ٱلْبَقَرَة ١٤٨
- وَلِكُلّٖ dan bagi tiap-tiap orang/umat
- وِجۡهَةٌ tujuan/kiblat
- هُوَ ia
- مُوَلِّيهَاۖ menghadap kepadanya
- فَٱسۡتَبِقُواْ maka berlomba-lombalah kamu
- ٱلۡخَيۡرَٰتِۚ kebaikan
- أَيۡنَ dimana
- مَا saja
- تَكُونُواْ kalian menjadi
- يَأۡتِ mendatangkan/mengumpulkan
- بِكُمُ dengan/untuk kalian
- ٱللَّهُ Allah
- جَمِيعًاۚ semua
- إِنَّ sesungguhnya
- ٱللَّهَ Allah
- عَلَىٰ atas
- كُلِّ segala
- شَيۡءٖ sesuatu
- قَدِيرٞ Maha Kuasa
Dan setiap umat mempunyai kiblat yang dia menghadap kepadanya. Maka berlomba-lombalah kamu dalam kebaikan. Di mana saja kamu berada pasti Allah akan mengumpulkan kamu semuanya. Sungguh, Allah Mahakuasa atas segala sesuatu.
(Dan bagi masing-masing) maksudnya masing-masing umat (ada arah dan tujuan) maksudnya kiblat (tempat ia menghadapkan wajahnya) di waktu salatnya. Menurut suatu qiraat bukan 'muwalliihaa' tetapi 'muwallaahaa' yang berarti majikan atau yang menguasainya, (maka berlomba-lombalah berbuat kebaikan) yakni segera menaati dan menerimanya. (Di mana saja kamu berada, pastilah Allah akan mengumpulkan kamu semua) yakni di hari kiamat, lalu dibalas-Nya amal perbuatanmu. (Sesungguhnya Allah Maha Kuasa atas segala sesuatu).
Tafsir Surat Al-Baqarah: 148
Dan bagi tiap-tiap umat ada kiblatnya (sendiri) yang ia menghadap kepadanya. Maka berlomba-lombalah kalian dalam (melakukan) kebaikan. Di mana saja kalian berada, pasti Allah akan mengumpulkan kalian semuanya (pada hari kiamat), sesungguhnya Allah Maha Kuasa atas segala sesuatu.
Ayat 148
Al-Aufi meriwayatkan dari Ibnu Abbas, yang dimaksud dengan pengertian 'tiap-tiap umat mempunyai kiblatnya yang ia menghadap kepadanya' ialah semua pemeluk agama. Dengan kata lain, tiap-tiap kabilah mempunyai kiblatnya sendiri yang disukainya, dan kiblat yang diridai oleh Allah ialah kiblat yang orang-orang mukmin menghadap kepadanya.
Abul Aliyah mengatakan bahwa orang-orang Yahudi mempunyai kiblatnya sendiri yang mereka menghadap kepadanya, dan orang-orang Nasrani mempunyai kiblatnya sendiri yang mereka menghadap kepadanya. Allah memberikan petunjuk kepada kalian, wahai umat Muhammad, kepada kiblat yang merupakan kiblat yang sesungguhnya.
Telah diriwayatkan dari Mujahid, ‘Atha’, Adh-Dhahhak, Ar-Rabi' ibnu Anas, dan As-Suddi hal yang mirip dengan pendapat Abul Aliyah di atas.
Mujahid mengatakan dalam riwayat yang lain begitu pula Al-Hasaiy bahwa Allah memerintahkan kepada semua kaum agar shalat menghadap ke arah Ka'bah.
Ibnu Abbas, Abu Ja'far Al-Baqir, dan Ibnu Amir membaca ayat ini dengan bunyi walikullin wajhatun huwa muwallaha (Bagi tiap-tiap umat ada kiblatnya sendiri yang diperintahkan oleh Dia (Allah) agar mereka menghadap kepadanya). Ayat ini serupa maknanya dengan firman-Nya: “Untuk tiap-tiap umat di antara kalian, Kami berikan aturan dan jalan yang terang. Sekiranya Allah menghendaki, niscaya kalian dijadikan-Nya satu umat (saja), tetapi Allah hendak menguji kalian terhadap pemberian-Nya kepada kalian, maka berlomba-lombalah berbuat kebajikan. Hanya kepada Allah-lah kalian semuanya kembali.” (Al-Maidah: 48)
Dalam surat ini Allah ﷻ berfirman: “Di mana saja kalian berada, pasti Allah akan mengumpulkan kamu sekalian (pada hari kiamat). Sesungguhnya Allah Maha Kuasa atas segala sesuatu.” (Al-Baqarah: 148) Yakni Dia berkuasa untuk menghimpun kalian dari muka bumi, sekalipun jasad dan tubuh kalian bercerai-berai.
