Understanding the Significance of the Qiblah Change in Islam: A Divine Command

The Importance of the Qiblah Change: Insights from Tafsir Ibn Kathir

WHY WAS CHANGING THE QIBLAH MENTIONED THRICE

ALLĀH said; 

وَمِنْ حَيْثُ خَرَجْتَ فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ وَإِنَّهُ لَلْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكَ وَمَا اللّهُ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ 

And from wheresoever you start forth ˹for prayers˺, turn your face in the direction of Al-Masjid Al-Haram (at Makkah), that is indeed the truth from your Lord. And ALLĀH is not unaware of what you do.

This is a third command from ALLĀH to face Al-Masjid Al-Haram (the Sacred Mosque) from every part of the world (during prayer).

It was said that ALLĀH mentioned this ruling again here because it is connected to whatever is before and whatever is after it. Hence, ALLĀH first said:

قَدْ نَرَى تَقَلُّبَ وَجْهِكَ فِي السَّمَاء فَلَنُوَلِّيَنَّكَ قِبْلَةً تَرْضَاهَا 

Verily, WE have seen the turning of your (Muhammad’s) face towards heaven. Surely, WE shall turn you to a Qiblah (prayer direction) that shall please you, (2:144), until:

وَإِنَّ الَّذِينَ أُوْتُواْ الْكِتَابَ لَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ وَمَا اللّهُ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا يَعْمَلُونَ 

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. And ALLĀH is not unaware of what they do. (2:144)

ALLĀH mentioned in these Ayat HIS fulfillment of the Prophet’s wish and ordered him to face the Qiblah that he liked and was pleased with.

In the second command, ALLĀH said:

وَمِنْ حَيْثُ خَرَجْتَ فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ وَإِنَّهُ لَلْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكَ وَمَا اللّهُ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ 

And from wheresoever you start forth ˹for prayers˺, turn your face in the direction of Al-Masjid Al-Haram that is indeed the truth from your Lord. And ALLĀH is not unaware of what you do.

Therefore, ALLĀH states here that changing the Qiblah is also the truth from HIM, thus upgrading the subject more than in the first Ayah, in which ALLĀH agreed to what HIS Prophet had wished for. Thus ALLĀH states that this is also the truth from HIM that HE likes and is pleased with.

In the third command, ALLĀH refutes the Jewish assertion that the Prophet faced their Qiblah, as they knew in their Books that the Prophet will later on be commanded to face the Qiblah of Ibrahim, the Ka`bah

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

And from wheresoever you start forth (for prayers), turn your face in the direction of Al-Masjid Al-Haram (at Makkah), and wheresoever you are, turn your faces towards it (when you pray),

The Arab disbelievers had no more argument concerning the Prophet’s Qiblah after ALLĀH commanded the Prophet to face the Qiblah of Ibrahim, which is more respected and honored, rather than the Qiblah of the Jews. The Arabs used to honor the Ka’bah and liked the fact that the Messenger was commanded to face it.

{Tafsi‌r Ibn Kathīr}

#ibnkathir #baqarah (2: 149)