If a congregation prays in a direction other than the qiblah, and they did not know its exact direction, are they required to repeat the prayer?
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The questioner : He also asks: If a congregation prays in a direction other than the qiblah, and they did not know its exact direction, are they required to repeat the prayer?
The Shaykh : This issue does not fall outside of two cases:
The first case: They are in a place where it is not possible for them to know the qiblah, such as if they are traveling and the sky is cloudy, and they were unable to determine the direction of the qiblah. In that case, if they pray by making an effort to determine the direction, and it later turns out that they were facing a direction other than the qiblah, they owe nothing, because they feared Allah as much as they were able. Allah the Exalted said:[At-Taghabun 64:16] And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sahih al-Bukhari 7288 And Allah the Exalted said, specifically regarding this issue: [Al-Baqarah 2:115].
The second case: They are in a place where it is possible for them to ask about the qiblah, but they were negligent and careless. In this case, they are obligated to make up the prayer they performed in a direction other than the qiblah, because in this case they are mistaken and at fault. They are mistaken regarding the qiblah because they did not intentionally deviate from it, but they are at fault in their negligence and carelessness in asking about it. Therefore, they are obligated to repeat the prayer at that time, whether that is within the time of the prayer or after the time has passed.
However, it should be known that a slight deviation toward the qiblah does not cause harm, such as if one deviates slightly to the right or to the left. This is based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) regarding the people of Madinah:Jami` at-Tirmidhi 342Sahih (Darussalam). So, those who are to the north of the Ka'bah, we tell them: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 342Sahih (Darussalam). And likewise for those who are to the south of it. And for those who are to the east or west of it, we say: What is between the north and the south is the qiblah. Therefore, a slight deviation has no effect and does not cause harm.
Here is an issue I would like to point out on this occasion, which is that whoever is in al-Masjid al-Haram and can see the Ka'bah, it is obligatory for him to face the exact location of the Ka'bah, not just its general direction. Because if he deviates from the exact location of the Ka'bah, he is not facing the qiblah. I see many people in al-Masjid al-Haram who do not face the exact location of the Ka'bah. You find the row long and rectangular, and you know for certain that many of them were not facing the exact location of the Ka'bah. This is a great error, and Muslims must be alerted to it and must correct it, because if they pray in this state, they are praying in a direction other than the qiblah.
The questioner : If they do not know the number of times, O Shaykh Muhammad?
The Shaykh : If they do not know the number of times they made a mistake in the case where they are obligated to repeat the prayer, they should make an effort to determine the days and prayers in which they made the mistake. So, if they are in doubt whether it was ten days or fifteen days, they should assume it was ten, because that is the certain amount, and what is more than that is doubtful, so repeating it is not obligatory.
The Shaykh : This issue does not fall outside of two cases:
The first case: They are in a place where it is not possible for them to know the qiblah, such as if they are traveling and the sky is cloudy, and they were unable to determine the direction of the qiblah. In that case, if they pray by making an effort to determine the direction, and it later turns out that they were facing a direction other than the qiblah, they owe nothing, because they feared Allah as much as they were able. Allah the Exalted said:
So fear Allah as much as you are able
فاتقوا الله ما استطعتمAnd if I order you to do something, then do of it as much as you can.
إذا أمرتكم بأمر فأتوا منه ما استطعتمAnd to Allah belongs the east and the west. So wherever you [might] turn, there is the Face of Allah. Indeed, Allah is all-Encompassing and Knowing.
ولله المشرق والمغرب فإينما تولوا فثم وجه الله إن الله واسع عليمThe second case: They are in a place where it is possible for them to ask about the qiblah, but they were negligent and careless. In this case, they are obligated to make up the prayer they performed in a direction other than the qiblah, because in this case they are mistaken and at fault. They are mistaken regarding the qiblah because they did not intentionally deviate from it, but they are at fault in their negligence and carelessness in asking about it. Therefore, they are obligated to repeat the prayer at that time, whether that is within the time of the prayer or after the time has passed.
However, it should be known that a slight deviation toward the qiblah does not cause harm, such as if one deviates slightly to the right or to the left. This is based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) regarding the people of Madinah:
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 قبلةHere is an issue I would like to point out on this occasion, which is that whoever is in al-Masjid al-Haram and can see the Ka'bah, it is obligatory for him to face the exact location of the Ka'bah, not just its general direction. Because if he deviates from the exact location of the Ka'bah, he is not facing the qiblah. I see many people in al-Masjid al-Haram who do not face the exact location of the Ka'bah. You find the row long and rectangular, and you know for certain that many of them were not facing the exact location of the Ka'bah. This is a great error, and Muslims must be alerted to it and must correct it, because if they pray in this state, they are praying in a direction other than the qiblah.
The questioner : If they do not know the number of times, O Shaykh Muhammad?
The Shaykh : If they do not know the number of times they made a mistake in the case where they are obligated to repeat the prayer, they should make an effort to determine the days and prayers in which they made the mistake. So, if they are in doubt whether it was ten days or fifteen days, they should assume it was ten, because that is the certain amount, and what is more than that is doubtful, so repeating it is not obligatory.