The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume II — Page 110
Seal of the Prophets - Volume II 110 Messenger! In the matter of the Qiblah, we see that your attention is tied to the heavens, as to when an injunction is revealed that all should face towards the Ka‘batullah. Therefore, now we turn you to the Qiblah of your preference. And O Ye Muslims! Wherever you may be, turn your faces to the Sacred Mosque. 1 And know that for every nation is a special direction of attention, and although we have appointed your physical direction towards the Ka‘bah, but remember that your spiritual direction should be to progress in virtue. The benefit of this physical and spiritual harmony will be that wherever in the world you may be, you shall remain united. Surely, Allāh has the power to do all that He wills. ” 2 In these Qur’ānic verses, where the injunction of the alteration of the Qiblah has been alluded to, its wisdom and need has also been mentioned. Through the Qiblah , apparent harmony and unity in form is maintained within the nation. Furthermore, it has also been mentioned that in the beginning, for a period in time, Allāh the Exalted appointed Jerusalem as the Qiblah for the Muslims under the wisdom that it may serve as a trial for the idolaters of Makkah, whose entire center of attention was the Ka‘bah, and so that they may develop a spirit of sacrifice for their faith. However, when an appropriate period upon this era of trial had passed, it was ordered that everyone should face the actual Qiblah. At this instance, Sir William Muir raises the allegation that initially, the Muslims offered their Ṣalāt facing Jerusalem, so that the Jews of Madīnah would be inclined to them. However, when they noticed that they were not falling into this deception, they changed their direction to the Ka‘bah, so that an attempt could be made at pleasing the idolaters of Arabia. Undoubtedly, prejudice blinds a person. However, if an able person like Sir William Muir, who has served as the successful governor of a very large province of India, makes such unfounded statements regarding Islām, then indeed this is astonishing. However, the truth is so clear that it cannot be hidden, despite efforts to do so. To claim that a practice which was instituted in Makkah, many years prior to the migration and abrogated a few months after arriving in Madīnah, was so that the Jews of Madīnah could be pleased and that its abrogation occurred in order to attain the pleasure of the idolaters, cannot deceive a sensible person. The truth is that the first Qiblah was a trial for the idolaters, and it was prior to the migration that the time for this trial was best suited. However, since idolaters resided in Madīnah as well, this trial 1 Al-Baqarah (2:143-145) 2 Al-Baqarah (2:149)