Taken from: Fatawa Arkan al-Islam
Question:
If a congregation performs Salah facing a direction other than the Qiblah, what is the ruling regarding such a prayer?
Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
There are two possible scenarios in this matter:
① First Scenario:
When the Qiblah direction is unknown
◈ If those performing Salah are in a location where they cannot determine the direction of the Qiblah, for example:
- They are traveling.
- The sky is overcast.
- Means to determine the Qiblah direction are unavailable.
◈ In such a situation, if they make their best effort (ijtihād) to determine the Qiblah and later discover that the prayer was performed facing a different direction, then:
They are neither sinful nor required to make up (qada) the prayer.
◈ Evidence: The saying of Allah ﷻ:
﴿فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ مَا استَطَعتُم﴾
(Sūrat at-Taghābun: 16)
“So fear Allah as much as you are able.”
◈ Also, the saying of the Prophet ﷺ:
«وَإِذَا أَمَرْتُكُمْ بِأَمْرٍ فَأْتُوا مِنْهُ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ»
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Iʿtiṣām bil-Kitāb wa as-Sunnah, ḥadīth: 7288; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Ḥajj, ḥadīth: 1337 (412))
“When I command you with something, do of it as much as you are able.”
◈ Specifically regarding this type of situation, Allah ﷻ said:
﴿وَلِلَّهِ المَشرِقُ وَالمَغرِبُ فَأَينَما تُوَلّوا فَثَمَّ وَجهُ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ وسِعٌ عَليمٌ﴾
(Sūrat al-Baqarah: 115)
“And to Allah belong the east and the west, so wherever you turn, there is the Face of Allah. Surely Allah is All-Encompassing, All-Knowing.”
② Second Scenario:
When the Qiblah direction can be determined but negligence occurs
◈ If those performing Salah are in a place where they could have easily inquired about or verified the Qiblah direction, yet due to laziness or neglect they did not do so, then:
They must repeat (qada) that prayer.
◈ This applies whether they realize their mistake during the prayer or after completing it.
◈ In this case:
- They did not deliberately turn away from the Qiblah.
- However, they were negligent in verifying the Qiblah direction.
Minor Deviation
◈ If the deviation from the Qiblah is slight—only a little to the right or left—this does not invalidate the prayer.
◈ The Prophet ﷺ told the people of Madinah:
«مَا بَيْنَ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ قِبْلَةٌ»
(Jāmiʿ at-Tirmidhī, Kitāb aṣ-Ṣalāh, ḥadīth: 342; Sunan Ibn Mājah, Kitāb aṣ-Ṣalāh, ḥadīth: 1011)
“What lies between the east and the west is all Qiblah.”
◈ For those whose location is north of the Ka‘bah, the Qiblah is between the east and west.
◈ For those south of it, the same rule applies.
◈ For those to the east or west of it, the Qiblah lies between the north and south.
Thus, a slight deviation is excused.
Special Ruling: For Those in Masjid al-Haram
◈ Those performing Salah in Masjid al-Haram must face the exact Ka‘bah itself, not just its general direction.
◈ Merely facing its general direction is insufficient.
◈ If they turn away from the exact alignment, their prayer will not be counted as facing the Qiblah.
◈ It has been observed that when the rows are long, some worshippers do not face the Ka‘bah precisely.
◈ This is a serious mistake.
◈ Muslims must:
- Avoid this error.
- Correct their alignment.
- Because such a case would mean their Salah is performed not facing the Qiblah.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
