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Change of the Qibla: Difference between revisions
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==The First Qibla and its Redirection== | ==The First Qibla and its Redirection== | ||
According to Islamic sources, [[the Prophet Muhammad (s)]] performed his [[prayers]] in the direction of [[Bayt al-Maqdis]] when he was in [[Mecca]] and in the early years of his stay in [[Medina]], but he liked to have a qibla of his own and thus, he expected a revelation for the change of the qibla. When al-Qibla Verse was revealed, he was pleased and ordered [[Muslims]] to redirect toward [[al-Masjid al-Haram]].<ref>Ibn Kathīr, ''Al-Bidāya wa l-nihāya'', vol.3, p.253; Ṭabarī, ''Tārīkh al-umam wa l-mulūk'', vol.2, p.415-417; Ṭabāṭabāʾī, ''Al-Mīzān'', vol.1, p.325. Ṭabrisī, ''Majmaʿ al-bayān'', vol.1, 419-420. </ref> | According to Islamic sources, [[the Prophet Muhammad (s)]] performed his [[prayers]] in the direction of [[Bayt al-Maqdis]] when he was in [[Mecca]] and in the early years of his stay in [[Medina]], but he liked to have a qibla of his own and thus, he expected a revelation for the change of the qibla. When al-Qibla Verse was revealed, he was pleased and ordered [[Muslims]] to redirect toward [[al-Masjid al-Haram]].<ref>Ibn Kathīr, ''Al-Bidāya wa l-nihāya'', vol.3, p. 253; Ṭabarī, ''Tārīkh al-umam wa l-mulūk'', vol.2, p. 415-417; Ṭabāṭabāʾī, ''Al-Mīzān'', vol.1, p. 325. Ṭabrisī, ''Majmaʿ al-bayān'', vol. 1, p. 419-420. </ref> | ||
==Al-Qibla Verse== | ==Al-Qibla Verse== | ||
{{main|Al-Qibla Verse}} | {{main|Al-Qibla Verse}} | ||
The [[verse]] 144 of [[Sura al-Baqara]] (chapter 2), involving the order to redirect the qibla, is known as "al-Qibla Verse".<ref>ʿAllama al-Majlisī, ''Biḥār al-anwār'', vol.81, p.33; Ṭabāṭabāʾī, ''Al-Mīzān'', vol.1, p.325. </ref> | The [[verse]] 144 of [[Sura al-Baqara]] (chapter 2), involving the order to redirect the qibla, is known as "al-Qibla Verse".<ref>ʿAllama al-Majlisī, ''Biḥār al-anwār'', vol.81, p. 33; Ṭabāṭabāʾī, ''Al-Mīzān'', vol.1, p. 325. </ref> | ||
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centered pull quote|We certainly see you turning your face about in the sky. We will surely turn you to a qibla of your liking: so turn your face towards the Holy Mosque, and wherever you may be, turn your faces towards it! Indeed those who were given the Book surely know that it is the truth from their Lord. And Allah is not oblivious of what they do. (Q 2:144){{enote|{{ia|قَدْ نَرَىٰ تَقَلُّبَ وَجْهِكَ فِي السَّمَاءِ ۖ فَلَنُوَلِّيَنَّكَ قِبْلَةً تَرْضَاهَا ۚ فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ ۚ وَحَيْثُ مَا كُنتُمْ فَوَلُّوا وُجُوهَكُمْ شَطْرَهُ ۗ وَإِنَّ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ لَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ ۗ وَمَا اللَّـهُ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا يَعْمَلُونَ ﴿١٤٤﴾}}}} | centered pull quote|We certainly see you turning your face about in the sky. We will surely turn you to a qibla of your liking: so turn your face towards the Holy Mosque, and wherever you may be, turn your faces towards it! Indeed those who were given the Book surely know that it is the truth from their Lord. And Allah is not oblivious of what they do. (Q 2:144){{enote|{{ia|قَدْ نَرَىٰ تَقَلُّبَ وَجْهِكَ فِي السَّمَاءِ ۖ فَلَنُوَلِّيَنَّكَ قِبْلَةً تَرْضَاهَا ۚ فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ ۚ وَحَيْثُ مَا كُنتُمْ فَوَلُّوا وُجُوهَكُمْ شَطْرَهُ ۗ وَإِنَّ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ لَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ ۗ وَمَا اللَّـهُ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا يَعْمَلُونَ ﴿١٤٤﴾}}}} | ||
