Jul 17
Change of direction of Qibla from Bait-al-Maqdas to Kaaba
Tuesday 16 Moharram, 1010
Jul 17
Tuesday 16 Moharram, 1010
The Qibla indicates the direction Muslims turn to while offering their daily prayers. After the five daily prayers were made obligatory, Muslims faced towards Baitul-Maqdis (Masjid Al-Aqsa) in Jerusalem while saying their prayers. However, in the second year of Hijri, certain verses of Surah Al-Baqarah were revealed.
In these verses, Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) commanded the Prophet (ﷺ) to change the direction of the Qibla to the Kaaba in Makkah. This change in the direction of the Qibla is regarded as an extremely important event in Islamic history. It has been a topic of extensive discussion and interpretation among Islamic scholars and theologians.
The Qibla has consistently been an important element in the life of Muslims. It is the direction we turn towards while offering our prayer, which is also one of the requirements that need to be met for the mandatory prayer to be accepted. If we turn the wrong way, our act of worship becomes invalid and we must offer our prayers again.
Nevertheless, turning towards the Qibla holds a deeper meaning as well. It serves as a testament to our belief in the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). As Muslims, we believe the Prophet (ﷺ) is our mentor in this life, particularly regarding how to worship Allah. Upon reflection, you will realize that the reason we face the Qibla is that this is how the Prophet (ﷺ) conducted the prayers.
Additionally, the Qibla represents a symbol of unity for every Muslim. As instructed by Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), everyone prays to Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) while facing the same direction. Irrespective of the color of our skin, our position in society, our ethnicity, our nationality, or even our Islamic sect, all Muslims around the world pray facing the Qibla. This highlights the importance of Muslims coming together and always supporting each other.
Certain historical accounts state that the change of direction of the Qibla is considered significant because there was a complete 180-degree shift during the prayer. This Divine change showcased the Might and Authority of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى).
Islamic sources suggest that on the day the Qibla changed, the Prophet (ﷺ) conducted the Zuhr prayer facing Masjid Al-Aqsa. Both men and women were praying behind him. After he finished two rakats of prayer, Hazrat Jibrael (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) came to him with verse 144 of Surah Al-Baqara and instructed him to turn toward the Kaaba.
When the command came to shift the Qibla toward the Kaaba, it was also a trial for the believers. It became a test to identify those who genuinely followed Allah’s (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) command and believed in the Prophet’s (ﷺ) decisions. Indeed, there were individuals who mocked the Prophet (ﷺ) when he changed his direction mid-prayer from Baitul-Maqdis to the Kaaba. Nonetheless, those who genuinely had faith in Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) and the Prophet (ﷺ) promptly followed the order and turned towards the direction just as the Prophet (ﷺ) did.
قَدْ نَرٰى تَـقَلُّبَ وَجْہِكَ فِي السَّمَاۗءِ۰ۚ فَلَنُوَلِّيَنَّكَ قِبْلَۃً تَرْضٰىھَا۰۠ فَوَلِّ وَجْہَكَ شَطْرَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ۰ۭ وَحَيْثُ مَا كُنْتُمْ فَوَلُّوْا وُجُوْھَكُمْ شَطْرَہٗ۰ۭ وَاِنَّ الَّذِيْنَ اُوْتُوا الْكِتٰبَ لَيَعْلَمُوْنَ اَنَّہُ الْحَـقُّ مِنْ رَّبِّہِمْ۰ۭ وَمَا اللہُ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا يَعْمَلُوْنَ۱۴۴
“We have seen you turn your face to the heavens. We shall turn you to a Qibla that will please you. So turn towards the Holy Mosque, and turn towards it wherever you be. And those who are recipients of the Book surely know that this is the truth from their Lord; and God is not negligent of all that you do.” (Surah Al-Baqarah: 2:144)
سَيَقُوْلُ السُّفَہَاۗءُ مِنَ النَّاسِ مَا وَلىہُمْ عَنْ قِبْلَتِہِمُ الَّتِىْ كَانُوْا عَلَيْہَا۰ۭ قُلْ لِّلہِ الْمَشْرِقُ وَالْمَغْرِبُ۰ۭ يَہْدِيْ مَنْ يَّشَاۗءُ اِلٰى صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيْمٍ۱۴۲
“The foolish will now ask and say: ‘What has made the faithful turn away from the Qibla towards which they used to pray?’ Say: ‘To God belong the East and the West. He guides who so wills to the path that is straight.’” (Surah Al-Baqarah: 2:142)
وَكَذٰلِكَ جَعَلْنٰكُمْ اُمَّۃً وَّسَطًا لِّتَكُوْنُوْا شُہَدَاۗءَ عَلَي النَّاسِ وَيَكُـوْنَ الرَّسُوْلُ عَلَيْكُمْ شَہِيْدًا۰ۭ وَمَا جَعَلْنَا الْقِبْلَۃَ الَّتِىْ كُنْتَ عَلَيْہَاۗ اِلَّا لِنَعْلَمَ مَنْ يَّتَّبِــعُ الرَّسُوْلَ مِمَّنْ يَّنْقَلِبُ عَلٰي عَقِبَيْہِ۰ۭ وَاِنْ كَانَتْ لَكَبِيْرَۃً اِلَّا عَلَي الَّذِيْنَ ھَدَى اؙ۰ۭ وَمَا كَانَ اللہُ لِـيُضِيْعَ اِيْمَانَكُمْ۰ۭ اِنَّ اللہَ بِالنَّاسِ لَرَءُوْفٌ رَّحِيْمٌ۱۴۳
