سُوْرَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 148
وَلِكُلٍّ وِجْهَةٌ هُوَ مُوَلِّيهَا ۖ فَٱسْتَبِقُوا۟ ٱلْخَيْرَٰتِ ۚ أَيْنَ مَا تَكُونُوا۟ يَأْتِ بِكُمُ ٱللَّهُ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ ﴿148﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
For every nation there is a direction to which they face (in their prayers). So hasten towards all that is good. Wheresoever you may be, Allâh will bring you together (on the Day of Resurrection). Truly, Allâh is Able to do all things.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَلِكُلٍّۢ
walikullin
And for everyone
وِجْهَةٌ
wij'hatun
(is) a direction
هُوَ
huwa
he
مُوَلِّيهَا ۖ
muwallīhā
turns towards it
فَٱسْتَبِقُوا۟
fa-is'tabiqū
so race
ٱلْخَيْرَٰتِ ۚ
l-khayrāti
(to) the good
أَيْنَ
ayna
Wherever
مَا
mā
that
تَكُونُوا۟
takūnū
you will be
يَأْتِ
yati
will bring
بِكُمُ
bikumu
you
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
(by) Allah
جَمِيعًا ۚ
jamīʿan
together
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
(is) on
كُلِّ
kulli
every
شَىْءٍۢ
shayin
thing
قَدِيرٌۭ
qadīrun
All-Powerful
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 148) ➊ {وِجْهَةٌ:} The direction towards which one turns one’s face. Its pattern is like {”فِعْلَةٌ“}, which is the feminine of {”فِعْلٌ“}, which is in the meaning of the object, just as {”ذِبْحٌ“} is in the meaning of {”مَذْبُوْحٌ“} (Ibn Ashur).
➋ In this verse, it is being stated that although the qiblah of Ibrahim (peace be upon him) was the Ka'bah, later on everyone, according to their own desire, appointed some direction as their qiblah. Thus, the Jews made the rock of Bayt al-Maqdis their qiblah, and the Christians made the eastern side of Bayt al-Maqdis theirs. Now, for you, the Ka'bah has been appointed as the qiblah, so there is no particular benefit in arguing with these people about which direction is superior. The real thing is to excel in good deeds, take care of that, because wherever you may be, you will have to present yourselves before Allah, as He said: "Righteousness is not that you turn your faces towards the east or the west, but true righteousness is in one who believes in Allah, the Last Day, the angels, the Book, and the prophets, and gives wealth, in spite of love for it, to relatives, orphans, the needy, the traveler, those who ask, and for freeing slaves; and who establishes prayer and gives zakah; those who fulfill their promise when they promise; and those who are patient in poverty and hardship and during battle. Those are the ones who have been true, and it is those who are the righteous." [ البقرۃ : ۱۷۷ ] Excelling in good deeds includes performing prayer on time, joining the first row with the first takbir, and likewise reaching the front lines in jihad.
➋ In this verse, it is being stated that although the qiblah of Ibrahim (peace be upon him) was the Ka'bah, later on everyone, according to their own desire, appointed some direction as their qiblah. Thus, the Jews made the rock of Bayt al-Maqdis their qiblah, and the Christians made the eastern side of Bayt al-Maqdis theirs. Now, for you, the Ka'bah has been appointed as the qiblah, so there is no particular benefit in arguing with these people about which direction is superior. The real thing is to excel in good deeds, take care of that, because wherever you may be, you will have to present yourselves before Allah, as He said: "Righteousness is not that you turn your faces towards the east or the west, but true righteousness is in one who believes in Allah, the Last Day, the angels, the Book, and the prophets, and gives wealth, in spite of love for it, to relatives, orphans, the needy, the traveler, those who ask, and for freeing slaves; and who establishes prayer and gives zakah; those who fulfill their promise when they promise; and those who are patient in poverty and hardship and during battle. Those are the ones who have been true, and it is those who are the righteous." [ البقرۃ : ۱۷۷ ] Excelling in good deeds includes performing prayer on time, joining the first row with the first takbir, and likewise reaching the front lines in jihad.
