Sūrat al-Baqarah
Section 20 of 59 · Surah Studies · Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
What the Direction Is For
Immediately afterwards, Allah (swt) speaks of the favours bestowed upon the believers, showing that He has given them the Prophet (peace be upon him) — has given them this sirāj munīr, this lamp of guidance, which is an immense benefit to mankind and to the believers. That Allah (swt) wills all of them to face al-Masjid al-Ḥarām is itself a further benefit to the Muslims. Hence the number of verses given to it, running on to about verse 151:
وَلِكُلٍّ وِجْهَةٌ هُوَ مُوَلِّيهَا ۖ فَٱسْتَبِقُوا۟ ٱلْخَيْرَٰتِ ۚ أَيْنَ مَا تَكُونُوا۟ يَأْتِ بِكُمُ ٱللَّهُ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
“For everyone there is a direction to which he turns his face. Strive, then, to excel each other in good deeds. Wherever you are, Allah will bring you all together. Allah is certainly powerful over everything.” (2:148)
And the principal matter in all of it:
وَمِنْ حَيْثُ خَرَجْتَ فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ ۚ وَحَيْثُ مَا كُنتُمْ فَوَلُّوا۟ وُجُوهَكُمْ شَطْرَهُۥ لِئَلَّا يَكُونَ لِلنَّاسِ عَلَيْكُمْ حُجَّةٌ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ مِنْهُمْ فَلَا تَخْشَوْهُمْ وَٱخْشَوْنِى وَلِأُتِمَّ نِعْمَتِى عَلَيْكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ
“And from wherever you set out, turn your face in the direction of the Sacred Mosque (Al-Masjid-ul-Harām), and (O Muslims), wherever you are, turn your faces in its direction, so that people should have no argument against you, except for those among them who are unjust,- do not fear them, but fear Me-, and so that I should perfect My blessings upon you, and that you may take the right path.” (2:150)
Allah (swt) is telling us that the essential thing is not simply that one face a particular direction. That has its importance: it keeps everyone aligned in a single direction, and gives the world a unity in facing the Kaʿbah. But Allah (swt) is not located physically within the Kaʿbah. It is a house that represents Him — the most distinctive representation of Allah (swt) there is, being called the house of Allah. The place where we sit is also a house of Allah; but the Kaʿbah proper, the Baytullāh, is in Makkah Mukarramah.
The real object, however, is not the direction alone. That serves to orient everyone physically one way. What matters is that people should orient their belief, their deeds, their dealings and their character — the ʿaqāʾid, the aʿmāl, the muʿāmalāt and the akhlāq. These are what must face the right way. That is what matters most.
Hence: wa-li-utimma niʿmatī ʿalaykum wa-laʿallakum tahtadūn — that I may complete My favour upon you, and that you may be guided. And then:
كَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا فِيكُمْ رَسُولًا مِّنكُمْ يَتْلُوا۟ عَلَيْكُمْ ءَايَـٰتِنَا وَيُزَكِّيكُمْ وَيُعَلِّمُكُمُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَٱلْحِكْمَةَ وَيُعَلِّمُكُم مَّا لَمْ تَكُونُوا۟ تَعْلَمُونَ
“As also We have sent in your midst a messenger from among you, who recites to you Our verses, and purifies you, and teaches you the Book and the wisdom, and teaches you what you did not know.” (2:151)
Allah has sent you the Messenger to teach you all these things. That is verse 151. And verse 152:
فَٱذْكُرُونِىٓ أَذْكُرْكُمْ وَٱشْكُرُوا۟ لِى وَلَا تَكْفُرُونِ
“So Remember Me, and I will remember you, and be thankful to Me, and be not ungrateful to Me.” (2:152)
We are told to remember Allah (swt) and to give Him thanks.