Qiblah
القبلة
Ritual direction · Concept
The direction of prayer, changed in the Quran to al-Masjid al-Haram.
Overview
The qiblah is the direction believers face in prayer. The Quran records its change: the Prophet is told to turn his face toward al-Masjid al-Haram, and believers wherever they are to do the same (2:144).
The preceding passage states that the earlier qiblah was appointed to distinguish who would follow the Messenger (2:143), which makes the change itself part of the Quran's argument rather than an incidental detail.
Graph
Key connections
What do these labels mean?
Every connection on this page says what it rests on. The label tells you how directly the source supports it.
- Direct textual — Direct textual. The source states this outright.
- The source states this outright.
- Linguistic inference — Linguistic inference. Follows from the wording of the text rather than an explicit statement.
- Follows from the wording of the text rather than an explicit statement.
Select a connection to see the source it rests on.
- Qiblahالقبلة
Related
People
Muhammad
محمدassociated with
The final messenger of Allah and seal of the prophets, to whom the Quran was revealed.
Related
Places
Al-Masjid al-Haram
المسجد الحرامassociated with
The Sacred Mosque in Makkah, named in the Quran as the place believers are commanded to face in prayer.
Ka'bah
الكعبةassociated with
The House in Makkah whose foundations Ibrahim and Ismail raised; the first House established for mankind and the direction of prayer.
Related
Concepts
Salah
الصلاةrelated to
The prescribed prayer, commanded throughout the Quran and asked for by the prophets for their descendants.
Names of Allah
Divine Names
Names that occur in the passages linked to this page are separated from names associated with it thematically.
Occurring in linked passages
Direct — Direct textual. The source states this outright.- Ar-Rahimالرحيم
2:143
Provenance
Relationships
What do these labels mean?
Every connection on this page says what it rests on. The label tells you how directly the source supports it.
- Direct textual — Direct textual. The source states this outright.
- The source states this outright.
- Linguistic inference — Linguistic inference. Follows from the wording of the text rather than an explicit statement.
- Follows from the wording of the text rather than an explicit statement.
Every edge in the graph, with the evidence behind it.
Qiblahassociated withAl-Masjid al-HaramDirect — Direct textual. The source states this outright.1 src
The Quran names the direction of prayer as al-Masjid al-Haram.
Evidence
- Quran Al-Baqarah 2:144Direct — Direct textual. The source states this outright.
قَدْ نَرَىٰ تَقَلُّبَ وَجْهِكَ فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ ۖ فَلَنُوَلِّيَنَّكَ قِبْلَةًۭ تَرْضَىٰهَا ۚ فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ ۚ وَحَيْثُ مَا كُنتُمْ فَوَلُّوا۟ وُجُوهَكُمْ شَطْرَهُۥ ۗ وَإِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ لَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ ٱلْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ ۗ وَمَا ٱللَّهُ بِغَٰفِلٍ عَمَّا يَعْمَلُونَ
“We have certainly seen the turning of your face, [O Muhammad], toward the heaven, and We will surely turn you to a qiblah with which you will be pleased. So turn your face toward al-Masjid al-Haram. And wherever you [believers] are, turn your faces toward it [in prayer]. Indeed, those who have been given the Scripture well know that it is the truth from their Lord. And Allah is not unaware of what they do.”
"So turn your face toward al-Masjid al-Haram."
Open ayah 2:144 →
Qiblahassociated withMuhammadDirect — Direct textual. The source states this outright.1 src
The change of the qiblah is addressed to the Prophet directly.
Evidence
- Quran Al-Baqarah 2:144Direct — Direct textual. The source states this outright.
قَدْ نَرَىٰ تَقَلُّبَ وَجْهِكَ فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ ۖ فَلَنُوَلِّيَنَّكَ قِبْلَةًۭ تَرْضَىٰهَا ۚ فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ ۚ وَحَيْثُ مَا كُنتُمْ فَوَلُّوا۟ وُجُوهَكُمْ شَطْرَهُۥ ۗ وَإِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ لَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ ٱلْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ ۗ وَمَا ٱللَّهُ بِغَٰفِلٍ عَمَّا يَعْمَلُونَ
“We have certainly seen the turning of your face, [O Muhammad], toward the heaven, and We will surely turn you to a qiblah with which you will be pleased. So turn your face toward al-Masjid al-Haram. And wherever you [believers] are, turn your faces toward it [in prayer]. Indeed, those who have been given the Scripture well know that it is the truth from their Lord. And Allah is not unaware of what they do.”
