Qiblah القبلة

How to Determine the Direction of al-Qiblah

July 16th, 2005

Know, fellow Muslim, that Allah ordered us to face al-Qiblah in our prayer. Allah said in Suratul-Baqarah, ‘Ayah 144:

قَدْ نَرَى تَقَلُّبَ وَجْهِكَ فِي السَّمَاء فَلَنُوَلِّيَنَّكَ قِبْلَةً تَرْضَاهَا فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ وَحَيْثُ مَا كُنتُمْ فَوَلُّواْ وُجُوِهَكُمْ شَطْرَهُ

Which means: (We see the turning of your face (O you, Muhammad) to the heavens. Now we shall turn you to the Qiblah that shall please you; then turn your face in the direction of the sacred mosques, and wherever you are, turn your faces in its direction.)

This is a matter relating to prayers and the rules of the Religious. Hence, in determining the direction of al-Qiblah, we rely on the religious evidences and the sayings of the scholar. We do not rely on the saying of non-Muslims or on Muslims who are without religious knowledge, even if they are outstanding in mathematics and calculations. The saying of Allah in Suratul-Baqarah, ‘Ayah 150:

وَمِنْ حَيْثُ خَرَجْتَ فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ وَحَيْثُ مَا كُنتُمْ فَوَلُّواْ وُجُوهَكُمْ شَطْرَهُ

means: {from wherever you start, turn your face in the direction of the Scared Mosque and wherever you are, turn your face in its direction.}

Concerning this verse, al-’Imam ash-Shafi^iyy said in his book, Al-’Umm: “It is conceivable that Allah, the Exalted, ordered them with facing the direction of al-Qiblah by seeking its signs. He did not leave them with to determine the direction by means which please them, cross their hearts, or delude them. Allah decreed not to leave them helpless without showing then the signs”. This means that Allah showed His slaves the acknowledge signs for seeking the direction of al-Qiblah. Hence, no attention is due to that which does not rely on religious proof.

Al-’Imam Khayruddin ar-Ramliyy al-Hanafiyy, in his book, Al-Fatawa
al-Khayriyyah said about determining al-Qiblah: “If the mihrab was not placed by the Companions and their followers, not by those who are trustworthy and knowledgeable, nor according to their prescriptions, then the scholars unanimously agreed that it would not be relied upon.” Ibn ^Abidin mentioned the same thing in his book, Al-Hashiyah.

After establishing the above, we say, henceforth, the one who sees al-Ka^bah would easily face it by physically observing it. He who is away from it would face it by seeking the signs and methods that Allah, the Exalted, showed His Messenger, sallallahu ^alayhi wa sallam, and the mujtahidin of the Ummah . Seeking the guidance from Allah

Entry Filed under: The Direction of al-Qiblah 1