CHANGE OF QIBLA

In Islam, great emphasis is placed on the “Congregational Prayers”. We cannot imagine any congregational prayer without the concept of a fixed direction. Hence, in His Infinite Wisdom, Allah ordered that Ka’ba be built in the heavens at Bait-al-Ma’moor. Later, He ordered Prophet Adam to build a similar sacred place of worship on earth, which was Ka’ba built in Makkah. During the mammoth storm of Prophet Noah, it was washed away but later on rebuilt. Prophet Ibrahim and Prophet Isma’il raised the walls of Ka’ba again (apparently the foundation was intact) as stated in Surah al-Baqarah Ayah 127: “While Ibrahim and Isma’il were raising the walls of the House (Ka’ba), they prayed: “O Allah! Accept our labor. You are All-Hearing and All-Knowing.”

The importance of Qibla may be described as it is needed for single direction for all Muslims in any part of the world. It encourages unity, discipline, international brotherhood of Muslims, and an identity for being a Muslim. As stated earlier, Qibla is needed for performing not only solitary prayers but also congregation prayers like Friday Prayer, Eid Prayers, Prayers for the dead etc.

Before the dawn of Islam, the Jews used to pray facing the Grand Mosque of Jerusalem. In reality, every Prophet preached Islam and oneness of Allah. However, when the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) started praying openly, he was directed to face towards Jerusalem. The Jews would criticize Islam and the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) saying that Muslims do not have their own Qibla and that they were facing the Jewish Qibla. The Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) was very disturbed by such criticism and he would come out at night and look towards the sky as if waiting for a revelation to change the Qibla. About seventeen months after the Migration to Madinah, while the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) was performing Mid-day prayers, and was in the second rakat, the Archangel Jibra’eel arrived with the Divine Order to change the Qibla from Jerusalem to Ka’ba. The Muslim followers also changed the Qibla along with the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.). The mosque in which Qibla was changed is still there in Madinah which is now called “Masjid-e-Qiblatayn”; meaning the mosque in which prayers were performed facing two Qibla.

The relevant Ayahs relating to the change of Qibla are as follows:

Surah al-Baqarah Ayah 143-144: “The direction which you had been facing during your prayers (the Qibla) was made only in order that We would know who would follow the Messenger and who would turn away. It was a hard test, but not for those to whom Allah had given guidance. Allah did not want to make your previous prayers worthless; Allah is compassionate and All-Merciful. We certainly you (Muhammad) often turn your face to the sky, so We shall instruct you to face a Qibla that you will like. (Muhammad), during prayer, turn your face toward the Sacred Mosque (in Makkah).Muslims, also, wherever you are, during your prayers, turn your faces towards the Sacred Mosque. The People of the Book certainly know that this command (to change the Qibla) is truly from their Lord. Allah is not unaware of what they do.”

The Western writers tried to give other political reasons for the change of Qibla, but for the Muslims, Allah’s command is the last word. We have to follow Allah’s orders without searching for the reasons. Islam means complete surrender and unquestionable obedience to Allah (s.w.t.) and His Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.)

Sources used:

The Glorious Qur’an

The Message                                                                                  By Ayatullah Jafar Subhani

Restatement of history, Islam and Muslims                                  By Allama Sayyid Ali Asghar Razwi

Al-Ihtajaj (volume1 page 81-86)                                                   By Allama Tabari

Imamreza.net and WIKIPEDIA