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Change of the Qibla: Difference between revisions
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Bayt al-Maqdis is located in the northern direction of Medina, and [[al-Masjid al-Haram]] is located in its southern direction. Thus, the Prophet (s) turned from where he was standing to almost the reverse side. This has led to the thought that in this way, men had to stay in front of the Prophet (s) who was the leader of the congregational prayer and women had to stay in front of men. However, according to some sources, after the change of the qibla to the [[Ka'ba]], the Prophet (s) moved from his place to the other end of the mosque and people did the same and they all redirected themselves to the Ka'ba. On this account, the leader of the congregational prayer did not only turn 180 or 160 degrees, but also moved in order for there to be enough space for men and women saying their prayers behind him. | Bayt al-Maqdis is located in the northern direction of Medina, and [[al-Masjid al-Haram]] is located in its southern direction. Thus, the Prophet (s) turned from where he was standing to almost the reverse side. This has led to the thought that in this way, men had to stay in front of the Prophet (s) who was the leader of the congregational prayer and women had to stay in front of men. However, according to some sources, after the change of the qibla to the [[Ka'ba]], the Prophet (s) moved from his place to the other end of the mosque and people did the same and they all redirected themselves to the Ka'ba. On this account, the leader of the congregational prayer did not only turn 180 or 160 degrees, but also moved in order for there to be enough space for men and women saying their prayers behind him. | ||
==Reasons for the | ==Reasons for the change of the qibla== | ||
Exegetes of the [[Qur'an]] have mentioned different reasons for the | Exegetes of the [[Qur'an]] have mentioned different reasons for the change of the qibla. When the Prophet (s) lived in Mecca, the Ka'ba was a place of idols worshipped by polytheists. Thus, the Prophet (s) complied with the divine command to temporally turn toward Bayt al-Maqdis, and thus, their direction was different from the direction of polytheists. | ||
When the Prophet's (s) government was established in Medina, the Muslim community was stabilized and they were clearly distinguished from others. Thus, there was no necessity for Bayt al-Maqdis to be a Qibla and the Prophet (s) wanted the redirection of the qibla. The Ka'ba was the oldest house of [[monotheism]] and the most original home for prophets. Moreover, after the ruling of the redirection of the qibla, Muslims were distinguished from Jews who turned toward Bayt al-Maqdis. | When the Prophet's (s) government was established in Medina, the Muslim community was stabilized and they were clearly distinguished from others. Thus, there was no necessity for Bayt al-Maqdis to be a Qibla and the Prophet (s) wanted the redirection of the qibla. The Ka'ba was the oldest house of [[monotheism]] and the most original home for prophets. Moreover, after the ruling of the redirection of the qibla, Muslims were distinguished from Jews who turned toward Bayt al-Maqdis. | ||
When the Prophet (s) migrated to Medina, the Jews took his direction toward Bayt al-Maqdis to be evidence of a defect in Islam and the truth of their own religion ( | When the Prophet (s) migrated to Medina, the Jews took his direction toward Bayt al-Maqdis to be evidence of a defect in [[Islam]] and the truth of their own religion ([[Q 2]]:146; [[Q 6]]:20). According to some hadiths, Jews in Medina claimed that Muslims had no qiblas of their own, and they had instructed the Muslims to turn toward Bayt al-Maqdis. | ||
The redirection of the qiblas was a test for true Muslims, because the true followers of divine commands accepted the redirection without any questionings or reluctance, but those who were not true pure believers, started to ask questions, just like the Jews, and found it extremely difficult to comply with this order. | The redirection of the qiblas was a test for true Muslims, because the true followers of divine commands accepted the redirection without any questionings or reluctance, but those who were not true pure believers, started to ask questions, just like the Jews, and found it extremely difficult to comply with this order. | ||