Dan setiap umat mempunyai kiblat yang dia menghadap kepadanya. Tidak ada kelebihan satu kiblat atas lainnya, karena yang terpenting dalam beragama adalah kepatuhan kepada Allah dan berbuat kebaikan terhadap orang lain. Maka berlomba-lombalah kamu dalam kebaikan. Terhadap semua itu Allah akan memberikan perhitungan. Di mana saja kamu berada, pasti Allah akan mengumpulkan kamu semuanya. Sungguh, Allah Mahakuasa atas segala sesuatu. Allah mengulangi lagi perintah untuk menghadap Masjidilharam. Dan dari mana pun engkau keluar, wahai Nabi Muhammad, hadapkanlah wajahmu ke arah Masjidilharam, sesungguhnya itu benar-benar ketentuan dari Tuhanmu. Allah tidak lengah terhadap apa yang kamu kerjakan. Pengulangan ini penting karena peralihan kiblat merupkan peristiwa nasakh (penghapusan hukum) yang pertama kali terjadi dalam Islam. Dengan diulang maka hal ini akan tertanam dalam hati kaum mukmin sehingga mereka tidak terpengaruh oleh hasutan orang Yahudi yang tidak rela kiblat mereka ditinggal.
Setiap umat mempunyai kiblat masing-masing. Nabi Ibrahim dan Nabi Ismail a.s, menghadap ke Ka'bah. Bani Israil menghadap ke Baitulmakdis dan orang Nasrani menghadap ke timur, yang prinsip ialah beriman kepada Allah dan mematuhi segala perintah-Nya. Karena Allah telah memerintahkan agar kaum Muslimin menghadap ke Ka'bah dalam salat, maka fitnah dan cemoohan dari orang yang ingkar itu tidak perlu dilayani, tetapi hendaklah kaum Muslimin bekerja dengan giat, beramal, bertobat dan berlomba membuat kebajikan. Allah nanti akan menghimpun umat manusia untuk menghitung serta membalas segala amal perbuatannya, dan Allah Mahakuasa atas segala sesuatu; tidak ada yang dapat melemahkan-Nya untuk mengumpulkan semua manusia pada hari pembalasan.
Belum tersedia. Dibutuhkan biaya untuk menambahkan tafsir ini.
Belum tersedia. Dibutuhkan biaya untuk menambahkan tafsir ini.
Belum tersedia. Dibutuhkan biaya untuk menambahkan tafsir ini.
Belum tersedia. Dibutuhkan biaya untuk menambahkan tafsir ini.
Belum tersedia. Dibutuhkan biaya untuk menambahkan tafsir ini.
“Dan bagi tiap-tiapnya itu ada satu tujuan yang dia hadapi."
(pangkal ayat 148)
Dari Ibnu Abbas mengenai tafsir ayat ini, bahwa-bagi tiap-tiap pemeluk suatu agama ada kiblatnya sendiri. Bahkan tiap-tiap kabilah pun mempunyai tujuan dan arah sendiri, mana yang dia sukai. Namun, bagi orang yang beriman, tujuan atau kiblatnya hanya satu, yaitu mendapat ridha Allah.
Abul ‘Aliyah menjelaskan pula tafsir ayat ini demikian, “Orang Yahudi mempunyai arah yang ditujuinya, orang Nasrani pun mempunyai arah yang ditujuinya. Akan tetapi, kamu, wahai umat Muslimin, telah ditunjukkan Allah kepadamu kiblatmu yang sebenarnya."
Meski demikian, kiblat bukanlah pokok, sebagaimana di ayat-ayat di atas telah diterangkan. Bagi Allah, timur dan barat adalah sama, sebab itu kiblat berubah karena perubahan nabi. Yang pokok ialah menghadapkan hati langsung kepada Allah."Sebab itu, berlomba-lombalah kamu pada serba kebaikan." Jangan kamu berlarut-larut berpanjang-panjang bertengkar perkara peralihan kiblat. Kalau orang-orang Yahudi dan Nasrani tidak mau mengikuti kiblat kamu, biarkanlah. Sama-sama setialah pada kiblat masing-masing. Dalam agama tidak ada paksaan. Cuma berlombaiah berbuat serba kebajikan, sama-sama beramal dan membuat jasa di dalam perikehidupan ini."Di mana saja kamu berada, niscaya akan dikumpulkan Allah kamu sekalian" Baikpun kamu dalam Yahudi, dalam Nasrani, dalam Shabi'in, dan dalam iman kepada Muhammad ﷺ, berlombaiah kamu berbuat berbagai kebajikan dalam dunia ini meskipun kiblat tempat kamu menghadap dalam sembahyang berlain-lain. Kalau kamu akan dipanggil menghadap kepada Allah, tidak peduli apakah dia dalam kalangan Yahudi, Nasrani, Islam, dan lain-lain, berkiblat ke Ka'bah atau ke Baitul Maqdis, di sana pertang-gungjawabkanlah amalan yang telah dikerjakan dalam dunia ini. Moga-moga dalam perlombaan berbuat kebajikan itu terbukalah hidayah Allah kepada kamu dan terhenti sedikit demi sedikit pengaruh hawa nafsu serta kepentingan golongan; mana tahu, akhirnya kamu kembali juga kepada kebenaran,
“Sesungguhnya Allah atas tiap-tiap sesuatu adalah Mahakuasa."