}} | }} | ||
Verses 142,<ref>Shaykh al-Ṭūsī, ''Al-Tibyān'', vol.2, p.3-4; Ṭabrisī, ''Majmaʿ al-bayān'', vol.1, p.414.</ref> 143,<ref>Fakhr al-Rāzī, ''Al-Tafsīr al-kabīr'', vol.4, p.107.</ref> and 150<ref>Ṭabāṭabāʾī, ''Al-Mīzān'', vol.1, p.329.</ref> of Sura al-Baqara are also referred to as al-Qibla Verses. Some [[tafsir|exegetes]] of the [[Qur'an]] take verses 142 to 144 of Sura al-Baqara to be al-Qibla Verses.<ref>Ṭanṭāwī, ''al-wasīṭ'', vol.1, p.294.</ref> | Verses 142,<ref>Shaykh al-Ṭūsī, ''Al-Tibyān'', vol.2, p. 3-4; Ṭabrisī, ''Majmaʿ al-bayān'', vol.1, p. 414.</ref> 143,<ref>Fakhr al-Rāzī, ''Al-Tafsīr al-kabīr'', vol.4, p.107.</ref> and 150<ref>Ṭabāṭabāʾī, ''Al-Mīzān'', vol.1, p.329.</ref> of Sura al-Baqara are also referred to as al-Qibla Verses. Some [[tafsir|exegetes]] of the [[Qur'an]] take verses 142 to 144 of Sura al-Baqara to be al-Qibla Verses.<ref>Ṭanṭāwī, ''al-wasīṭ'', vol.1, p. 294.</ref> | ||
==Background== | ==Background== | ||
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* Some people say: before Hijra, [[the Prophet (s)]] observed both qiblas whenever possible. For example, because of the geographical location of Mecca and Bayt al-Maqdis he could stand in the direction of Bayt al-Maqdis in a way that the Ka'ba could be between him and Bayt al-Maqdis. However, when it was not possible to do so, he only performed his prayers in the direction of al-Masjid al-Aqsa.<ref>See: Ibn Kathīr, ''Al-Bidāya wa l-nihāya'', vol.3, p.253.</ref> After his migration to Medina, it was not possible to observe both qiblas because of the geographical location of Medina, and thus, Bayt al-Maqdis was the only qibla of the Prophet (s) and Muslims.<ref>See: Ibn Kathīr, ''Al-Bidāya wa l-nihāya'', vol.3, p.253; Ibn Sayyid al-Nās, ''ʿUyūn al-athar'', vol.1, p.268. </ref> | * Some people say: before Hijra, [[the Prophet (s)]] observed both qiblas whenever possible. For example, because of the geographical location of Mecca and Bayt al-Maqdis he could stand in the direction of Bayt al-Maqdis in a way that the Ka'ba could be between him and Bayt al-Maqdis. However, when it was not possible to do so, he only performed his prayers in the direction of al-Masjid al-Aqsa.<ref>See: Ibn Kathīr, ''Al-Bidāya wa l-nihāya'', vol.3, p.253.</ref> After his migration to Medina, it was not possible to observe both qiblas because of the geographical location of Medina, and thus, Bayt al-Maqdis was the only qibla of the Prophet (s) and Muslims.<ref>See: Ibn Kathīr, ''Al-Bidāya wa l-nihāya'', vol.3, p.253; Ibn Sayyid al-Nās, ''ʿUyūn al-athar'', vol.1, p.268. </ref> | ||
* According to some other hadiths, in Mecca, Muslims were free to perform their prayers in any directions they wanted, but the Prophet (s) himself preferred Bayt al-Maqdis.<ref>Shaykh al-Ṭūsī, ''Al-Tibyān'', vol.1, p.424; Ṭabrisī, ''Majmaʿ al-bayān'', vol.2, p.6.</ref> | * According to some other hadiths, in Mecca, Muslims were free to perform their prayers in any directions they wanted, but the Prophet (s) himself preferred Bayt al-Maqdis.<ref>Shaykh al-Ṭūsī, ''Al-Tibyān'', vol.1, p.424; Ṭabrisī, ''Majmaʿ al-bayān'', vol. 2, p. 6.</ref> | ||
