Qibla, in Islamic terminology, refers to the Kaaba, towards which Muslims perform some of their religious and non-religious acts. Stay with Saadnews for more.
Qibla is the direction that one faces during prayer. Determining the Masjid al-Haram or the Kaaba as the Qibla is a divine right from God. The Kaaba, located in Mecca, is the Qibla, and prayers must be performed facing it. However, for someone who is far from it, if they position themselves in such a way that it is said they are facing the Qibla, that is sufficient. Other actions, such as slaughtering animals, must also be done facing the Qibla.
In linguistic terms, Qibla means direction, and in Islamic terminology, it refers to the Kaaba or the direction in which the Kaaba is located.
The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) prayed towards Al-Quds in the early years of his mission in Mecca and Medina, but his heart's desire was to pray towards the Kaaba. Therefore, he awaited divine revelation for the change in Qibla. God pleased him by revealing the verse about the Qibla, commanding the change to Masjid al-Haram: "Indeed, We see your turning your face toward the heaven. So We will surely turn you to a Qibla with which you will be pleased. So turn your face toward the Masjid al-Haram. And wherever you [believers] may be, turn your faces toward it." (Quran, 2:144)
Interpretations regarding the time and place of the Qibla change vary. Scholars generally agree that this change occurred between six to nineteen months after the migration (Hijrah). According to Allama Tabatabai, the most accurate view places the change in the month of Rajab, the second year of Hijrah, which corresponds to the 17th month after Hijrah.
The location where the ruling regarding the change in Qibla was revealed is believed to be either the mosque of Bani Salimah in the northwest of Medina, known as "Masjid al-Qiblatain," or the mosque of Bani Salim bin Awf, where the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) led the first Friday prayer, or the Prophet's own mosque.
During obligatory prayers (Salah)
When placing a dying person
When burying a deceased person
When slaughtering an animal
When making Du'a (supplication)
When reciting the Quran
When calling the Adhan (call to prayer)
When performing Wudu (ablution)
During post-prayer supplications (duas)
When performing prostration of gratitude (Sujood Shukr)
When performing both obligatory and non-obligatory prostrations mentioned in the Quran
When taking a ritual bath (Ghusl)
When washing the deceased, the body should be positioned facing the Qibla.
During intercourse
When putting on pants
During excretion, as both facing away from and towards the Qibla are prohibited. The specific manner of facing the Qibla differs in various situations. For a person standing or sitting, facing the Qibla is required in front of their body. However, for someone lying down, it is not the same. A person who prays while lying down should sleep on their right side and ensure their front faces the Qibla. If they are unable to do so, they may sleep on their left side, or if that is also not possible, they should sleep on their back with their feet facing the Qibla, ensuring that if they sit up, they will still face the Qibla.
The positioning of the dying person differs from that of the deceased. The dying person’s feet must be placed towards the Qibla, but the body of the deceased should be placed on the right hand side facing the Qibla. Furthermore, when praying for the deceased, their head should face the right side of the Qibla and their feet should face the left side.
It is important to note that the customary facing of the Qibla is sufficient; it does not have to be done with extreme precision. For someone praying in the Masjid al-Haram, facing exactly towards the Kaaba is required, but for someone in another country, it is enough if it is said they are facing the Qibla.
