Surah 2. Al-Baqarah

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Verses [Section]: 1-7[1], 8-20 [2], 21-29 [3], 30-39 [4], 40-46 [5], 47-59 [6], 60-61 [7], 62-71 [8], 72-82 [9], 83-86 [10], 87-96 [11], 97-103 [12], 104-112 [13], 113-121 [14], 122-129 [15], 130-141 [16], 142-147 [17], 148-151 [18], 152-163 [19], 164-167 [20], 168-176 [21], 177-182 [22], 183-188 [23], 189-196 [24], 197-210 [25], 211-216 [26], 217-221 [27], 222-228 [28], 229-231 [29], 232-235 [30], 236-242 [31], 243-248 [32], 249-253 [33], 254-257 [34], 258-260 [35], 261-266 [36], 267-273 [37], 274-281 [38], 282-283 [39], 284-286 [40]

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Quran Text of Verse 148-151وَ لِكُلٍّAnd for everyoneوِّجْهَةٌ(is) a directionهُوَheمُوَلِّیْهَاturns towards itفَاسْتَبِقُوْاso raceالْخَیْرٰتِ ؔؕ(to) the goodاَیْنَWhereverمَاthatتَكُوْنُوْاyou will beیَاْتِwill bringبِكُمُyouاللّٰهُ(by) Allahجَمِیْعًا ؕtogetherاِنَّIndeedاللّٰهَAllahعَلٰی(is) onكُلِّeveryشَیْءٍthingقَدِیْرٌ All-Powerful وَ مِنْAnd fromحَیْثُwhereverخَرَجْتَyou start forthفَوَلِّ[so] turnوَجْهَكَyour faceشَطْرَ(in the) directionالْمَسْجِدِ(of) Al-Masjidالْحَرَامِ ؕAl-Haraamوَ اِنَّهٗAnd indeed, itلَلْحَقُّ(is) surely the truthمِنْfromرَّبِّكَ ؕyour Lordوَ مَاAnd notاللّٰهُ(is) Allahبِغَافِلٍunawareعَمَّاof whatتَعْمَلُوْنَ you do وَ مِنْAnd fromحَیْثُwhereverخَرَجْتَyou start forthفَوَلِّ[so] turnوَجْهَكَyour faceشَطْرَ(in the) directionالْمَسْجِدِ(of) Al-Masjidالْحَرَامِ ؕAl-Haraamوَ حَیْثُAnd whereverمَاthatكُنْتُمْyou (all) areفَوَلُّوْا[so] turnوُجُوْهَكُمْyour facesشَطْرَهٗ ۙ(in) its directionلِئَلَّاso that notیَكُوْنَwill beلِلنَّاسِfor the peopleعَلَیْكُمْagainst youحُجَّةٌ ۙۗany argumentاِلَّاexceptالَّذِیْنَthose whoظَلَمُوْاwrongedمِنْهُمْ ۗamong themفَلَاso (do) notتَخْشَوْهُمْfear themوَ اخْشَوْنِیْ ۗbut fear Meوَ لِاُتِمَّAnd that I completeنِعْمَتِیْMy favorعَلَیْكُمْupon youوَ لَعَلَّكُمْ[and] so that you mayتَهْتَدُوْنَۙۛ(be) guided كَمَاۤAsاَرْسَلْنَاWe sentفِیْكُمْamong youرَسُوْلًاa Messengerمِّنْكُمْfrom youیَتْلُوْا(who) recitesعَلَیْكُمْto youاٰیٰتِنَاOur versesوَ یُزَكِّیْكُمْand purifies youوَ یُعَلِّمُكُمُand teaches youالْكِتٰبَthe Bookوَ الْحِكْمَةَand the wisdomوَ یُعَلِّمُكُمْand teaches youمَّاwhatلَمْnotتَكُوْنُوْاyou wereتَعْلَمُوْنَؕۛknowing

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Translation of Verse 148-151

148. And each one has a direction towards which he turns (for prayer), so try to excel one another in virtues. Wherever you may be, Allah will bring you all together, for, surely Allah has power over all things.

149. And from whichever place you come out¹⁷⁹ (to offer prayers), turn your face towards the Masjid-E-Haram, since it is the Truth (commandment) from your Lord. And Allah is not unaware of what you do¹⁸⁰.

150. And from whichever place you start, turn your face towards the Masjid-E-Haram, and at whichever place you may be, turn your face towards it, so that people may not find any argument against you. As for those who are wrong-doers, do not fear them, but fear Me–so that I may complete My favours on you and so that you may be the rightly guided¹⁸¹.

151. Similarly we have sent to you a Messenger from amongst you, who recites to you Our verses and purifies you and teaches you the Book and Wisdom and teaches you what you did not know.

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Commentary

179. Here “come out” means to come out for prayers (Salat). It is explained here that the condition of facing the Qibla during the journies or travels is as important as it is in normal living. Although it is difficult to ascertain the Qibla while travelling, the emphasis to observe it during journies is made on account of the importance of observing the right Qibla all the time so that this Ummah is kept attached to its goal (Centre of oneness of Allah).

So far as the Holy city of Makkah is concerned, it is situated at Long. 39"-50’E, Lat. 21 °-26’N The Qibla is situated in the west of Bombay at 10 degrees North (10°N.)

According to the instructions given in the Quran, it is necessary to turn the face towards the Makkah Qibla as far as possible while offering prayer (Salat) during travelling. However while traveliing by Rail or Air or sailing by the ship, it is not possible to ascertain the right direction. In such circumstances, prayers can be offered by facing any possible direction.

180. It points to the fact that if carelessness is shown in ascertaining the direction of the Qibla or in fixing the right Qibla the persons concerned would be answerable.

181. A repetition of this command is with a view to emphasising its importance. Besides, the purpose is to stress the wisdom behind it. Firstly, it silences an objection. The Jews could have argued that if Muhammad (p.b.u.h.) was the last prophet of Allah then his Qibla should have been the Qibla of Ibrahim (the House of Ka’aba), By selecting as Qibla the House of Ka’aba for every Muslim wherever he may be, Allah has proved to the Jews that Muhammad’s Qibla is in accordance with the prophecy in Torah and that they had therefore no ground for any argument. Secondly, the change of Qibla also signifies the transfer of the world-leadership to the Muslims who alone possess the knowledge of the perfect religion and shariah revealed to them. The third point is of attaining the Guidance, i.e. this Qibla being the Centre of Oneness of Allah is the lighthouse of Guidance and therefore it has to be kept as a goal before our eyes constantly.