazeena zalamoo minhum falaa takhshawhum wakhshawnee wa liutimma ni'matee 'alaikum wa la'allakum tahtadoon

And from wherever you go out [for prayer], turn your face toward al-Masjid al-Haram. And wherever you [believers] may be, turn your faces toward it in order that the people will not have any argument against you, except for those of them who commit wrong; so fear them not but fear Me. And [it is] so I may complete My favor upon you and that you may be guided.

اور تم جہاں سے نکلو، مسجدِ محترم کی طرف منہ (کرکے نماز پڑھا) کرو۔ اور مسلمانو، تم جہاں ہوا کرو، اسی (مسجد) کی طرف رخ کیا کرو۔ (یہ تاکید) اس لیے (کی گئی ہے) کہ لوگ تم کو کسی طرح کا الزام نہ دے سکیں۔ مگر ان میں سے جو ظالم ہیں، (وہ الزام دیں تو دیں) سو ان سے مت ڈرنا اور مجھی سے ڈرتے رہنا۔ اور یہ بھی مقصود ہے کہ تم کو اپنی تمام نعمتیں بخشوں اور یہ بھی کہ تم راہِ راست پر چلو

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: The change of Qiblah The question of religious orientation being of the highest significance for an Ummah (or a traditional community), these verses continue and enlarge upon the theme of the Qiblah, and lay down further raisons d'etre for the change. It is, the commentators point out, an observable...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: From whatever place you issue turn your face towards the Sacred Mosque; and wherever you may be turn your faces towards it all of which is being repeated for emphasis so that there be not any argument from the people the Jews or the idolaters against you so that there be not any cause for contention...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Why was changing the Qiblah mentioned thrice This is a third command from Allah to face Al-Masjid Al-Haram (the Sacred Mosque) from every part of the world (during prayer). It was said that Allah mentioned this ruling again here because it is connected to whatever is before and whatever is after it....

وَأَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَىٰ مُوسَىٰ وَأَخِيهِ أَن تَبَوَّءَا لِقَوْمِكُمَا بِمِصْرَ بُيُوتًا وَٱجْعَلُوا۟ بُيُوتَكُمْ قِبْلَةً وَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

Wa awhainaaa ilaa Moosaa wa akheehi an tabaw wa aa liqawmikuma bi Misra bu yootanw waj'aloo bu yootakum qiblatanw wa aqeemus Salaah; wa bashshiril mu'mineen

And We inspired to Moses and his brother, "Settle your people in Egypt in houses and make your houses [facing the] qiblah and establish prayer and give good tidings to the believers."

اور ہم نے موسیٰ اور اس کے بھائی کی طرف وحی بھیجی کہ اپنے لوگوں کے لیے مصر میں گھر بناؤ اور اپنے گھروں کو قبلہ (یعنی مسجدیں) ٹھہراؤ اور نماز پڑھو۔ اور مومنوں کو خوشخبری سنادو

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary Mentioned in the verses appearing immediately above, there are some circumstantial details along with their corresponding injunctions as they relate to Sayyidna Musa and Sayyidna Harun (علیہما السلام) and the children of Isra'il and the people of the Pharaoh. The first verse (87) carries ...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And We inspired Moses and his brother saying ‘Appoint houses for your people in Egypt and make your houses oratories places in which to perform prayers so that you might be secure from fear — for Pharaoh had prohibited them from performing prayers — and establish fulfil worship; and give good tiding...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): They were commanded to pray inside Their Homes Allah tells us why He saved the Children of Israel from Fir`awn and his people. He tells us how he saved them. Allah commanded Musa and his brother Harun to take houses for their people in Egypt, وَاجْعَلُواْ بُيُوتَكُمْ قِبْلَةً (and make your dwelling...

Hadith 1 tradition

Sahih al-Bukhari 8:36sahih

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ، عَنْ عِرَاكٍ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يُصَلِّي وَعَائِشَةُ مُعْتَرِضَةٌ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ الْقِبْلَةِ عَلَى الْفِرَاشِ الَّذِي يَنَامَانِ عَلَيْهِ‏.‏

Narrated `Urwa:The Prophet (ﷺ) prayed while `Aisha was lying between him and his Qibla on the bed on which they used to sleep

ہم سے عبداللہ بن یوسف نے بیان کیا کہا ہم سے لیث بن سعد نے حدیث بیان کی یزید سے، انہوں نے عراک سے، انہوں نے عروہ بن زبیر سے کہ نبی کریم صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم اس بچھونے پر نماز پڑھتے جس پر آپ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم اور عائشہ رضی اللہ عنہا سوتے اور عائشہ رضی اللہ عنہا آپ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کے اور قبلہ کے درمیان اس بستر پر لیٹی رہتیں۔

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