(ujung ayat 148)
Perlombaan manusia berbuat baik di dunia ini belumlah berhenti. Segala sesuatu bisa kejadian. Kebenaran Allah makin lama makin tampak. Allah Mahakuasa berbuat se-kehendak-Nya.
Kemudian, kembali lagi kepada pemantapan soal kiblat itu.
“Dan dari mana saja engkau keluar, hadapkanlah muka engkau ke pihak Masjidil Haram."
(pangkal ayat 149)
Meskipun ke penjuru yang mana engkau menujukan perjalananmu, bila datang waktu shalat, teruslah hadapkan mukamu ke pihak Masjidil Haram itu. Ayat ini sudahlah menjadi perintah yang tetap kepada Rasulullah dan umatnya terus-menerus di belakang beliau. Sebab itu, ditegaskan pada lanjutnya, “Dan sesungguhnya (perintah) itu adalah kebenaran dari Tuhan engkau" Tidak akan berubah lagi selama-lamanya,
“Dan tidaklah Allah lengah dari apa pun yang kamu amalkan."
(ujung ayat 149)
Kesungguhan kamu melaksanakan perintah ini tidaklah Allah akan melengahkannya. Gelap malam tak tentu arah lalu kamu lihat pedoman pada bintang-bintang, kamu kira-kira di sanalah arah kiblat lalu kamu sha-lat. Allah tidaklah melengahkan kesungguhan kamu itu. Kamu datang ke negeri orang lain, kamu tanyakan kepada penduduk Muslim di situ, ke mana kiblat? Lalu mereka tunjukkan. Kamu pun shalat. Allah tidak lengah dengan kepatuhan kamu itu. Sengaja engkau beli sebuah kompas (pedoman), engkau kundang dalam sakumu ke mana saja engkau pergi. Lalu, orang bertanya, “Buat apa kompas itu, padahal tuan bukan nakhoda kapal?" Engkau jawab, “Penentuan kiblat jika aku shalat!" Tuhan tidak melengahkan perhatianmu itu. Sampai ada di antara kamu yang khas belajar ilmu falak, yang pada asalnya sengaja buat mengetahui hai kiblat saja, sampai berkembang jadi ilmu yang luas. Allah tidak melengahkan kesungguhanmu itu.
Kemudian, dijelaskan lagi,
“Dan dari mana saja pun kamu keluar maka hadapkanlah muka engkau ke pihak Masjidil Haram"
(pangkal ayat 150)
Dijelaskan sekali lagi kepada seluruh umat Muhammad ﷺ supaya mereka pegang teguh peraturan itu di mana saja pun mereka berada."Dan di mana saja pun kamu berada." Hai umat Muhammad ﷺ, “Hendaklah kamu hadapkan muka kamu ke pihaknya." Jangan diubah-ubah lagi dan tidak akan berubah-ubah lagi peraturan ini selama-lamanya. Baik sedang kamu di lautan, carilah arah kiblat, shalatlah menghadap ke sana. Baik kamu sedang di Kutub Utara atau Kutub Selatan, carilah arah kiblat dan shalAllah menghadap ke pihak sana. Di pangkal ayat dipakai “engkau" untuk Muhammad. Di tengah ayat dipakai “kamu" untuk kita umatnya."Supaya jangan ada alasan bagi manusia hendak mencela kamu." Karena penetapan kiblat itu sudah pasti diterima oleh manusia yang sudi menjunjung tinggi kebenaran. Sebagaimana tadi telah diterangkan, orang-orang yang keturunan kitab sudah paham akan kebenaran hal ini. Sebab, di rumah Allah yang pertama didirikan ialah Masjidil Haram di Mekah itulah mereka berkumpul tiap-tiap tahun mengerjakan haji, menjalankan wasiat nenek moyang mereka Nabi Ibrahim. Pendeknya, tidaklah akan ada bantahan dan sanggahan dari orang yang berpikir sehat tentang penetapan kiblat itu."Kecuali orang-orang yang aniaya di antara mereka maka janganlah kamu takut kepada mereka dan takutlah kepada Aku" Orang-orang yang aniaya, yang lidah tidak bertulang tentu akan ada saja bantahannya. Orang-orang yang aniaya dari kalangan Yahudi akan berkata, “Muhammad memutar kiblatnya ke Ka'bah, padahal di sana berderet 360 berhala yang selalu dicela-celanya itu. Rupanya dia akan kembali pada agama nenek moyang orang Quraisy." Orang-orang yang aniaya di kalangan musyrikin akan berkata."Dialihnya kiblat ke Mekah karena rupanya dia hendak menarik-narik kita atau telah insaf atas kesalahannya." Orang munafik di Madinah akan berkata, “Memang pendiriannya tidak tetap, sebentar begini sebentar begitu." Maka, janganlah dipedulikan itu semuanya dan jangan takut akan serangan-serangan yang demikian, tetapi kepada Aku sajalah takut, kata Allah. Perintah-Ku sajalah yang akan dilaksanakan.
