Fatwa's Insights - Worship

THE 38TH MEETING OF THE PERLIS STATE FATWA COMMITTEE / 2018
8 - 9 NOVEMBER 2018 / 30 SAFAR & 1 RABIUL AWWAL 1440H

FATWA REGARDING THE DIRECTION OF QIBLAH

Islam is a religion that commands easing the affairs of its followers, including not burdening them regarding the qiblah direction. This is because the Quranic text uses the word شطر (direction or approximately) when commanding facing the Masjid al-Haram, as in the Word of Allah the Almighty in Surah al-Baqarah verse 149:

Translation: "And from wherever you come out [for prayer], turn your face toward al-Masjid al-Haram. And indeed, the command to face the Kaaba as qiblah is the truth from your Lord. And (remember) Allah is not unaware of what you do."

Allah knows that those far away cannot precisely face the Masjid al-Haram. Thus, what is commanded is facing toward the direction of the Masjid al-Haram.

The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) said:

مَا بَيْنَ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ قِبْلَةٌ

Translation: The direction between east and west is qiblah. (Narrated by Imam al-Tirmidhi, Sahih)

Thus, Muslims within the Masjid al-Haram should face the Ka‘bah they see. Those outside the Masjid al-Haram should face toward it. Those outside Mecca should face toward the Ḥaram (Sacred Land).

Originally, a person should endeavor to find the precise qiblah direction, which is 291 degrees to 293 degrees from north for Malaysia. However, for a person who wishes to pray, it is sufficient to follow the qiblah direction guidance available at that place or that which is known to them based on the facilities to the extent of their capability. As long as a person faces toward the Masjid al-Haram, their prayer is valid. The validity of their prayer is not conditioned upon facing exactly toward the Masjid al-Haram. This is because the determination of qiblah direction since ancient times has been based on strong presumption (غلبة الظن) with the available indicators.

Whoever has prayed in a direction they believed to be the qiblah direction, then after completing their prayer discovers that the direction was wrong, it is not obligatory for them to repeat their prayer.

As for mosques in this era that were established after the existence of modern technological equipment, efforts should be made to find the precise direction using recognized facilities. Similarly, mosques that were built and whose qiblah direction is found to be less precise based on modern tools of today may remain with their original construction/condition as long as it does not exceed 45 degrees from the precise direction to the left or right.

What is meant by facing direction is that it should not exceed 45 degrees from the qiblah direction, taking into account the angle of each direction, namely north, south, east, and west, which each have 90 degrees for each angle. The 45 degrees is also based on the direction that the Prophet (peace be upon him) mentioned, namely east and west. When it exceeds 45 degrees from the precise direction, it will result in a person being outside that direction because the total direction is 90 degrees. Therefore, the most central direction within 90 degrees is 45 degrees to the right and 45 degrees to the left.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

إِذَا أَتَيْتُمُ الْغَائِطَ فَلاَ تَسْتَقْبِلُوا الْقِبْلَةَ وَلاَ تَسْتَدْبِرُوهَا ، وَلَكِنْ شَرِّقُوا أَوْ غَرِّبُوا

Translation: When you come to the toilet, do not face the qiblah nor turn your back to it. Rather, face east or west. (Narrated by Imam al-Bukhari and Imam Muslim).

The diagram above illustrates an example of 45 degrees angles to the left and right from the qiblah direction at an angle of 291 degrees.

Resolved at the Meeting of the Majlis Agama Islam dan Adat Istiadat Melayu Perlis No. 6 of 2018 convened on 6 December 2018.