The Chairman of the Fatwa Committee
Translation of the Response of the Chairman of the Fatwa Committee,
Shaykh ^Atiyyah Saqr.
Honorable Brother
Hajj Riad Nachef, President
The Association of Islamic Charitable Project in North America
As-salamu^alaykum wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh.
Thereafter, in reply to your letter that we received on November 28,1993, we advise you that the direction of al-Qiblah for the people of the United States of America and Canada is the southeast. This is due to that North America falls in the northwestern quarter with respect to Makkah; he who prays toward northeast, his direction is incorrect and his prayers likewise.
Verily, the Qiblah for prayer for the Muslims in Canada and the United States of America is the direction of southeast, as it is shown in the previous word.
The Chairman of the Fatwa committee at al-‘Azhar
Shaykh ^Atiyyah Saqr
28/11/93
Add comment July 16th, 2005