What is the ruling on praying in a direction other than the qiblah for one who was ignorant and then learned of it?
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The questioner : A person moved into a new house and assumed that the qiblah was in a certain direction. He prayed several prayers, some of which were obligatory prayers that he may have missed in the mosque. After a period of time, it became clear to him that he was not facing the qiblah. What is the ruling?
The Shaykh : Yes, if the deviation is significant such that he has gone outside the direction, he must repeat the prayer. As for if the deviation is slight, there is no harm; that is, he does not repeat the prayer, because a slight deviation is excused, as evidenced by the statement of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to the people of Madinah:Jami` at-Tirmidhi 342Sahih (Darussalam) So ask him. If the deviation is significant such that the qiblah is to his right or to his left, he must repeat the prayer. As for if the deviation is slight, it does not harm.
The questioner : Only the obligatory prayers?
The Shaykh : The obligatory prayers and their regular voluntary prayers, and likewise the witr. Yes.
The questioner : Your Eminence, the Shaykh.
The Shaykh : But know that making up the regular voluntary prayers and making up the witr is a recommended practice, because their original status is a recommended practice. Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes, if the deviation is significant such that he has gone outside the direction, he must repeat the prayer. As for if the deviation is slight, there is no harm; that is, he does not repeat the prayer, because a slight deviation is excused, as evidenced by the statement of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to the people of Madinah:
What is between the east and the west is Qiblah.
ما بين المشرق والمغرب قبلةThe questioner : Only the obligatory prayers?
The Shaykh : The obligatory prayers and their regular voluntary prayers, and likewise the witr. Yes.
The questioner : Your Eminence, the Shaykh.
The Shaykh : But know that making up the regular voluntary prayers and making up the witr is a recommended practice, because their original status is a recommended practice. Yes.