"We will surely turn you to a qiblah with which you will be pleased. So turn your face toward al-Masjid al-Haram."
Open ayah 2:144 →
Qiblahassociated withKa'bahLinguistic — Linguistic inference. Follows from the wording of the text rather than an explicit statement.2 src
The command in 2:144 names al-Masjid al-Haram, not the Ka'bah. Identifying the qiblah with the Ka'bah specifically follows from the Quran's use of the two terms for the one sanctuary rather than from an explicit statement.
Evidence
- Quran Al-Baqarah 2:144Direct — Direct textual. The source states this outright.
قَدْ نَرَىٰ تَقَلُّبَ وَجْهِكَ فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ ۖ فَلَنُوَلِّيَنَّكَ قِبْلَةًۭ تَرْضَىٰهَا ۚ فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ ۚ وَحَيْثُ مَا كُنتُمْ فَوَلُّوا۟ وُجُوهَكُمْ شَطْرَهُۥ ۗ وَإِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ لَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ ٱلْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ ۗ وَمَا ٱللَّهُ بِغَٰفِلٍ عَمَّا يَعْمَلُونَ
“We have certainly seen the turning of your face, [O Muhammad], toward the heaven, and We will surely turn you to a qiblah with which you will be pleased. So turn your face toward al-Masjid al-Haram. And wherever you [believers] are, turn your faces toward it [in prayer]. Indeed, those who have been given the Scripture well know that it is the truth from their Lord. And Allah is not unaware of what they do.”
"So turn your face toward al-Masjid al-Haram."
Open ayah 2:144 → - Quran Al-Ma'idah 5:97Direct — Direct textual. The source states this outright.
۞ جَعَلَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْكَعْبَةَ ٱلْبَيْتَ ٱلْحَرَامَ قِيَٰمًۭا لِّلنَّاسِ وَٱلشَّهْرَ ٱلْحَرَامَ وَٱلْهَدْىَ وَٱلْقَلَٰٓئِدَ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ لِتَعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌ
“Allah has made the Ka'bah, the Sacred House, standing for the people and [has sanctified] the sacred months and the sacrificial animals and the garlands [by which they are identified]. That is so you may know that Allah knows what is in the heavens and what is in the earth and that Allah is Knowing of all things.”
"Allah has made the Ka'bah, the Sacred House, standing for the people."
Open ayah 5:97 →
Qiblahrelated toSalahDirect — Direct textual. The source states this outright.2 src
The qiblah is the direction taken in prayer; 2:144 gives the command in those terms.
Evidence
- Quran Al-Baqarah 2:144Direct — Direct textual. The source states this outright.
قَدْ نَرَىٰ تَقَلُّبَ وَجْهِكَ فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ ۖ فَلَنُوَلِّيَنَّكَ قِبْلَةًۭ تَرْضَىٰهَا ۚ فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ ۚ وَحَيْثُ مَا كُنتُمْ فَوَلُّوا۟ وُجُوهَكُمْ شَطْرَهُۥ ۗ وَإِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ لَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ ٱلْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ ۗ وَمَا ٱللَّهُ بِغَٰفِلٍ عَمَّا يَعْمَلُونَ
“We have certainly seen the turning of your face, [O Muhammad], toward the heaven, and We will surely turn you to a qiblah with which you will be pleased. So turn your face toward al-Masjid al-Haram. And wherever you [believers] are, turn your faces toward it [in prayer]. Indeed, those who have been given the Scripture well know that it is the truth from their Lord. And Allah is not unaware of what they do.”
"So turn your face toward al-Masjid al-Haram. And wherever you [believers] are..."
Open ayah 2:144 → - Quran Al-Baqarah 2:238Direct — Direct textual. The source states this outright.
حَٰفِظُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلصَّلَوَٰتِ وَٱلصَّلَوٰةِ ٱلْوُسْطَىٰ وَقُومُوا۟ لِلَّهِ قَٰنِتِينَ
“Maintain with care the [obligatory] prayers and [in particular] the middle prayer and stand before Allah, devoutly obedient.”
"Maintain with care the [obligatory] prayers."
Open ayah 2:238 →