“Dan Aku sempurnakan nikmal-Ku kepada kamu, dan supaya kamu mendapat petunjuk."
(ujung ayat 150)
Di ujung ayat itu Allah membayangkan janji-Nya bahwa nikmat perihal kiblat itu akan disempurnakan-Nya. Nikmat pertama baru peralihan kiblat, padahal di Ka'bah waktu itu masih ada berhala. Akan tetapi, Aku janjikan lagi, negeri itu akan Aku serahkan ke tangan kamu, Ka'bah akan kamu bersihkan dari berhala dan akan tetap buat selama-lamanya menjadi lambang kesatuan arah dari seluruh uma tyang bertauhid.
Selanjutnya Allah berfirman,
“Sebagaimana telah Kami utus kepada kamu seorang rasul dari kalangan kamu sendiri."
(pangkal ayat 151)
Tadi Allah telah menyatakan bahwa nikmat-Nya telah dilimpahkan kepada kamu, sekarang kamu telah mempunyai kiblat yang tetap, pusaka Nabi Ibrahim, sebagaimana umat-umat yang lain pun telah mempunyai kiblat. Ini adalah suatu nikmat dari Allah. Ber-lombalah kamu dengan umat yang lain itu menuju kebajikan di dunia ini. Kamu tidak usah takut-takut akan gangguan dan kritik, baik dari Yahudi maupun dari orang-orang yang masih jahiliyyah yang akan mencela perubahan kiblat itu dengan caranya masing-masing karena safih, yaitu bercakap dengan tidak bertanggung jawab. Dan, Allah pun telah menjanjikan pula bahwa nikmat ini akan Dia sempurnakan. Di belakang perubahan kiblat akan menyusul lagi nikmat yang lain, yaitu satu waktu Mekah itu akan dapat kamu taklukkan. Di samping nikmat itu, ada terlebih dahulu nikmatyang lebih besar, puncaknya segala nikmat, yaitu diutusnya seorang rasul dari kalangan kamu sendiri, “Yang mengajarkan kepada kamu ayat-ayat Kami" yaitu perintah agar berbuat baik dan larangan berbuat jahat, “dan yang akan membersihkan kamu" bersih dari kebodohan dan kerusakan akhlak, bersih dari kekotoran kepercayaan dan musyrik, sehingga kamu diberi gelar umat yang menempuh jalan tengah di antara umat-umat yang ada di dalam dunia ini, “dan akan mengajarkan kepada kamu Kitab dan Hikmah." Kitab itu ialah Al-Qur'an, yang akan menjadi pembimbing dan pedoman hidupmu di tengah-tengah permukaan bumi ini dan Hikmah ialah kebijaksanaan dan rahasia-rahasia kehidupan, yang dicantumkan di dalam sabda-sabda yang dibawa oleh Rasul itu,
“Dan akan mengajarkan kepada kamu perkara-perkara yang (selama ini) tidak kamu ketahui."
(ujung ayat 151)
Dalam ayat ini diterangkan bahwa peralihan kiblat adalah suatu nikmat, tetapi nikmat ini kelak akan disempurnakan lagi. Akan tetapi, di samping itu sudah ada nikmat yang paling besar, yaitu kedatangan Rasul itu sendiri. Dengan berpegang teguh kepada ajaran yang dia bawa, derajatmu akan lebih baik lagi. Dari lembah jahiliyyah dan kegelapan, kamu dinaikkan Allah ke atas martabat yang tinggi, dengan ayat-ayat, dengan Kitab, dan dengan Hikmah. Tidak cukup hingga itu saja, bahkan banyak lagi perkara-perkara yang tadinya tidak kamu ketahui, akan kamu ketahui juga berkat bimbingan dan pimpinan Rasul itu.
Maka, banyaklah soal-soal besar yang dulunya belum diketahui kemudian jadi diketahui berkat pimpinan Rasul. Ada yang diketahui karena ditunjukkan oleh wahyu Ilahi, seumpama kisah nabi-nabi yang dahulu dan umat yang dibinasakan Allah lantaran menentang ajaran seorang rasul. Ada juga soal-soal besar yang diketahui setelah melalui berbagai pengalaman, baik karena berperang maupun karena berdamai. Diketahui juga beberapa rahasia yang hanya diisyaratkan secara sedikit oleh Al-Qur'an, lama kemudian baru diketahui artinya.
Bernabi, berqur'an, berkiblat sendiri yang tertentu, kemudian disuruh berlomba-lomba berbuat kebajikan, dan tidaklah boleh takut atau berjiwa kecil menghadapi berbagai rintangan dan halangan. Dengan begini, akan kamu penuhi tugas yang ditentukan Allah sebagai umat yang menempuh jalan tengah.
Dengan ini, telah timbul satu umat dengan cirinya yang tersendiri, untuk jadi pelopor menyembah Allah Yang Esa.