* There are hadiths according to which before Hijra, the Ka'ba was the qibla of Muslims.<ref>Zamakhsharī, ''Al-Kashshāf'', vol.1, p.200; Qurṭubī, ''Tafsīr al-Qurtubī'', vol.2, p.150.</ref> This implies two redirections of the qibla, once from the Ka'ba to Bayt al-Maqdis and once again from Bayt al-Maqdis to the Ka'ba. | * There are hadiths according to which before Hijra, the Ka'ba was the qibla of Muslims.<ref>Zamakhsharī, ''Al-Kashshāf'', vol. 1, p. 200; Qurṭubī, ''Tafsīr al-Qurtubī'', vol. 2, p. 150.</ref> This implies two redirections of the qibla, once from the Ka'ba to Bayt al-Maqdis and once again from Bayt al-Maqdis to the Ka'ba. | ||
* By an appeal to the verse 115 of Sura al-Baqara, "To Allah belong the east and the west: so whichever way you turn, there is the face of Allah!", some exegetical sources maintain that the Prophet (s) and other Muslims were free to turn toward either of the two qiblas.<ref>Abu l-Futūḥ Rāzī, ''Rawḍ al-jinān'', vol.2, p.202.</ref> To support this view, they appeal to the Prophet (s) not objecting to [[Bara' b. Ma'rur]] when he performed his prayer in the direction of the Ka'ba in a trip to Mecca before [[Hijra]].<ref>Ibn Hishām, ''Al-Sīra al-nabawīyya'', vol.1, p.439-440.</ref> On the contrary, some people take the above Quranic verse to be concerned with [[nafila prayers]] (daily supererogatory prayers) when one is on a travel,<ref>Ṭabrisī, ''Majmaʿ al-bayān'', vol.1, p.421.</ref> but according to some historical accounts, Bara' b. Ma'rur continued to say his prayers in the direction of the Ka'ba after Hijra, while the Prophet (s) still said his prayers in the direction of Bayt al-Maqdis. When the Prophet (s) heard about this, he prohibited Bara' from doing so, and he complied with the Prophet's (s) words. | * By an appeal to the verse 115 of Sura al-Baqara, "To Allah belong the east and the west: so whichever way you turn, there is the face of Allah!", some exegetical sources maintain that the Prophet (s) and other Muslims were free to turn toward either of the two qiblas.<ref>Abu l-Futūḥ Rāzī, ''Rawḍ al-jinān'', vol.2, p.202.</ref> To support this view, they appeal to the Prophet (s) not objecting to [[Bara' b. Ma'rur]] when he performed his prayer in the direction of the Ka'ba in a trip to Mecca before [[Hijra]].<ref>Ibn Hishām, ''Al-Sīra al-nabawīyya'', vol.1, p.439-440.</ref> On the contrary, some people take the above Quranic verse to be concerned with [[nafila prayers]] (daily supererogatory prayers) when one is on a travel,<ref>Ṭabrisī, ''Majmaʿ al-bayān'', vol.1, p.421.</ref> but according to some historical accounts, Bara' b. Ma'rur continued to say his prayers in the direction of the Ka'ba after Hijra, while the Prophet (s) still said his prayers in the direction of Bayt al-Maqdis. When the Prophet (s) heard about this, he prohibited Bara' from doing so, and he complied with the Prophet's (s) words. | ||
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According to some hadiths, on the day of the change of the qibla, the Prophet (s) was saying [[zuhr prayer]] (Noon Prayer) in the direction of Bayt al-Maqdis. As usual, men were saying prayers behind him, and women were saying their prayers behind men. After performing two [[rak'as]] of the prayer, [[Jabra'il]] was sent to the Prophet (s). He revealed the verse 144 of Sura al-Baqara to him and redirected him to the Ka'ba.<ref>Ibn Saʿd, ''Al-Ṭabaqāt al-kubrā'', vol.1, p.186; Shaykh al-Ṣadūq, ''Man lā yaḥḍuruh al-faqīh'', vol.1, p.275.