The changing of the Qibla

Allah Most High has made the Ka’aba the direction in which Muslims must pray for this Ummah for the sake of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).

 

In all forms of worship, Salaat is the best form of worship.  Performing this is obligatory on every faithful believer.  The way, when Salaat is offered sincerely, it has a certain effect on the inward aspect (Batin) of a person, in the same way, the greatest visible benefit of offering Salaat in congregation is unity and brotherhood.  For unity in Salaat, it was necessary that a certain direction be prescribed by Allah Most High, so that all may turn towards it and pray.  Thus, as long as the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) was in Makkah, He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) would offer Salaat facing the Ka’aba, but after the Emigration, He started offering Salaat facing Bait Ul Muqaddis, as ordered by Allah Most High. (Sahih Bukhari, Vol. 1, Pg No: 57)

 

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) offered Salaat facing Bait Ul Muqaddis for around 16, 17 months. The Holy Prophet’s (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) wish was that the Ka’aba should be made the Qibla. Often, awaiting divine revelation, He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) would start looking at the sky.

 

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) is the best of all creation.  His status with Allah Most High is such that the will of Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) is the will of Allah Himself.  Allah Most High only desires that His Beloved Prophet should be happy and pleased.

 

As Allah Most High Himself says in the Holy Quran:

 

And soon will thy Guardian-Lord give thee (that wherewith) thou shalt be well-pleased. Surah Dhuha (93:5)

 

There is a Hadith:

 

Translation: Everybody desires My pleasure, but I desire yours.

 

As per the wish of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), the Ka’aba was made the Qibla for the Muslims.  This Ka’aba was the one which Hadhrat Ibrahim (May peace be upon him) had built.  It was effective in bringing the Arabs to Islam.  Thus, as per the wish of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), Allah Most High gave the order for making Ka’aba the direction of prayer.

 

Thus, in 2 Hijri the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) was leading Salaat Ul Zuhr in Masjid Bani Salama, when right in middle of the Salaat, the divine revelation came that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) should turn His blessed face to the Ka’aba, as given in the Holy Quran:

 

We see the turning of thy face to the heavens; now shall We turn thee to a Qiblah that shall please thee. Turn then thy face in the direction of the Sacred Mosque; wherever ye are, turn your faces in that direction. The people of the book know well that that is the truth from their Lord nor is Allah unmindful of what they do. Surah Baqarah (2:144)

 

In the Salaat itself, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) turned from the Bait Ul Muqaddis to the Ka’aba and all the Companion s who were offering the Salaat also turned from the Bait Ul Muqaddis to the Ka’aba.  As this was the Masjid, in which one Salaat was offered facing 2 directions, this Masjid is called Masjid Qiblatain (Lit. Masjid of the 2 Qibla)