Yang dimaksud dengan di antara kamu di sini bukanlah di antara orang Arab saja atau di antara Quraisy saja, melainkan lebih luas, yaitu mengenai manusia seluruhnya. Nabi Muhammmad diutus dalam kalangan manusia dan dibangkitkan di antara manusia sendiri, bukan dia Malaikat yang diutus dari langit. Dengan sebab beliau diutus di antara manusia, mudahlah bagi manusia meniru meneladan sikap beliau.
“Maka, Ingatlah kepada-Ku, niscaya Aku akan ingat pula kepadamu."
(pangkal ayat 152)
Diriwayatkan oleh Abusy Syaikh dan ad-Dailami dari jalan Jubair diterimanya dari adh-Dhahhak bahwa Ibnu Abbas menafsirkan demikian, “Ingatlah kepada-Ku, wahai sekalian hamba-Ku, dengan taat kepada-Ku, niscaya Aku pun akan ingat kepadamu dengan memberimu ampun."
“Dan bersyukurlah kepada-Ku, dan janganlah kamu menjadi kufur."
(ujung ayat 152)
Karena suatu nikmat apabila telah disyukuri, Allah berjanji akan menambahnya lagi. Dan, janganlah sampai berbudi rendah, tidak mengingat terima kasih. Tidak bersyukur atas nikmat adalah suatu kekufuran.
"
Every Nation has a Qiblah
Allah said;
وَلِكُلٍّ وِجْهَةٌ هُوَ مُوَلِّيهَا فَاسْتَبِقُواْ الْخَيْرَاتِ
For every nation there is a direction to which they face (in their prayers). So hasten towards all that is good.
Al-Awfi reported that Ibn Abbas said:
وَلِكُلٍّ وِجْهَةٌ هُوَ مُوَلِّيهَا
(For every nation there is a direction to which they face (in their prayers)),
""This talks about followers of the various religions. Hence, every nation and tribe has its own Qiblah that they choose, while Allah's appointed Qiblah is what the believers face.""
Abul-Aliyah said,
""The Jew has a direction to which he faces (in the prayer). The Christian has a direction to which he faces. Allah has guided you, O (Muslim) Ummah, to a Qiblah which is the true Qiblah.""
This statement was also related to Mujahid, Ata, Ad-Dahhak, Ar-Rabi bin Anas, As-Suddi, and others.
This last Ayah is similar to what Allah said:
لِكُلٍّ جَعَلْنَا مِنكُمْ شِرْعَةً وَمِنْهَـجاً وَلَوْ شَأءَ اللَّهُ لَجَعَلَكُمْ أُمَّةً وَحِدَةً وَلَـكِن لِّيَبْلُوَكُمْ فِى مَأ ءَاتَـكُم فَاسْتَبِقُوا الخَيْرَاتِ إِلَى الله مَرْجِعُكُمْ جَمِيعاً
To each among you, We have prescribed a law and a clear way. If Allah had willed, He would have made you one nation, but that (He) may test you in what He has given you; so compete in good deeds. The return of you (all) is to Allah. (5:48)
Allah said:
أَيْنَ مَا تَكُونُواْ يَأْتِ بِكُمُ اللّهُ جَمِيعًا إِنَّ اللّهَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
Wheresoever you may be, Allah will bring you together (on the Day of Resurrection). Truly, Allah is able to do all things.
meaning:He is able to gather you from the earth even if your bodies and flesh disintegrated and scattered.
Why was changing the Qiblah mentioned thrice
Allah said;
وَمِنْ حَيْثُ خَرَجْتَ فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ وَإِنَّهُ لَلْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكَ وَمَا اللّهُ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ
And from wheresoever you start forth (for prayers), turn your face in the direction of Al-Masjid Al-Haram (at Makkah), that is indeed the truth from your Lord. And Allah is not unaware of what you do.
This is a third command from Allah to face Al-Masjid Al-Haram (the Sacred Mosque) from every part of the world (during prayer).
It was said that Allah mentioned this ruling again here because it is connected to whatever is before and whatever is after it. Hence, Allah first said:
قَدْ نَرَى تَقَلُّبَ وَجْهِكَ فِي السَّمَاء فَلَنُوَلِّيَنَّكَ قِبْلَةً تَرْضَاهَا
Verily, We have seen the turning of your (Muhammad's) face towards the heaven. Surely, We shall turn you to a Qiblah (prayer direction) that shall please you, (2:144), until:
وَإِنَّ الَّذِينَ أُوْتُواْ الْكِتَابَ لَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ وَمَا اللّهُ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا يَعْمَلُونَ
Certainly, the people who were given the Scripture (i.e., Jews and the Christians) know well that, that (your turning towards the direction of the Ka`bah at Makkah in prayers) is the truth from their Lord. And Allah is not unaware of what they do. (2:144)
Allah mentioned in these Ayat His fulfillment of the Prophet's wish and ordered him to face the Qiblah that he liked and is pleased with.
In the second command, Allah said:
وَمِنْ حَيْثُ خَرَجْتَ فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ وَإِنَّهُ لَلْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكَ وَمَا اللّهُ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ
And from wheresoever you start forth (for prayers), turn your face in the direction of Al-Masjid Al-Haram that is indeed the truth from your Lord. And Allah is not unaware of what you do.
