Shaykh Nizar Halabiyy
Translation of the Response of His Eminence Shaykh Nizar Halabiyy, Chairman of the Association of Islamic Charitable Project, may Allah protect him
Praise to Allah, the Lord of the worlds, the Alive, the One Whose Existence does not end, the One who manages all the creation. We ask Allah to raise the rank of Prophet Muhammad, the one who prayed toward al-Ka^bah and said: “This is al-Qiblah,” related by al-Bukhariyy and Muslim, and to protect his nation from which he fears for it. Thereafter,
We have received a question regarding the correct direction that he who is praying in Northern America must face so that he would be facing al-Qiblah and whether it is valid to face northeast.
The answer, with Allah’s help, is that North America is in the north-western quarter of the earth since it is north of Makkah and westward of it. Hence, it is a must for he who is praying in North America to direct himself toward southeast. If he directs him self northeast, his prayer are definitely invalid as it is known from the texts of the Shafi^iyy scholars and Hanafiyy scholars and others.
May Allah guide us all and strengthen us toward what he loves and is acceptable to Him.
Shaykh Nizar Rashid Halabiyy
President, AICP
Imam Masjid Burj Abi Haydar
Add comment July 16th, 2005