“We have made you a temperate people that you act as witness over man, and the Prophet as witness over you. We decreed the Qibla which you faced before that We may know who follow the Apostle and who turn away in haste. And this was a hard (test) except for those who were guided by God. But God will not suffer your faith to go waste, for God is to men full of mercy and grace.” (Surah Al-Baqarah: 2:143)
It is narrated by Al-Bara bin ‘Azib:
“The Prophet (ﷺ) prayed facing Baitul-Maqdis (i.e. Jerusalem) for sixteen or seventeen months but he wished that his Qibla would be the Kaaba (at Makkah). (So Allah Revealed (2.144) and he offered Asr prayers (in his Mosque facing Kaaba at Makkah) and some people prayed with him. A man from among those who had prayed with him, went out and passed by some people offering prayer in another mosque, and they were in the state of bowing. He said, “I, (swearing by Allah,) testify that I have prayed with the Prophet (ﷺ) facing Mecca.” Hearing that, they turned their faces to the Kaaba while they were still bowing. (Al-Bukhari: 4486)
The timing of this revelation varies among Islamic scholars. Some state that it was revealed six or nine months after Hijrat, which means that it took place in the month of Rajab during the second year of migration. Nevertheless, a different group of Islamic scholars states that the time of revelation is 17 months following the migration.
For example, it is narrated by Al-Bara bin ‘Azib in Sunan Ibn Majah (Book 5, Hadith 1063) that the Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) prayed facing towards Baitul-Maqdis for eighteen months, then the Qibla was changed to the Kaaba two months after the Prophet (ﷺ) entered Madinah.
There are also debates about whether this event happened between the dawn and noon prayers or between the noon and afternoon prayers. Certain accounts indicate that the event took place during the Asr or Fajr prayers.
Historical records also debate the exact place where the Quranic verses were revealed. These include:
As mentioned in Ayat 144 of Surah Al-Baqarah, there are two views concerning why the Prophet (ﷺ) turned toward the heavens. One of them is a sign of acceptance and commitment to the change of Qibla from the Masjid Al-Aqsa to the Kaaba. It is a symbol of recognition that Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) fulfilled the expectation of changing the direction of the Qibla.
The second point is that even though the Holy Prophet (ﷺ) preferred the Qibla to be the Kaaba, he did not request this from Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) directly. So, the Prophet’s (ﷺ) face directed toward the heavens was to express his love and thankfulness to Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى), indicating that the Qibla not only represented a change in physical orientation but was also a sign of obedience and surrender to Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى).
The change of Qibla holds immense significance in the history of Islam due to many reasons:
The change of Qibla is seen as a step toward increased unity and solidarity within the Muslim community. The Kaaba in Makkah was chosen as the center of worship for all Muslims, representing its significance as a sacred site in Islam. It also tested the faith of the believers in Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) and the Prophet (ﷺ).
Before the change of Qibla, all Muslims prayed facing the Baitul-Maqdis (Masjid Al-Aqsa) in Jerusalem. The Baitul-Maqdis had been appointed as the Qibla since the five daily prayers were made obligatory for Muslims.
However, the Prophet (ﷺ) had consistently desired for the Qibla to be shifted towards the Kaaba. The Kaaba represents the first holy place of worship constructed for humans. It was built by Prophet Adam (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) and later re-built by Prophet Ibrahim (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) along with his son, Prophet Ismail (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ). Moreover, the tradition of honoring the Kaaba was also followed by the Arabs even before Islam arrived in the region.
After migrating to Makkah, the Prophet (ﷺ) and his followers continued to pray facing toward Baitul-Maqdis. However, the Prophet (ﷺ)used to pray south of the Kaaba to align his direction toward both the Kaabah and Masjid Al-Aqsa. This highlights how the Prophet (ﷺ) showed his affection for the Kaabah and his desire to shift the Qibla towards it.
Even though the Prophet (ﷺ) desired the Qibla to be shifted towards the Kaaba, he made no request or complaint and continued to follow Allah’s (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) command. Such was his reverence and obedience towards Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى). Ultimately, in the second year of Hijri during the month of Shaban, Allah commanded the change of the Qibla, pleasing the Prophet (ﷺ).
After the Muslims migrated from Makkah to Madinah, the Jews in Madinah took the act of praying towards Masjid Al-Aqsa as proof of the inauthenticity of Islamic law. They would ask, “If the Prophet of Islam brought a distinct law, why are Muslims moving towards our Qibla?”
Hence, the change of Qibla is also seen as a Divine decision to make the Muslim prayer direction distinct from the Jews.