Therefore, Allah states here that changing the Qiblah is also the truth from Him, thus upgrading the subject more than in the first Ayah, in which Allah agreed to what His Prophet had wished for. Thus Allah states that this is also the truth from Him that He likes and is pleased with.
In the third command, Allah refutes the Jewish assertion that the Prophet faced their Qiblah, as they knew in their Books that the Prophet will later on be commanded to face the Qiblah of Ibrahim, the Ka`bah.
وَمِنْ حَيْثُ خَرَجْتَ فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ وَحَيْثُ مَا كُنتُمْ فَوَلُّواْ وُجُوهَكُمْ شَطْرَهُ
And from wheresoever you start forth (for prayers), turn your face in the direction of Al-Masjid Al-Haram (at Makkah), and wheresoever you are, turn your faces towards it (when you pray),
The Arab disbelievers had no more argument concerning the Prophet's Qiblah after Allah commanded the Prophet to face the Qiblah of Ibrahim, which is more respected and honored, rather than the Qiblah of the Jews. The Arabs used to honor the Ka`bah and liked the fact that the Messenger was commanded to face it.
The Wisdom behind abrogating the Previous Qiblah
Allah said:
لِيَلَّ يَكُونَ لِلنَّاسِ عَلَيْكُمْ حُجَّةٌ
so that men may have no argument against you,
Therefore, the People of the Book knew from the description of the Muslim Ummah that they would be ordered to face the Ka`bah. If the Muslims did not fit this description, the Jews would have used this fact against the Muslims. If the Muslims had remained on the Qiblah of Bayt Al-Maqdis, which was also the Qiblah of the Jews, this fact could have been used as the basis of argument by the Jews against other people.
Allah's Statement:
إِلاَّ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ مِنْهُمْ
except those of them that are wrongdoers,
indicates the Mushrikin (polytheists) of Quraysh.
The reasoning of these unjust persons was the unsound statement:
""This man (Muhammad) claims that he follows the religion of Ibrahim! Hence, if his facing Bayt Al-Maqdis was a part of the religion of Ibrahim, why did he change it?""
The answer to this question is that Allah has chosen His Prophet to face Bayt Al-Maqdis first for certain wisdom, and he obeyed Allah regarding this command. Then, Allah changed the Qiblah to the Qiblah of Ibrahim, which is the Ka`bah, and he also obeyed Allah in this command. He, obeys Allah in all cases and never engages in the defiance of Allah even for an instant, and his Ummah imitates him in this.
Allah said:
فَلَ تَخْشَوْهُمْ وَاخْشَوْنِي
so fear them not, but fear Me!
meaning:`Do not fear the doubts that the unjust, stubborn persons raise and fear Me Alone.'
Indeed, Allah Alone deserves to be feared.
Allah said:
وَلاُتِمَّ نِعْمَتِي عَلَيْكُمْ
so that I may complete My blessings on you.
This Ayah relates to Allah's statement:
لِيَلَّ يَكُونَ لِلنَّاسِ عَلَيْكُمْ حُجَّةٌ
(...so that men may have no argument against you), meaning:
I will perfect My bounty on you by legislating for you to face the Ka`bah, so that the (Islamic) Shariah (law) is complete in every respect.
Allah said:
وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ
that you may be guided.
meaning:`To be directed and guided to what the nations have been led astray from, We have guided you to it and preferred you with it.'
This is why this Ummah is the best and most honored nation ever."
Every person, of every community, has his direction (wijha), [his] qibla, to which he turns (muwalleehaa, 'he turns to it', is also read as muwallaahaa, 'he is made to turn to it'), in his prayers, so vie with one another in good works, strive with acts of obedience and acceptance of these. Wherever you may be, God will bring you all together, gathering you on the Day of Resurrection and requiting you for your deeds; surely God has power over all things.
The change of Qiblah
The question of religious orientation being of the highest significance for an Ummah (or a traditional community), these verses continue and enlarge upon the theme of the Qiblah, and lay down further raisons d'etre for the change.
It is, the commentators point out, an observable fact that every traditional community has had a religious orientation of its own, whether appointed by Allah or chosen by itself. This being so, why should anyone object, or wonder that Allah has appointed for the Islamic Ummah a Qiblah قبلہ peculiar to it? After all, it is a regular and distinct Tradition in its own right - in fact, the last of all Traditions, which makes it all the more necessary that it must have a distinct Qiblah. Anyhow, once the divine commandment has been promulgated, the Muslims need not worry about the objections or the ridicule of others, but should, above all, concern themselves with the performance of good deeds (as defined by Allah and His Prophet ﷺ). They should, indeed, give up fruitless controversies and strive to excel in good deeds, for they have to appear before Allah on the Day of Judgment when they will be rewarded or punished according to their deeds. The raison d'etre laid down in this verse requires that the Muslims should, whether staying at home or travelling, turn their faces in the direction of Al-Masjid al-Harm المسجد الحرام ، for that undoubtedly is the Qiblah قبلہ appointed for them by divine commandment. It is obligatory for them to obey this as well as any other commandment, bearing in mind that Allah is not unaware of what men do.
