CHANGING DIRECTION

real qiblah, then all the prayers which Muslims have made towards Jerusalem have been wasted.” These were the sort of objections that Jews and hypocrites made. True believers, those who were not caught up in the externals of religion, did not let such things dishearten them. They realized that it is not the direction of prayer that really matters, it is God’s commandment. God can lay down any qiblah, whenever He likes. Whatever He prescribes should be followed. The commandment regarding the change of qiblah was revealed seventeen months after the Prophet’s emigration to Madinah. The Prophet was praying along with a group of his Companions at the time. As soon as God’s commandment became clear, all of them turned, as they were praying, from Jerusalem to Makkah—a 1600 turn from north-west to south. The change of qiblah was a sign indicating that God had changed the course of history towards peace and reconciliation. Now, the Kabah would remain, until the end of time, a rallying-point for the call to divine religion, a centre for all true believers in God. The true believers now had to communicate the word of God to their fellow human beings, just as the Prophet of God communicated it to them. This is what is meant by the word ‘middle nation’. In other words they were the connection between the Prophet and other people. This is a responsibility that is always incumbent upon the Muslim community. Their success, both in this world and the next, depends upon how they discharge this responsibility. “We have frequently seen you turn your face towards heaven. So, We will make you turn in a direction for prayer that will please you. So, turn your face now towards the Sacred Mosque: and wherever you may be, turn your faces towards it. Those who were given the Book know this to be the truth from their Lord. God is not unaware of what they do. But even if you should produce every kind of sign for those who have been given the Book, they would never accept your prayer direction, nor would you accept their prayer direction: nor would any of them accept one another’s direction. If, after all the knowledge you have been given, you yield to their desires, then, you shall surely become a transgressor. Those to whom We have given the Book recognize it just as they recognize their own sons. But, some of them knowingly conceal the truth. Truth is what comes from your Lord; therefore, do not be of those who doubt.” (2: 144-147) Not until the Prophet of Islam received divine revelation on a certain matter, did he change the pattern of previous prophets. Faithful to this