Philosophy In Change Of Qiblah

 

Philosophy in changing the direction of worship (L-169)

وَما جَعَلنَا القِبلَةَ الَّتي كُنتَ عَلَيها إِلّا لِنَعلَمَ مَن يَتَّبِعُ الرَّسولَ مِمَّن يَنقَلِبُ عَلىٰ عَقِبَيهِ ۚ143b.

143b.  Wa maa ja-‘alNal-Qiblatal-latii kunta ‘alayhaaa ‘illaa li-Na’-lama many-yattabi-‘ur-Rasuula  mim-many-yanqalibu ‘alaa ‘aqibayh.

143b.  We only established the direction of prayer, which you once followed, that We may distinguish those who follow the Messenger from those who turn on their heels.

 It was the blessed habit of the Messenger Muhammad (ﷺ)that in which matter there was no instruction from God, in that matter, he (ﷺ) used to choose the manner of former Prophets (Peace be upon them), for instance; the prayer had become duty to offer, but there was no clear command available regarding Qiblah. Messenger of God used to offer prayers by turning towards the Temple of Jerusalem, which was the Qiblah of the Children of Israel. It is known clearly from the words of this verse also ‘Wa maa ja-‘alNaa’ that in the beginning to turn the face unto the former Qiblah was by the permission of God. When he (ﷺ) flew from Makkah to Madinah, even then, the Temple of Jerusalem (Bayt ul Muqaddas) remained Qiblah too. But after a period of nearly sixteen months, God commanded to change the Qiblah and Ka’-bah (The Square Building at Makkah) was appointed as Qiblah of the Muslims.

God commands in this verse: The purpose to keep Bayt ul Muqaddas (the Temple of Jerusalem) Qiblah was temporarily for a short time so that the Obedient and the Violent may be separated”. 

The Idolaters of Makkah were not convinced for reverence of the Qiblah as the Temple of Jerusalem. So it was a clear sign of embracing Islam in Makkah that every individual had to offer his prayers by turning towards the Temple of Jerusalem. Near the Jews and the Christians of Madinah, the Square Building at Makkah had no honor. So in Madinah it became the sign of embracing Islam that the prayer must be offered by turning towards BaytUllaah (Ka’-bah), The Square Building at Mecca. Here upon, it became easy to make a distinction among the Muslims and the Non-Muslims.

If the Square Building at Makkah were Qiblah (BaytUllaah) instead of the Temple of Jerusalem (Bayt ul Muqaddas) during living in Makkah then probably, the people of Makkah might consider it as a kind of flattery and they might embrace Islam due to their own Country’s Qiblah instead of taking this religion as the Order of God. Thus Islam is pure from all such objects. Teaching of the religion is not for favor of any particular nation or race. Islam has come for the entire world and its teachings are for the entire nations forever. https://youtu.be/lSwuyTdRSKM