Transliteration:( Wa la'in ataital lazeena ootul kitaaba bikulli aayatim maa tabi'oo Qiblatak; wa maaa anta bitaabi'in Qiblatahum; wa maa ba'duhum bitaabi''in Qiblata ba'd; wa la'init taba'ta ahwaaa'ahum mim ba'di maa jaaa'aka minal 'ilmi innaka izal laminaz zaalimeen )
301. This verse explains that the people of the Book were cut off from belief as they harboured envy in their hearts for the Holy Prophet. This tells us thatanyone whose heart is full of envy for the Holy prophet is bereft of guidance. Such a person will neither benefit from the Holy QUR'AAN, miracles of the Prophets, nor from any intellectual or assumed proofs.
302. This verse is from the Ayaate-Mohkamat fundamentally irrevocable verses in which Allah stresses that the direction towards the Ka'bah is now permanent i.e. you will not be asked to face Jerusalem. Like this is an irrevocable verse, the command, too, is likewise and will not be abrogated.
303. Both the Nasara and the Yahud accept Jerusalem as their Qibla, but while the Yahud accept the Western side, the Nasara accept its Eastern side where Hazrat Mariam had been in the state of pregnancy.
304. By this verse is meant that both the Nasara and the Yahud disagree about their Qibla and as such do not turn towards it.
305. From this verse we learn the transgression of the learned is worse than that of an ignorant person. Likewise it is absolutely disastrous for the learned to curry favour with the ignorant or be controlled by them. Knowledge is the key factor here and knowledge is above everything else.
144. Verily, We have seen the turning of your (Muhammad’s) face towards the heaven. Surely, We shall turn you to a Qiblah (prayer direction) that shall please you, so turn your face in the direction of Al-Masjid Al-Haram (at Makkah). And wheresoever you people are, turn your faces (in prayer) in that direction. Certainly, the people who were given the Scripture (i.e., Jews and Christians) know well that, that (your turning towards the direction of the Ka`bah at Makkah in prayers) is the truth from their Lord. And Allah is not unaware of what they do).
`Ali bin Abu Talhah related that Ibn `Abbas narrated: The first abrogated part in the Qur’an was about the Qiblah. When Allah’s Messenger migrated to Al-Madinah, the majority of its people were Jews, and Allah commanded him to face Bayt Al-Maqdis. The Jews were delighted then. Allah’s Messenger faced it for ten and some months, but he liked to face the Qiblah of Ibrahim (Ka`bah in Makkah). He used to supplicate to Allah and look up to the sky (awaiting Allah’s command). Allah then revealed:
(Verily, We have seen the turning of your (Muhammad’s) face towards the heaven), until,
(turn your faces (in prayer) in that direction.)
The Jews did not like this ruling and said:
(“What has turned them (Muslims) from their Qiblah (prayer direction) to which they used to face in prayer.” Say (O Muhammad), “To Allah belong both, east and the west.”) (2:142)
Allah said:
(. ..so wherever you turn (yourselves or your faces) there is the Face of Allah) (2:115),
and:
(And We made the Qiblah (prayer direction towards Jerusalem) which you used to face, only to test those who followed the Messenger (Muhammad ) from those who would turn on their heels (i.e., disobey the Messenger).) (2:143)
Al-Hakim related that `Ali bin Abu Talib said:
(…so turn your face in the direction of Al-Masjid Al-Haram (at Makkah).) means its direction.”
Al-Hakim then commented that the chain of this narration is authentic and that they (i.e., Al-Bukhari and Muslim) did not include it in their collections.
This ruling concerning the Qiblah is also the opinion of Abu Al-`Aliyah, Mujahid, `Ikrimah, Sa`id bin Jubayr, Qatadah, Ar-Rabi` bin Anas and others. Allah’s Statement:
(And wheresoever you people are, turn your faces (in prayer) in that direction) is a command from Allah to face the Ka`bah from wherever one is on the earth: the east, west, north or south. The exception is of the voluntary prayer (Nafl) while one is traveling, for one is allowed to offer it in any direction his body is facing, while his heart is intending the Ka`bah. Also, when the battle is raging, one is allowed to offer prayer, however he is able. Also, included are those who are not sure of the direction and offer prayer in the wrong direction, thinking that it is the direction of the Qiblah, because Allah does not burden a soul beyond what it can bear.
Allah stated that:
(Certainly, the people who were given the Scripture (i.e., Jews and the Christians) know well that, that (your turning towards the direction of the Ka`bah at Makkah in prayers) is the truth from their Lord.)
This Ayah means: The Jews, who did not like that you change your Qiblah from Bayt Al-Maqdis, already knew that Allah will command you (O Muhammad) to face the Ka`bah. The Jews read in their Books their Prophets’ description of Allah’s Messenger and his Ummah, and that Allah has endowed and honored him with the complete and honorable legislation. Yet, the People of the Book deny these facts because of their envy, disbelief and rebellion. This is why Allah threatened them when He said:
(And Allah is not unaware of what they do.)
147. The purpose of this verse is to ask the Prophet not to be disturbed by the controversy and remonstrance to which some people had resorted as a result of this change in the direction of Prayer. It was difficult to convince those people by argument, since they suffered from prejudices and intransigence and were unwilling to abandon their traditional qiblah. It was also impossible for the matter to be resolved by adopting the qiblah of any of the contending groups; there were various groups and they were not agreed in respect of the qiblah. If the qiblah of one group had been adopted this would have satisfied only that group. As for the rest, their remonstrating would persist. Furthermore, and more basic in this connection, was the fact that as a Prophet Muhammad ought neither to be concerned to please people, nor haggle with them in order to arrive at compromised solutions. On the contrary, the mission of a Prophet is to adhere firmly, to the knowledge vouchsafed to him by God regardless of all opposition. To deviate from that knowledge to please others is tantamount to offending the prophetic mission and is inconsistent with the gratitude that the Prophet ought to feel for having been favoured with the position of world leadership.
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