QIBLAH

THE STORY OF THE QIBLAH

Muslims wherever they where in the world turn their faces towards the ka’abah when offerin their salaah (prayers). This was the case at the early stage of islam. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and his Companions faced a different direction before Allah gave them the permission to face the ka’aabah.

Let us readthe full story by the two of the companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) called Al-Bara’ bin Azib and Ali bin Abu Talha (RA) as can be found in saheeh Muslim:

When Allah’s Messemger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) migrated to Al-Madinah, Allah commanded him to face Bait-ul-Maqdis (Jarusalem). The Jews were delighted then. Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) faced Jarusalem for more than ten months. However, he liked (to offer prayer to the direction of ) Prophet’s Ibrahim’s Qiblah (peace be upon him) and used to supplicate to Allah and kept looking up to the sky (awaiting Allah’s command in this regard).

Allah then revealed:

“Verily, We have seen the turning of your (Muhammad’s) face towards the heaven. Surely, We shall turn you to a Qiblah (prayer direction) that shall please your face in the direction Al-Masjid Al- Haram. Turn your faces (in prayer) in that direction.” (q2:144).

When the Jews got to know, they did not like this and said, “What make them change the Qiblah that they used to face (meaning Jarusalem)? Allah revealed:

“Say (O Muhammad)! To Allah  belongs both the east and west. He guides whom He wills to the straight way.” (Q2: 146).

Instant submission

The first prayer which he (the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)) offered (facing the Ka’abah) was the ‘Asr (afternoon) prayer in the company of some people. Then one of those who had offered prayer with him went out and passed by some people in a mosque who were in the bowing position (in ruku’) during their prayers (facing Jarusalem).

He addressed them saying: “By Allah, I bear witness that I have offered prayer with the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) facing Makkah (Ka’abah).” Hearing that, those people immediately changed their direction towards (Ka’abah) while still as they  were (i.e. in the same bowing position).”

A man from among the Muslims then said: “We wish we could know about  those among us who died before the Qiblah was changed (towards Makkah) and also about our own prayers which we had performed towards Jarusalem (i.e. will their prayer be accepted, since they did not pray facing the Ka’abah)” Allah then revealed:

“A nd Allah would never make your faith (prayers) to be lost” (Q2: 143) (Bukhari).

What this means is that Allah has accepted their prayers since the command to face the Ka’abah had not come before they died.

Lessons

One very important lesson from this story is that we should as Muslims be willing to submit to the Commandment of Allah and the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) whenever it comes to us.

Another lesson is that, when anyone does something out of the fact that he does not know or that the knowledge did not reach him for such a thing. Allah will only punish a person for something he knows and refuse to do it.

                                                                                                                           Source: Tafsir ibn Katheer