</ref> | According to some hadiths, on the day of the change of the qibla, the Prophet (s) was saying [[zuhr prayer]] (Noon Prayer) in the direction of Bayt al-Maqdis. As usual, men were saying prayers behind him, and women were saying their prayers behind men. After performing two [[rak'as]] of the prayer, [[Jabra'il]] was sent to the Prophet (s). He revealed the verse 144 of Sura al-Baqara to him and redirected him to the Ka'ba.<ref>Ibn Saʿd, ''Al-Ṭabaqāt al-kubrā'', vol.1, p.186; Shaykh al-Ṣadūq, ''Man lā yaḥḍuruh al-faqīh'', vol.1, p.275.</ref> | ||
There are differences in the accounts of when the qibla was redirected or where the prayer was being performed at the time of the redirection of the qibla toward the Ka'ba.<ref>Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī, ''Fatḥ al-bārī'', vol.1, p.98; Ḥalabī, ''Al-Sīra al-Ḥalabīyya'', vol.2, p.352-352.</ref> On some accounts, it occurred in the [[Asr Prayer]] (afternoon preayer) or the [[Morning Prayer]].<ref>Ibn Saʿd, ''Al-Ṭabaqāt al-kubrā'', vol.1, p.186-187; Ibn Sayyid al-Nās, ''ʿUyūn al-athar'', vol.1, p.269.</ref> | There are differences in the accounts of when the qibla was redirected or where the prayer was being performed at the time of the redirection of the qibla toward the Ka'ba.<ref>Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī, ''Fatḥ al-bārī'', vol.1, p.98; Ḥalabī, ''Al-Sīra al-Ḥalabīyya'', vol. 2, p. 352-352.</ref> On some accounts, it occurred in the [[Asr Prayer]] (afternoon preayer) or the [[Morning Prayer]].<ref>Ibn Saʿd, ''Al-Ṭabaqāt al-kubrā'', vol. 1, p. 186-187; Ibn Sayyid al-Nās, ''ʿUyūn al-athar'', vol. 1, p. 269.</ref> | ||
==The Place== | ==The Place== | ||
There is no agreement among historians as to where the event of the redirection of the qibla occurred. Three places are mentioned in historical sources: | There is no agreement among historians as to where the event of the redirection of the qibla occurred. Three places are mentioned in historical sources: | ||
[[File:مسجد ذوقبلتین.jpg|220px|thumbnail|[[Masjid al-Qiblatayn]] where the change of the qibla occurred according to the majority of historians]] | [[File:مسجد ذوقبلتین.jpg|220px|thumbnail|[[Masjid al-Qiblatayn]] where the change of the qibla occurred according to the majority of historians]] | ||
* The mosque in the area of Banu Salima in the northwestern part of Medina, known as [[Masjid al-Qiblatayn]]. The majority of the historians take this mosque to be the place where the redirection of the qibla occurred. | * The mosque in the area of Banu Salima in the northwestern part of Medina,<ref>Qāʾidān, ''Tārīkh wa āthār-i Islāmī-yi Makka wa Madīna munawwara'', p. 268.</ref> known as [[Masjid al-Qiblatayn]].<ref>Ibn al-Najjār, ''Al-Durra al-thamīna'', p. 115; Ibn Sayyid al-Nās, ''ʿUyūn al-athar'', vol.1, p.308.</ref> The majority of the historians take this mosque to be the place where the redirection of the qibla occurred.<ref>Ibn Saʿd, ''Al-Ṭabaqāt al-kubrā'', vol. 1, p. 186; Yaʿqūbī, ''Tārīkh al-Yaʿqūbī'', vol. 2, p. 42; Zamakhsharī, ''Al-Kashshāf'', vol. 1, p. 202. </ref> | ||
* The mosque of the Banu Salim b. 'Awf tribe where the Prophet (s) performed his first [[Friday Prayer]]. | * The mosque of the Banu Salim b. 'Awf tribe where the Prophet (s) performed his first [[Friday Prayer]].<ref>Qummī, ''Tafsīr al-Qummī'' vol. 1, p. 63. </ref> | ||
* [[Al-Masjid al-Nabawi]]. | * [[Al-Masjid al-Nabawi]].<ref>Ibn Saʿd, ''Al-Ṭabaqāt al-kubrā'', vol. 1, p. 185; Samhūdi, ''Wafāʾ al-wafā'', vol. 1, p. 278.</ref> | ||