In repeating this commandment, Verse 150 adds a third raison d'etre. The Torah and the evangel had indicated that the promised Last Prophet ﷺ would have the Ka'bah کعبہ as his Qiblah المسجد الحرام . If the Muslims continued to pray with the Baytul-Maqdis بیت المقدس as their Qiblah قبلہ ، the opponents of Islam would have found an argument to justify their denial of the Holy Prophet ﷺ . But the new commandment with regard to the Qiblah قبلہ takes away the ground from under their feet, and at least the just ones among them can no longer raise this kind of objection. Of course, the stubborn and malignant ones would still carp - they would start saying that it was the Baytul-Maqdis بیت المقدس ، and not the Ka'bah کعبہ ، which had been the Qiblah قبلہ of the earlier prophets, and that the adoption of the Ka'bah کعبہ constituted an infringement of the established prophetic tradition. But the Muslims need not worry about defending Islam against such baseless objections, for the only thing which can be harmful to them is not the hostility of men but the disobedience to or disregard of divine commandments. So, in Verse 150, Allah asks the Muslims to fear, not the enemies of Islam, but Him alone. This is the only way to remain true to the divine guidance they have received - namely, Islam. This steadfastness, too, is a blessing from Allah, and the blessing will appear in its perfect glory in the other world when the Muslims shall, as a reward for their faithfulness, be admitted to Paradise.
Let us note that in announcing the commandment with regard to the change in orientation, Verses 144-150 address the listeners three times in the singular number and twice in the plural. In a general way, one can say that this repetition is meant for emphasis. The commandment fixing a new Qiblah قبلہ not only provided an occasion for the glee of the opponents of Islam, but was also a very conspicuous and sudden change in the religious observances of the Muslims themselves, whose hearts would have remained perturbed without such an emphatic repetition. The reiteration also suggests that this is the final and definite decision with regard to the Qiblah قبلہ ، and that no further change can be expected in this matter.
Al-Qurtubi has, however, explained this mode of expression in such a way that the repetition becomes something more than mere emphasis, and each phrase, in being repeated, acquires a new implication. It goes without saying that the commandments in the singular number are addressed to the Holy Prophet ﷺ himself, and those in the plural to the blessed Companions and to the Muslims in general. Thus, the commandment in Verse 144 pertains to the situation of those who find themselves in Madinah or in their own home-town, whatever that might be, and is intended to make it clear that the injunction is not particular to the mosque of the Holy Prophet ﷺ but applies to every town or village and to every quarter of a town. Verse 149 repeats the commandment with the addition of the phrase "from wheresoever you set out", which shows that the injunction now refers to the state of a journey. Since a journey involves different situations - for example, unbroken travel for several days at a time, or a short or long stay somewhere in the course of the journey, Verse 150 repeats the injunction in order to cover all these situations.
Let us add that Verse 148 introduces the theme of orientation with the word Wijhatun, which lexically signifies "the thing one turns one's face to", and which has been interpreted by the blessed Companion Ibn ` Abbas ؓ as "Qiblah قبلہ " or religious orientation. In fact, the word Qiblatun itself appears in the reading of the blessed Companion Ubayy ibn Ka'b ؓ ، which leaves no ambiguity in interpreting the phrases.43
43. Before we leave the subject, let us remark that nowadays quite a good number of people, especially those with a Western formation, approach the Holy Qur'an as they do a book composed by a human author who pays due regard to what commonly passes as logic and sequential argument, and often do feel embarrassed or confused when they come across the close repetition of words and phrases in the Book of Allah, finding it impossible to explain or justify what is seemingly redundant. And it is not unlikely that this embarrassment may open the way to shame-faced misgivings and doubts even in the minds of those who wish to serve the cause of Islam in the modern world. What these men of good will tend to ignore is the elementary fact that the Word of Allah cannot be subservient to the rules of philosophical or literary composition, and that the reiteration of words and phrases, even of a sequence of sentences, is a regular mode of expression common to all the Sacred Books of the world. Moreover, the great orthodox (in the sense of unfailing adherence to the Qur'an and Sunnah) commentators of the Holy Qur'an have tried, each in his own way, to suggest the raisons d'etre of this device, and also to explain the possible implications of each particular instance of repetition. Some of the explanations pertaining to the verses we are concerned with here have been summarized by Maulana Muhammad Idris in his own commentary, from which we borrow the following resume:
(1) The first declaration is addressed to those who reside in Makkah, the second to those who live in the Arabian peninsula, and the third to all men . living anywhere in the world.
(2) The first is intended to cover all the situations and states, the second to cover all the places, and the third to cover all the periods of time.
(3) This passage of the Holy Qur'an lays down three raisons d'etre for the change in the religious orientation; hence, the commandment has been affirmed afresh along with each argument.
