The Shaykh’s clarification to the students regarding the direction of the qiblah, and an explanation of the intended meaning of the saying of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him): “Between the east and the west is the qiblah.”

The questioner : Between the east and the west is the qiblah!

The Shaykh : And this way, between the east and the west, is also the qiblah!

The questioner : There isn’t, O Shaykh!

The Shaykh : How is there not? Isn’t the qiblah between the east and the west?

The questioner : This is the west, and this is the east!

The Shaykh : No, no, but you take and give.

The questioner: Yes, Shaykh.

The Shaykh : This is the wall, and these are the two corners!

The questioner: Yes, Shaykh.

The Shaykh : This is the west and this is the east!

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : So if I pray this way, did I pray between the east and the west or not?

The questioner: Yes, Shaykh.

The Shaykh : Okay, did you do it this way a little?

The questioner : It is also permissible.

The Shaykh : And did you do it this way a little?

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : What is the difference between your “a little” this way, and my “a little” this way, what is the difference?

The questioner : Nothing at all.

The Shaykh : Then why did you make a distinction?! Okay, the question returns: How is the qiblah now?

The questioner : As you are facing this way.

The Shaykh : Why?

The questioner : Because between the east and the west is the qiblah.

The Shaykh: Hehehe.

The questioner : Without any tilt.

The Shaykh : Okay, if it were!

The questioner : This is a hadith of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).

The Shaykh : May Allah guide you, if the matter you mean is this, I would not have bothered with what you were doing, and I would have gone to the sun, and sat there watching the sun, why?

The questioner : I wanted to see, meaning, the direction of the sun, meaning, is it on the right or on the left?

The Shaykh : Okay, how did you see it?

The questioner : On the right.

The Shaykh : And what did it clarify afterwards?

The questioner : It became clear to me that the qiblah is in this direction.

The Shaykh : Because you saw the sun?

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : And before you saw the sun, didn’t you know the west from here, hehe?

The questioner : Hehehe.
The student : Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest.

The Shaykh: Allah is the Greatest!
The student : Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, hasten to prayer, hasten to prayer, hasten to success, hasten to success, Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, there is no god but Allah.