==The Problem of Congregational Prayer== | ==The Problem of Congregational Prayer== | ||
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.<ref>Ibn al-Najjār, ''Al-Durra al-thamīna'', p. 126.</ref> 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.<ref>Ṣāliḥī, ''Subul al-hudā'', vol. 3, p. 370.</ref> 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<ref>Ibn al-Najjār, ''Al-Durra al-thamīna'', p. 126; Ṣāliḥī, ''Subul al-hudā'', vol. 3, p. 370.</ref> and people did the same and they all redirected themselves to the Ka'ba.<ref>Ibn Saʿd, ''Al-Ṭabaqāt al-kubrā'', vol. 1, p. 186; Ibn Sayyid al-Nās, ''ʿUyūn al-athar'', vol. 1, p. 269; Samhūdi, ''Wafāʾ al-wafā'', vol. 1, p. 278. </ref> On this account, the leader of the congregational prayer did not only turn 180 or<ref>Qāʾidān, ''Tārīkh wa āthār-i Islāmī-yi Makka wa Madīna munawwara'', p. 306.</ref> 160 degrees, but also moved in order for there to be enough space for men and women saying their prayers behind him.<ref>Samhūdi, ''Wafāʾ al-wafā'', vol. 3, p. 372.</ref> | ||
==Reasons for the change of the qibla== | ==Reasons for the change of the qibla== | ||
Exegetes of the [[Qur'an]] have mentioned different reasons for the change of the qibla | Exegetes of the [[Qur'an]] have mentioned different reasons for the change of the qibla. | ||
When the Prophet | * 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.<ref>Zamakhsharī, ''Al-Kashshāf'', vol. 1, p. 200.</ref> | ||
When the Prophet (s) | * 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.<ref>Shaykh al-Ṭūsī, ''Al-Tibyān'', vol. 2, p. 5; Abu l-Futūḥ Rāzī, ''Rawḍ al-jinān'', vol. 2, p. 203; Ṭabrisī, ''Majmaʿ al-bayān'', vol. 1, p.412-414. </ref> | ||
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. | * 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)<ref>Ṭabrisī, ''Majmaʿ al-bayān'', vol. 1, p. 420; Zamakhsharī, ''Al-Kashshāf'', vol. 1, p. 203.</ref>. 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.<ref>Ṭabarī, ''Jāmiʿ al-bayān'', vol. 1, p. 400.</ref> | ||
* 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. | |||
==Reactions and Consequences== | ==Reactions and Consequences== | ||
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* Kulaynī, Muḥammad b. Yaʿqūb al-. ''Al-Kāfi''. Edited by ʿAlī Akbar Ghaffāri. Tehran: Dār al-Kutub al-Islāmīyya, 1375Sh. | * Kulaynī, Muḥammad b. Yaʿqūb al-. ''Al-Kāfi''. Edited by ʿAlī Akbar Ghaffāri. Tehran: Dār al-Kutub al-Islāmīyya, 1375Sh. | ||
* Maqātil b. Sulaymān. ''Tafsīr Maqātil Ibn Sulaymān''. Edited by ʿAbd Allah Maḥmud Shaḥāta. Beirut: Al-Tārīkh al-ʿArabī, 1423AH. | * Maqātil b. Sulaymān. ''Tafsīr Maqātil Ibn Sulaymān''. Edited by ʿAbd Allah Maḥmud Shaḥāta. Beirut: Al-Tārīkh al-ʿArabī, 1423AH. | ||
* Qāʾidān, Aṣghar. Tārīkh wa āthār-i Islāmī-yi Makka wa Madīna munawwara. Tehran: Mashʿar, 1386Sh. | * Qāʾidān, Aṣghar. ''Tārīkh wa āthār-i Islāmī-yi Makka wa Madīna munawwara''. Tehran: Mashʿar, 1386Sh. | ||
* Qummī, ʿAlī b. Ibrāhīm al-. ''Tafsīr al-Qummī''. Edited by al-Jazāʾirī. Qom: Dār al-Kitāb, 1404AH. | * Qummī, ʿAlī b. Ibrāhīm al-. ''Tafsīr al-Qummī''. Edited by al-Jazāʾirī. Qom: Dār al-Kitāb, 1404AH. | ||
* Qurṭabī, Muḥammad b. Aḥmad al-. ''Al-Jāmiʿ li-aḥkām al-Qurʾān''. Beirut: Dār Iḥyāʾ al-Turāth al-ʿArabī, 1405AH. | * Qurṭabī, Muḥammad b. Aḥmad al-. ''Al-Jāmiʿ li-aḥkām al-Qurʾān''. Beirut: Dār Iḥyāʾ al-Turāth al-ʿArabī, 1405AH. | ||