Qiblah Of The Muslims

LESSON # 143 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Qiblah Of The Muslims

Verse –142 of 286, Section – 17 (Part 2)

And the foolish of the people will say: What hath turned them from the qiblah which they formerly observed? Say: Unto Allah belong the East and the West. He guideth whom He will unto a straight path.

SA-YAQUULUS-SUFA-HAAA-‘U  minan-naasi maa wallaahum ‘an- Qiblati-himul-latii kaanuu ‘alayhaa. Qul-lil-laahil-Mashriqu wal-Magrib. Yahdii many-yashaaa-‘u ‘ilaa Siraatim- Mustaqiim.

Lesson

As-Sufa-haaa-‘u  minan-naas – (the foolish of the people) Sufa-haaa is plural of the word safiah that means childish, low, stupid, foolish. So aim of the As-Sufa-haaa-‘u  minan-naas is the people who protest and criticize the Orders of the God Almighty. Here it is indicated towards the children of Israel.

Qiblah – The thing which is in front, that is to say, the direction and place turning towards which the prayers are offered and worship is done, namely Centre of Attention, side and direction to turn for worship. The Qiblah of the children of Israel was the Temple or city of Jerusalem. Till the time the Messenger of Allah Almighty (may glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) remained in Makkah, He used to turn His face towards Jerusalem. After migration He continued that Qiblah. But He desired over and over to make His Qiblah to the Khana Ka’-ba which was constructed by the Prophet Abraham (peace be upon Him) in Makkah. But He (may glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) was waiting the order of the God Almighty. At last He (may glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) was commanded to change the Qiblah after migration to Madina passing sixteen or thirteen months.

When the children of Israel knew about change of Qiblah, they persecuted in opposition of it. They criticized of various sorts that formerly they used to offer their prayers turning towards the first Qiblah (the Temple or city of Jerusalem) which was the Qiblah of the old times Prophets (peace be upon Them). What happened with them now that have left that Qiblah, they have made the Ka’-ba as their Qiblah. Some of them used to say that it has been done duty to jealousy and enmity of the children of Israel.

The Holy Qur’an replied their objections, “O Messenger! Tell them that we have not changed the Qiblah due to jealously or bigotry, but it has been changed with the order of Allah Almighty.

The East or the West, each direction is of Allah Almighty. Every thing of each direction is in His Control and Knowledge. Guidance is also with Him. He bestows with His Guidance and Message to whom He desires.  

Transliteration in Roman Script & English Translation of Holy Qur’an written by Marmaduke Pickthall, Published by Paak Company, 17-Urdu Bazar, Lahore and Paraphrase collected from Dars e Qur’aan published By Idara Islah wa Tableegh, Lahore (translated by Muhammad Sharif)