سُوْرَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 142
۞ سَيَقُولُ ٱلسُّفَهَآءُ مِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَا وَلَّىٰهُمْ عَن قِبْلَتِهِمُ ٱلَّتِى كَانُوا۟ عَلَيْهَا ۚ قُل لِّلَّهِ ٱلْمَشْرِقُ وَٱلْمَغْرِبُ ۚ يَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ ﴿142﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
The fools among the people (pagans, hypocrites, and Jews) will say, "What has turned them (Muslims) from their Qiblah [prayer direction (towards Jerusalem)] to which they used to face in prayer." Say, (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) "To Allâh belong both, east and the west. He guides whom He wills to the Straight Way."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
۞ سَيَقُولُ
sayaqūlu
Will say
ٱلسُّفَهَآءُ
l-sufahāu
the foolish ones
مِنَ
mina
from
ٱلنَّاسِ
l-nāsi
the people
مَا
mā
What
وَلَّىٰهُمْ
wallāhum
(has) turned them
عَن
ʿan
from
قِبْلَتِهِمُ
qib'latihimu
their direction of prayer
ٱلَّتِى
allatī
which
كَانُوا۟
kānū
they were used to
عَلَيْهَا ۚ
ʿalayhā
[on it]
قُل
qul
Say
لِّلَّهِ
lillahi
For Allah
ٱلْمَشْرِقُ
l-mashriqu
(is) the east
وَٱلْمَغْرِبُ ۚ
wal-maghribu
and the west
يَهْدِى
yahdī
He guides
مَن
man
whom
يَشَآءُ
yashāu
He wills
إِلَىٰ
ilā
to
صِرَٰطٍۢ
ṣirāṭin
a path
مُّسْتَقِيمٍۢ
mus'taqīmin
straight
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah 142) ➊ Bara’ bin Azib (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrates that when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) migrated to Madinah, he used to pray facing Bayt al-Maqdis for sixteen or seventeen months, then he was commanded to face the Baytullah. [ بخاری، أخبار الأحاد،باب ما جاء فی إجازۃ … : ۷۲۵۲ ]
➋ Upon this, the Jews, hypocrites, and polytheists all began to raise objections that if the first qiblah was correct, then what was the need to change it? And if this one is correct, then why was Bayt al-Maqdis the qiblah for so long? Allah Almighty answered that these people are saying such things out of foolishness; the east or the west has no inherent status that facing them would be a cause of reward, rather the real matter is obedience to the command of Allah Almighty, because He is the Owner of both the east and the west. Whenever He wills, He can command to face whichever direction for prayer. Your duty is to obey the command, because the straight path is only that which He commands, but He grants the ability to walk upon it to whomever He wills, and those deprived of this ability keep making useless statements out of foolishness. This same point is mentioned in this verse: «لَيْسَ الْبِرَّ اَنْ تُوَلُّوْا وُجُوْهَكُمْ قِبَلَ الْمَشْرِقِ وَ الْمَغْرِبِ وَ لٰكِنَّ الْبِرَّ مَنْ اٰمَنَ بِاللّٰهِ … » [ البقرۃ : ۱۷۷].
➋ Upon this, the Jews, hypocrites, and polytheists all began to raise objections that if the first qiblah was correct, then what was the need to change it? And if this one is correct, then why was Bayt al-Maqdis the qiblah for so long? Allah Almighty answered that these people are saying such things out of foolishness; the east or the west has no inherent status that facing them would be a cause of reward, rather the real matter is obedience to the command of Allah Almighty, because He is the Owner of both the east and the west. Whenever He wills, He can command to face whichever direction for prayer. Your duty is to obey the command, because the straight path is only that which He commands, but He grants the ability to walk upon it to whomever He wills, and those deprived of this ability keep making useless statements out of foolishness. This same point is mentioned in this verse: «لَيْسَ الْبِرَّ اَنْ تُوَلُّوْا وُجُوْهَكُمْ قِبَلَ الْمَشْرِقِ وَ الْمَغْرِبِ وَ لٰكِنَّ الْبِرَّ مَنْ اٰمَنَ بِاللّٰهِ … » [ البقرۃ : ۱۷۷].