(4) This was the first occasion in the Islamic Shari` ah when a new commandment to abrogate an earlier one came. So, repetition was necessary to impress upon the minds of the people the multiple significance of the occasion and of the commandment.
(5) The abrogation of any commandment whatsoever is likely to give rise to all sorts of doubts, and to produce internal or external disorder. The naive cannot, anyhow, understand the why and how of an abrogation occurring in the case of a divine commandment. So, an emphatic reiteration becomes all the more essential.
Injunctions and related considerations
(1) Verse 145 has already indicated to the Muslims that although Allah has now appointed a new and permanent Qiblah قبلہ for the whole of mankind, yet the Jews and the Christians are not going to give up their respective orientations, nor shall the Muslims ever forsake their own. The People of the Book, anyhow, have no right to object to the Ka'bah being divinely chosen as the Qiblah قبلہ of the Muslims, for - as Verse 148 reminds us - every traditional community (Ummah) has always had a Qiblah قبلہ of its own, and so does the Islamic Ummah. Since the Muslims can be sure of their right to a Qiblah قبلہ peculiar to them, and the People of the Book are not expected to listen to reason, Allah asks the Muslims in this verse not to engage themselves in fruitless discussions and futile disputes, but to "strive, then, to excel in good deeds." The Holy Qur'an discourages unnecessary discussions, for they make one neglect one's real task, which is to prepare oneself for one's death and for the other world. So, the verse ends with the rejoinder that on the Day of Judgment Allah shall bring all men together, and suggests that the desire to be safe from the criticism of others and the anxiety to win over them in disputes only betrays one's attachment to the temporal world, and that wisdom lies in caring more for what is everlasting.
(2) The expression "strive to excel" also indicates that one should hasten to perform a good deed (whether it be Salah. (prayers) or ﷺm صوم (fasting) or the Hajj (pilgrimage) or Zakah (giving of alms) etc.) as soon as one gets the opportunity to do so. For, the ability to do a good deed is a favour from Allah, and negligence in performing it amounts to ungratefulness and disrespect towards Allah. =Hence, it is to be feared that procrastination in this matter may be punished with a withdrawal of the divine favour, and that the culprit may altogether lose the ability to perform good deeds. May Allah protect us from such a fate! The point has been made quite explicit in another verse:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اسْتَجِيبُوا لِلَّـهِ وَلِلرَّسُولِ إِذَا دَعَاكُمْ لِمَا يُحْيِيكُمْ ۖ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّـهَ يَحُولُ بَيْنَ الْمَرْءِ وَقَلْبِهِ وَأَنَّهُ إِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ ﴿24﴾
"0 believers, respond to Allah and to the Messenger when he calls you to that which will gave you life; and know that Allah does (sometimes) stand between a man and his heart, and that to Him you shall be mustered" (8:24).
(3) From this very expression - "strive, then, to excel in good deeds" - some of the fugaha-' (Muslim jurists) have drawn the conclusion that it is more meritorious to offer each of the five daily prayers as soon as the appointed time for it begins, or as early as possible, and have even cited the ahadith of the Holy Prophet in support of this view, which is shared by Imam Shafi` i (رح) . On the other hand, the great Imam Abu Hanifah and Imam Malik رحمۃ اللہ علیہما specify that it is more meritorious to offer certain prayers a bit late, as has been indicated by the Holy Prophet ﷺ himself through his speech or action, while the rest of the prayers should, of course, be offered as early as possible within the time prescribed. An example of the former is provided by Al-Bukhari who reports from the blessed Companion Anas ؓ the superior merit of offering the ` Isha عشاء prayers rather late in the night. The blessed Companion Abu Hurayrah ؓ also reports such a preference on the part of the Holy Prophet ﷺ himself (Qurtubi). Similarly, Al-Bukhari and Al-Tirmidhi report from the blessed Companion Abu Dharr that in the course of a journey once the blessed Companion Bilal ؓ wanted to recite Adhan اذان (call for prayers) as soon as the time for the zuhr ظھر prayers began, but the Holy Prophet ﷺ asked him to wait till it was a bit cooler, and remarked that the heat of the noon-day is a part of the fire of Hell. In other words, the Holy Prophet ﷺ evidently preferred the zuhr ظھر prayers to be offered rather late in summer. On the basis of such ahadith, Imam Abu Hanifah and Imam Malik رحمۃ اللہ علیہما have come to the conclusion that although in the case of those prayers regarding which we have not been asked to offer them a bit late (for example, the Maghrib مغرب prayers), it is better to do so as soon as the appointed time begins, yet in the case of those prayers regarding which a specific indication does exist one should offer them somewhat later within the time prescribed. They add that if one wishes to act upon the commandment, "strive, then, to excel in good deeds", even in the latter case, then the only way to do so is not to delay the prayers when the desirable or commendable (Mustahabb مستحب ) time has arrived.
In short, Verse 148 has, according to a consensus of all the Fugaha', established the principle that when the time for offering a prescribed prayer has arrived, one should not delay it without a valid excuse, which may either be a clear-cut specification in the Shari'ah (as we have just defined), or a physical disability, like illness, etc.