Between East and West is the Qiblah
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Fatwa No. ( 20873 )
Q: Is the hadith: ( "Between the East and the West is the qiblah") specific to the East, or is it a general hadith? For example, we in Algeria can pray from
East to West. A shaykh said this in one of the dhikr gatherings, and this shaykh is a student of knowledge who has not yet reached the level of issuing fatwas. And I heard someone better than him say the opposite of this. This is a matter concerning worship, and the principle in worship is to refrain. Please inform us, may Allah preserve you.
A: The mentioned hadith was reported regarding the people of Madinah and whoever is on their line, whether they are north of the Ka'bah, or south of it, and the other directions are measured by analogy to this. Thus, the qiblah of the people of the East and the people of the West is between the North and the South. This is a matter of facilitating things for the Muslims; because hitting the exact spot of the Ka'bah is difficult for one who does not see it. And Allah the Exalted said:[Al-Baqarah 2:144] , meaning: its direction. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: Is the hadith: ( "Between the East and the West is the qiblah") specific to the East, or is it a general hadith? For example, we in Algeria can pray from
East to West. A shaykh said this in one of the dhikr gatherings, and this shaykh is a student of knowledge who has not yet reached the level of issuing fatwas. And I heard someone better than him say the opposite of this. This is a matter concerning worship, and the principle in worship is to refrain. Please inform us, may Allah preserve you.
A: The mentioned hadith was reported regarding the people of Madinah and whoever is on their line, whether they are north of the Ka'bah, or south of it, and the other directions are measured by analogy to this. Thus, the qiblah of the people of the East and the people of the West is between the North and the South. This is a matter of facilitating things for the Muslims; because hitting the exact spot of the Ka'bah is difficult for one who does not see it. And Allah the Exalted said:
So turn your face toward al-Masjid al-Haram. And wherever you [believers] are, turn your faces toward it [in prayer]
فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ وَحَيْثُمَا كُنْتُمْ فَوَلُّوا وُجُوهَكُمْ شَطْرَهُ
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.