The Meaning of “Half of al-Masjid al-Haram” and Facing the Qiblah
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner:
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. He says: In His saying[Al-Baqarah 2:144], does the word “half” mean facing half of al-Masjid al-Haram, given that the Ka'bah is in?
The Shaykh:
The direction, the direction, the direction in which al-Masjid al-Haram is located. If you want to pray, face the direction in which al-Masjid al-Haram is. Even if you do not align exactly with the Ka'bah itself. The one who must align exactly with the Ka'bah is the one who can see it. As for the one who cannot see the Ka'bah, it is sufficient for him to pray in the direction in which the Ka'bah is. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Jami` at-Tirmidhi 342Sahih (Darussalam), meaning for the people of Madinah, Jami` at-Tirmidhi 342Sahih (Darussalam), which is the direction in which the Ka'bah is located relative to the people of Madinah and the people of Sham, who are to their north. Yes.
Another questioner:
And what is greater. Allah is the Greatest. Allah, Allah is the Greatest. Allah is the Greatest. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah.Sahih Muslim 379. It is easy for prayer. It is easy for prayer. It is easy for success. Hurry to Allah. Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, there is no god but Allah.
The Shaykh:
There is no god but Allah.
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. He says: In His saying
So turn your face toward al-Masjid al-Haram
فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِThe Shaykh:
The direction, the direction, the direction in which al-Masjid al-Haram is located. If you want to pray, face the direction in which al-Masjid al-Haram is. Even if you do not align exactly with the Ka'bah itself. The one who must align exactly with the Ka'bah is the one who can see it. As for the one who cannot see the Ka'bah, it is sufficient for him to pray in the direction in which the Ka'bah is. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
What is between the east and the west is Qiblah.
ما بين المشرق والمغرب قبلةWhat is between the east and the west is Qiblah.
ما بين المشرق والمغرب قبلةAnother questioner:
And what is greater. Allah is the Greatest. Allah, Allah is the Greatest. Allah is the Greatest. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah.
Abu Mahdhura said that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) taught him Adhan like this: Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest; I testify that there is no god but Allah, I testify that there is no god but Allah; I testify that Muhammad Is the Messenger of Allah, I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and it should be again repeated: I testify that there is no god but Allah, I testify that there is no god but Allah; I testify that Muhammad Is the Messenger of Allah, I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. Come to the prayer (twice). Come to success (twice). Ishaq added: Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest; there Is no god but Allah.
أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله. أشهد أن محمدا رسول الله. أشهد أن محمدا رسول اللهThe Shaykh:
There is no god but Allah.
Source
شرح إغاثة اللهفان من مصائد الشيطان لابن القيم، فصل في القلب المريض — islamhouse.com (1:02:22)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.