Sunan Ibn Majah #744
Establishing the Prayer and the Sunnah Regarding Them
The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
حَدَّثَنَا عَلْقَمَةُ بْنُ عَمْرٍو الدَّارِمِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ عَيَّاشٍ، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، عَنِ الْبَرَاءِ، قَالَ صَلَّيْنَا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ نَحْوَ بَيْتِ الْمَقْدِسِ ثَمَانِيَةَ عَشَرَ شَهْرًا وَصُرِفَتِ الْقِبْلَةُ إِلَى الْكَعْبَةِ بَعْدَ دُخُولِهِ إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ بِشَهْرَيْنِ وَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ إِذَا صَلَّى إِلَى بَيْتِ الْمَقْدِسِ أَكْثَرَ تَقَلُّبَ وَجْهِهِ فِي السَّمَاءِ وَعَلِمَ اللَّهُ مِنْ قَلْبِ نَبِيِّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ أَنَّهُ يَهْوَى الْكَعْبَةَ فَصَعِدَ جِبْرِيلُ فَجَعَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ يُتْبِعُهُ بَصَرَهُ وَهُوَ يَصْعَدُ بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالأَرْضِ يَنْظُرُ مَا يَأْتِيهِ بِهِ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ {قَدْ نَرَى تَقَلُّبَ وَجْهِكَ فِي السَّمَاءِ} الآيَةَ فَأَتَانَا آتٍ فَقَالَ إِنَّ الْقِبْلَةَ قَدْ صُرِفَتْ إِلَى الْكَعْبَةِ وَقَدْ صَلَّيْنَا رَكْعَتَيْنِ إِلَى بَيْتِ الْمَقْدِسِ وَنَحْنُ رُكُوعٌ فَتَحَوَّلْنَا فَبَنَيْنَا عَلَى مَا مَضَى مِنْ صَلاَتِنَا فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " يَا جِبْرِيلُ كَيْفَ حَالُنَا فِي صَلاَتِنَا إِلَى بَيْتِ الْمَقْدِسِ " . فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ {وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيُضِيعَ إِيمَانَكُمْ} .
“We prayed with the Messenger of
Allah
(ﷺ) facing towards Baitul-Maqdis (Jerusalem) for eighteen
months,
then the Qiblah was changed to the Ka’bah two months after the
Prophet (ﷺ) entered Al-Madinah. When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)
prayed towards Baitul-Maqdis, he would often lift his face towards
the
heavens, and Allah knew what was in the heart of His Prophet and
how
he longed to face the Ka’bah (during prayer). Jibril appeared
(in the
sky), and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) started watching him
as he was
descending between the heavens and the earth, waiting to
see what he
would bring. Then Allah revealed the words: ‘Verily, We
have seen the
turning of your face towards the heaven. Surely, We
shall turn you to
a Qiblah that shall please you, so turn your face
in the direction of
Al-Masjid Al-Haram (at Makkah). And wherever you
people are, turn your
faces (during prayer) in that direction.’
Then someone came to
us and said: ‘The Qiblah has been
changed to the Ka’bah.’ We had
performed two Rak’ah facing
towards Jerusalem. And we were bowing. So
we turned around, and we
continued our prayer. The Messenger of Allah
(ﷺ) said: ‘O Jibril!
What about our prayer facing towards Baitul-
Maqdis?’ Then Allah
revealed the words: “And Allah would never make
your faith to be
lost.”
Narrated by It was
narrated that Bara’ said:
Context
This hadith recounts the transition of the Qiblah from Baitul-Maqdis to the Ka'bah, which occurred after the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ had been in Medina for two months. It illustrates the significance of the Qiblah in Islamic prayer and how divine revelation guided this change. The Prophet's longing for the Ka'bah is acknowledged, showcasing the connection between the Prophet and the direction of prayer.
