Direction of Prayers,the Ka'ba and Qibla!

[unknownuser]

Peace Myr,

Can you please point to the verse that talks about changing Qibla (direction) with respect to praying (as in ritually)? Thanks.

[ayman]

Peace Enquirer,

Peace ayman. You make some excellent observations,and ask some good questions.
How does physically facing a direction distinguish a person as behaving peacefully(islamically.) or not? It surely is the attitude,intention and acts of a person which shows their behaviour as 'islamic'(peaceful.) or not. Otherwise people who pray towards mecca,yet bomb innocent people are thus regarded as behaving peacefully? shock

Exactly, 2143 clearly says that the objective of allowing the first "qibla" is that when it is changed The God will know those follow the messenger from those who turn on their heels. This is ultimately what determines who goes to heaven and who goes to hell. I don't think that people will go to heaven by imagining to be facing a Mecca or Jerusalem. It is more likely that they will go to heaven by making their goal the truth from our Lord. This is what matters but for some a physical direction will continue to be a big deal. This is hardly surprising because it is clearly described in 2142-150.

Peace,

Ayman