146. This is the injunction concerning the change in the direction of Prayer
and was revealed in Rajab or Sha'ban. 2 A.H. According to a Tradition in the
Tabaqat of Ibn Sa'd, the Prophet was at the house of Bishr b. Bara'b. Ma'rur
where he had been invited to a meal. When the time of zuhr prayer came, the
Prophet rose to lead it. He had completed two rak'ahs and was in the third when
this verse was suddenly revealed. Soon after the revelation of this verse everybody,
following the leadership of the Prophet, turned the direction of Prayer away
from Jerusalem to the Ka'bah. A public proclamation of the new order was then
made throughout Madina and in the suburbs. Bara' b. 'Azib says that at one place
the announcement was heard by people while they were in the state of ruku' (kneeling).
On bearing this order they immediately turned their faces towards the Ka'bah.
Anas b. Malik says that the news of the announcement reached Banu Salamah the
next day while the morning Prayer was in progress. People had completed one
rak'ah when they heard the announcement about the change of direction and the
entire congregation immediately faced the new qiblah. (See Ibn Sa'd, Tabaqat,
vol. 1, pp. 241 f. - Ed.)
It ought to be noted that Jerusalem is to the north of Madina while the Ka'bah
is to the south. In order to change direction during congregational Prayer it
would have been necessary for the leader of the Prayer to walk several steps
beyond what was originally the last row of worshippers. The people in the congregation,
too, would have been forced not only to make a right about-turn but also to
walk a little to straighten their rows. We find specific mention of this in
certain Traditions.
The words, 'We see you oft turning your face to the heaven', and 'Now We are
turning your face to the direction that shall satisfy you', show clearly that
even before the revelation of this injunction the Prophet was expecting something
of this nature. He had begun to feel, with the termination of the era of Israelite
leadership, that the time had come for the central position of Jerusalem to
cease and a return to the original centre of the Abrahamic mission to commence.
The 'Holy Mosque' refers to the sanctuary invested with holiness and sanctity;
the sanctuary in the centre of which the Ka'bah is located.
To turn one's face in the direction of the Ka'bah does not mean that wherever
a man might be he should turn to the Ka'bah with absolute accuracy. It would
obviously be extremely difficult for everyone to comply with such an order.
Hence the order is to turn one's face in the direction of the Ka'bah rather
than to the Ka'bah itself. According to the Qur'an, we are required to find
out the direction of the Ka'bah as accurately as possible. We are not required,
however, to locate it with absolute precision. We may pray in the direction
which appears correct as a result of our enquiry. However, if a man is either
at a place where it is difficult to determine the direction of the Ka'bah or
if he is in a position where it is difficult to maintain the correct direction
(e.g. when travelling on a train, a boat, or an aeroplane), he may pray in the
direction which seems correct, or in whatever direction it is possible for him
to face. If he then comes to know the correct direction while he is in the state
of Prayer he should turn his face in that direction.