Modern Application
Today, Muslims around the world face the Ka'bah during their prayers, creating a unified direction for worship. This shared focus fosters a sense of community and belonging among Muslims, regardless of their geographical location.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Prayer and Divine Revelation because it discusses the change in the direction of prayer as revealed by Allah to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
Related Ayahs
سُورَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Al-Baqara (The Cow)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
5 ayahs
قَدْ نَرَىٰ تَقَلُّبَ وَجْهِكَ فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ ۖ فَلَنُوَلِّيَنَّكَ قِبْلَةًۭ تَرْضَىٰهَا ۚ فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ ۚ وَحَيْثُ مَا كُنتُمْ فَوَلُّوا۟ وُجُوهَكُمْ شَطْرَهُۥ ۗ وَإِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ لَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ ٱلْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ ۗ وَمَا ٱللَّهُ بِغَٰفِلٍ عَمَّا يَعْمَلُونَ
We have certainly seen the turning of your face, [O Muhammad], toward the heaven, and We will surely turn you to a qiblah with which you will be pleased. So turn your face toward al-Masjid al-Haram. And wherever you [believers] are, turn your faces toward it [in prayer]. Indeed, those who have been given the Scripture well know that it is the truth from their Lord. And Allah is not unaware of what they do.
وَكَذَٰلِكَ جَعَلْنَٰكُمْ أُمَّةًۭ وَسَطًۭا لِّتَكُونُوا۟ شُهَدَآءَ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ وَيَكُونَ ٱلرَّسُولُ عَلَيْكُمْ شَهِيدًۭا ۗ وَمَا جَعَلْنَا ٱلْقِبْلَةَ ٱلَّتِى كُنتَ عَلَيْهَآ إِلَّا لِنَعْلَمَ مَن يَتَّبِعُ ٱلرَّسُولَ مِمَّن يَنقَلِبُ عَلَىٰ عَقِبَيْهِ ۚ وَإِن كَانَتْ لَكَبِيرَةً إِلَّا عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ هَدَى ٱللَّهُ ۗ وَمَا كَانَ ٱللَّهُ لِيُضِيعَ إِيمَٰنَكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِٱلنَّاسِ لَرَءُوفٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ
And thus we have made you a just community that you will be witnesses over the people and the Messenger will be a witness over you. And We did not make the qiblah which you used to face except that We might make evident who would follow the Messenger from who would turn back on his heels. And indeed, it is difficult except for those whom Allah has guided. And never would Allah have caused you to lose your faith. Indeed Allah is, to the people, Kind and Merciful.
وَمِنْ حَيْثُ خَرَجْتَ فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ ۖ وَإِنَّهُۥ لَلْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكَ ۗ وَمَا ٱللَّهُ بِغَٰفِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ
So from wherever you go out [for prayer, O Muhammad] turn your face toward al- Masjid al-Haram, and indeed, it is the truth from your Lord. And Allah is not unaware of what you do.
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
And from wherever you go out [for prayer], turn your face toward al-Masjid al-Haram. And wherever you [believers] may be, turn your faces toward it in order that the people will not have any argument against you, except for those of them who commit wrong; so fear them not but fear Me. And [it is] so I may complete My favor upon you and that you may be guided.
۞ سَيَقُولُ ٱلسُّفَهَآءُ مِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَا وَلَّىٰهُمْ عَن قِبْلَتِهِمُ ٱلَّتِى كَانُوا۟ عَلَيْهَا ۚ قُل لِّلَّهِ ٱلْمَشْرِقُ وَٱلْمَغْرِبُ ۚ يَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍۢ مُّسْتَقِيمٍۢ
The foolish among the people will say, "What has turned them away from their qiblah, which they used to face?" Say, "To Allah belongs the east and the west. He guides whom He wills to a straight path."
Common Words
148 total101 unique28 repeated
من5x
ٱلله5x
وجهك4x
وما4x
فول3x
شطر3x
ٱلمسجد3x
ٱلحرام3x
ما3x
ٱلذين3x
على3x
عليكم3x
إلا3x
وحيث2x
كنتم2x
فولوا2x
وجوهكم2x
شطره2x
وإن2x
بغفل2x
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About Sunan Ibn Majah
This hadith is #744 from Sunan Ibn Majah, in the Book of Establishing the Prayer and the Sunnah Regarding Them. It is graded Da'if and narrated by It was narrated that Bara’ said:.