Source: “Ahkam wa Masail in the Light of the Qur’an and Hadith”, Volume 02
When constructing a mosque, must it be oriented toward the exact location of the Ka‘bah, or is it sufficient to align it with the general direction of the Ka‘bah (i.e., the Qiblah)?
There is confusion regarding the Qiblah orientation at the proposed construction site:
In the Hadith, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ instructed the people of Madinah:
«مَا بَيْنَ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ قِبْلَةٌ»
“What lies between the East and the West is Qiblah for you.”
This means that for them, the entire region between East and West was the Qiblah, i.e., they were to face the general direction of the Ka‘bah. Since the Ka‘bah is not visible from such a great distance, the command was to face its general direction (Jihat al-Kaʿbah).
So, when the Prophet ﷺ designated the direction between East and West as the Qiblah for the people of Madinah, it implies they should adopt the middle point between these extremes as their facing.
This same principle applies to the people of Iraq, Khurasan, and other regions. Their Qiblah lies between North and South, inclined toward the West. Hence, for those of us who fall in that geographical zone, the Qiblah is toward the West, and we should adopt a balanced, central orientation between South and North—leaning toward the West.
As for the Ka‘bah itself, it is a small structure, and only someone physically close to it would be required to face it exactly (ʿAyn al-Kaʿbah).
But those who are far away and cannot see it are only obligated to face its general direction.
To insist on exact alignment for distant places is impractical and unrealistic—
No one can accurately calculate whether the Ka‘bah is precisely in front of one’s forehead at the time of Salah.
Everyone simply relies on a reasonable estimation of the direction.
Therefore, your community should estimate the central point between South and North, inclining toward the West, and construct the mosque facing that direction.
هذا ما عندي واللّٰه أعلم بالصواب
This is what I understand, and Allah knows best what is correct.
Written by: ʿAbd al-Qādir al-Ḥasārī — may Allah forgive him
Verified by: Abu Muhammad ʿAbd al-Sattār — may Allah forgive him
Verified by: ʿAbd al-Qahhār, Deputy Mufti of Karachi
(Fatawa Sattariyyah, Volume 4, Page 147)
❖ Question:
When constructing a mosque, must it be oriented toward the exact location of the Ka‘bah, or is it sufficient to align it with the general direction of the Ka‘bah (i.e., the Qiblah)?
There is confusion regarding the Qiblah orientation at the proposed construction site:
- Some say it should face the exact Ka‘bah (ʿAyn al-Kaʿbah),
- Others say only the general direction (Jihat al-Kaʿbah) is necessary.
Please clarify this issue as soon as possible, preferably by consulting the respected Imam, so that mosque construction may begin without delay.
❖ Answer:
In the Hadith, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ instructed the people of Madinah:
«مَا بَيْنَ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ قِبْلَةٌ»
“What lies between the East and the West is Qiblah for you.”
This means that for them, the entire region between East and West was the Qiblah, i.e., they were to face the general direction of the Ka‘bah. Since the Ka‘bah is not visible from such a great distance, the command was to face its general direction (Jihat al-Kaʿbah).
So, when the Prophet ﷺ designated the direction between East and West as the Qiblah for the people of Madinah, it implies they should adopt the middle point between these extremes as their facing.
This same principle applies to the people of Iraq, Khurasan, and other regions. Their Qiblah lies between North and South, inclined toward the West. Hence, for those of us who fall in that geographical zone, the Qiblah is toward the West, and we should adopt a balanced, central orientation between South and North—leaning toward the West.
As for the Ka‘bah itself, it is a small structure, and only someone physically close to it would be required to face it exactly (ʿAyn al-Kaʿbah).
But those who are far away and cannot see it are only obligated to face its general direction.
To insist on exact alignment for distant places is impractical and unrealistic—
No one can accurately calculate whether the Ka‘bah is precisely in front of one’s forehead at the time of Salah.
Everyone simply relies on a reasonable estimation of the direction.
Therefore, your community should estimate the central point between South and North, inclining toward the West, and construct the mosque facing that direction.
هذا ما عندي واللّٰه أعلم بالصواب
This is what I understand, and Allah knows best what is correct.
Written by: ʿAbd al-Qādir al-Ḥasārī — may Allah forgive him
Verified by: Abu Muhammad ʿAbd al-Sattār — may Allah forgive him
Verified by: ʿAbd al-Qahhār, Deputy Mufti of Karachi
(Fatawa Sattariyyah, Volume 4, Page 147)
