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  Description: Why do Muslims face the direction of Mecca when they pray? By Aisha Stacey (© 2009 IslamReligion.com)Published on 14 Dec 2009 - Last modified on 03 Jun 2012 Viewed: 5568 (daily average: 6) - Rating: - Rated by: 12 Printed: 238 - Emailed: 22 - Commented on: 0 Category: Articles > Worship and Practice > The Five Pillars of Islam and Other Acts of Worship |
 There are more than 1.5 billion Muslims in the world, and each time
they pray, they turn their faces in one direction, towards Mecca. The Islamic
term for this direction is qibla. When a Muslim prepares to pray, no
matter where he is, he turns towards the qibla, the direction of the
Kaba. The Kaba is a small cube shaped building in the courtyard of the
mosque known as Masjid Al Haram, in the city of Mecca, in the country of
Saudi Arabia.
“For every nation there is a direction
to which they face (in their prayers). So hasten towards all that is good.
Wheresoever you may be, God will bring you together (on the Day of
Resurrection). Truly, God is Able to do all things. And from wheresoever you
start forth (for prayers), turn your face in the direction of
Al-Masjid-al-Haram (at Mecca), that is indeed the truth from your Lord.
And God is not unaware of what you do.” (Quran 2:148-149)
Muslims do not worship the Kaba,
or its contents, it is simply a focal point. Muslims worship One God, the Most
Merciful, and the Most Wise. God decreed that when Muslims pray they all face
one direction. It is a sign of unity that encapsulates the unity embedded in
the religion of Islam.
The Arabic word for prayer is
salah and it demotes a connection between the believer and God; when all
believers face the same direction it adds an extra dimension to the connection.
The prayer connects the believers to God and the qibla connects the
believers to one another. It has been said that if one could observe all the
Muslims at prayer we would be able to see lines of worshippers bowing and
prostrating like the petals of a flower opening and closing in unison.
The qibla was not always oriented
towards Mecca. The first Muslims prayed towards the al Aqsa Mosque in
Jerusalem. Around sixteen months after Prophet Muhammad and his followers
migrated from Mecca to the city of Medina, the qibla was changed to the
Kaba. According to accounts by Prophet Muhammad's companions, the change
happened very suddenly. During the noon prayer, Prophet Muhammad, may God
praise him, received a revelation from God instructing him to, "Turn your face
towards the Masjid al Haram".
“Thus, we have made you real believers
in Islamic Monotheism, true followers of Prophet Muhammad and his legal ways, a
just nation, witnesses over mankind and the Messenger a witness over you. And
We made the Qibla (prayer direction towards Jerusalem) which you used to face,
only to test those who followed the Messenger from those who would turn on their
heels (i.e. disobey the Messenger). Indeed, it was great (heavy) except for
those whom God guided. And God would never make your prayers to be lost (i.e.
your prayers offered towards Jerusalem). Truly, God is full of kindness, the
Most Merciful towards humankind.”
“Verily! We have seen the turning of
your (Muhammad) face towards the heaven. Surely, We shall turn you to a Qibla
(prayer direction) that shall please you, so turn your face in the direction of
Al-Masjid- al-Haram (at Mecca). And wheresoever you people are, turn your faces
(in prayer) in that direction...” (Quran 2:143-144)
Changing the direction of prayer
establishes Mecca as the fixed central point for worship. It establishes a
common sense or purpose.
Throughout the centuries,
mathematicians and astronomers have established correct ways to determine the
qibla (direction) from any point on the earth’s surface. There are two
precise moments each year when the sun is directly above the Kaba, thus the
direction of shadows in any sunlit place will point away from the qibla. There
are also two moments per year when the sun is directly over the exact opposite
position of the Kaba, thus pointing towards the qibla.
It is important the Muslims make
every effort to face the right direction when praying; however, slight
deviations do not invalidate a person’s prayer. Prophet Muhammad said, “What
is between the east and the west is qibla”.[1] Nowadays it is easy to locate the
qibla. It is a simple matter to look at a map and draw a line between
your location and the city of Mecca. Compasses and computer programs that
locate the qibla are readily available and most mosques throughout the
world have a niche in the wall to indicate the qibla.
Islam is a religion of unity.
Muslims are united by their belief in One God. They are one brotherhood united
in the language and ritual of prayer and united by the direction of their
worship. The qibla is not only about degrees of latitude or longitude it
is about unity. It is about humankind united in the worship of the One God,
Creator, and Sustainer of the universe.
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