سُوْرَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 150
وَمِنْ حَيْثُ خَرَجْتَ فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ ۚ وَحَيْثُ مَا كُنتُمْ فَوَلُّوا۟ وُجُوهَكُمْ شَطْرَهُۥ لِئَلَّا يَكُونَ لِلنَّاسِ عَلَيْكُمْ حُجَّةٌ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ مِنْهُمْ فَلَا تَخْشَوْهُمْ وَٱخْشَوْنِى وَلِأُتِمَّ نِعْمَتِى عَلَيْكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ ﴿150﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And from wheresoever you start forth (for prayers), turn your face in the direction of Al-Masjid-Al-Harâm (at Makkah), and wheresoever you are, turn your faces towards it (when you pray) so that men may have no argument against you except those of them that are wrong-doers, so fear them not, but fear Me! - And so that I may complete My Blessings on you and that you may be guided.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَمِنْ
wamin
And from
حَيْثُ
ḥaythu
wherever
خَرَجْتَ
kharajta
you start forth
فَوَلِّ
fawalli
[so] turn
وَجْهَكَ
wajhaka
your face
شَطْرَ
shaṭra
(in the) direction
ٱلْمَسْجِدِ
l-masjidi
(of) Al-Masjid
ٱلْحَرَامِ ۚ
l-ḥarāmi
Al-Haraam
وَحَيْثُ
waḥaythu
And wherever
مَا
mā
that
كُنتُمْ
kuntum
you (all) are
فَوَلُّوا۟
fawallū
[so] turn
وُجُوهَكُمْ
wujūhakum
your faces
شَطْرَهُۥ
shaṭrahu
(in) its direction
لِئَلَّا
li-allā
so that not
يَكُونَ
yakūna
will be
لِلنَّاسِ
lilnnāsi
for the people
عَلَيْكُمْ
ʿalaykum
against you
حُجَّةٌ
ḥujjatun
any argument
إِلَّا
illā
except
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
those who
ظَلَمُوا۟
ẓalamū
wronged
مِنْهُمْ
min'hum
among them
فَلَا
falā
so (do) not
تَخْشَوْهُمْ
takhshawhum
fear them
وَٱخْشَوْنِى
wa-ikh'shawnī
but fear Me
وَلِأُتِمَّ
wali-utimma
And that I complete
نِعْمَتِى
niʿ'matī
My favor
عَلَيْكُمْ
ʿalaykum
upon you
وَلَعَلَّكُمْ
walaʿallakum
[and] so that you may
تَهْتَدُونَ
tahtadūna
(be) guided
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 150) ➊ In this verse, the previous command has been repeated; in the first phrase { ”فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ“ }, the addressee is the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and in the second phrase {”فَوَلُّوْا وُجُوْهَكُمْ شَطْرَهٗ“}, all Muslims are addressed, so that this command is not considered exclusive to the Prophet (peace be upon him). The reason for repetition seems to be that here, further wisdoms for appointing the Ka'bah as the qiblah are intended to be explained. The first wisdom among them is that no one among the people should have any argument left against you. The People of the Book should not be able to say that in the earlier scriptures, the qiblah of the last Prophet is the Sacred Mosque, so why have they adopted Bayt al-Maqdis as the qiblah? And the disbelievers of Arabia should not be able to say that the qiblah of the religion of Abraham is the Ka'bah, so why are they not adopting it? None of them will have any argument left, but among them, the unjust people will not remain silent, so do not fear them, just fear Me alone. The second wisdom is that just as the commands of this last ummah have been completed and not abrogated until the Day of Judgment, and My favor upon you has been perfected, so too should this favor be perfected regarding the qiblah. And the third wisdom is to grant you guidance to the path of truth in the matter of the qiblah, just as in other commands.
➋ From the beginning of the verses up to here, the command for the Prophet (peace be upon him) to face the Ka'bah has come three times, the command for the Muslims has come twice, the mention of its truth has come three times, and the command to face it has come three times from any place; this clarifies the emphasis and the significance of this command. In between, other phrases, such as the People of the Book knowing its truth and Allah not being unaware of your actions, serve to further emphasize it. (Ibn Ashur)
➋ From the beginning of the verses up to here, the command for the Prophet (peace be upon him) to face the Ka'bah has come three times, the command for the Muslims has come twice, the mention of its truth has come three times, and the command to face it has come three times from any place; this clarifies the emphasis and the significance of this command. In between, other phrases, such as the People of the Book knowing its truth and Allah not being unaware of your actions, serve to further emphasize it. (Ibn Ashur)
