65/2.12. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 4486 — The Change of Qibla to the Kaaba
The Statement of Allah "The fools (pagans, hypocrites and Jews) among the people will say, 'What has turned them (Muslims) from their Qiblah [Salat (prayer) direction (towards Jerusalem)]..." (V.2:142)
Hadith About Qibla Change From Jerusalem to Makkah
Sahih Bukhari : 4486
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 4486
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو نُعَيْمٍ، سَمِعَ زُهَيْرًا، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، عَنِ الْبَرَاءِ، رضى الله عنه أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم صَلَّى إِلَى بَيْتِ الْمَقْدِسِ سِتَّةَ عَشَرَ شَهْرًا أَوْ سَبْعَةَ عَشَرَ شَهْرًا، وَكَانَ يُعْجِبُهُ أَنْ تَكُونَ قِبْلَتُهُ قِبَلَ الْبَيْتِ، وَإِنَّهُ صَلَّى ـ أَوْ صَلاَّهَا ـ صَلاَةَ الْعَصْرِ، وَصَلَّى مَعَهُ قَوْمٌ، فَخَرَجَ رَجُلٌ مِمَّنْ كَانَ صَلَّى مَعَهُ، فَمَرَّ عَلَى أَهْلِ الْمَسْجِدِ وَهُمْ رَاكِعُونَ قَالَ أَشْهَدُ بِاللَّهِ لَقَدْ صَلَّيْتُ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قِبَلَ مَكَّةَ، فَدَارُوا كَمَا هُمْ قِبَلَ الْبَيْتِ، وَكَانَ الَّذِي مَاتَ عَلَى الْقِبْلَةِ قَبْلَ أَنْ تُحَوَّلَ قِبَلَ الْبَيْتِ رِجَالٌ قُتِلُوا لَمْ نَدْرِ مَا نَقُولُ فِيهِمْ، فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ {وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيُضِيعَ إِيمَانَكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بِالنَّاسِ لَرَءُوفٌ رَحِيمٌ }
Al-Bara Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) prayed facing Bait-ulMaqdis (i.e. Jerusalem) for sixteen or seventeen months but he wished that his Qibla would be the Ka`ba (at Mecca). (So Allah Revealed (2.144) and he offered `Asr prayers(in his Mosque facing Ka`ba at Mecca) and some people prayed with him. A man from among those who had prayed with him, went out and passed by some people offering prayer in another mosque, and they were in the state of bowing. He said, "I, (swearing by Allah,) testify that I have prayed with the Prophet (ﷺ) facing Mecca." Hearing that, they turned their faces to the Ka`ba while they were still bowing. Some men had died before the Qibla was changed towards the Ka`ba. They had been killed and we did not know what to say about them (i.e. whether their prayers towards Jerusalem were accepted or not). So Allah revealed:--"And Allah would never make your faith (i.e. prayer) to be lost (i.e. your prayers offered (towards Jerusalem). Truly Allah is Full of Pity, Most Merciful towards mankind." (2.143)
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4486In-book reference : Book 65, Hadith 13USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 6, Book 60, Hadith 13
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4486
This hadith about Qibla change gives a detailed picture of obedience in prayer. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم had prayed toward Bait-ul-Maqdis for sixteen or seventeen months and wished that his Qibla would be the Kaaba. After revelation, he prayed Asr facing Makkah. A man who prayed with him then passed by others while they were bowing and told them that he had prayed with the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم facing Makkah. They turned while still in that state. The Companions also wondered about those who had died before the change. The verse answered that Allah would not let their faith, meaning their prayers in this report, be lost.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Qibla changed from Jerusalem to the Kaaba by revelation.
- The people in prayer responded as soon as the news reached them.
- Concern for earlier worship was answered by the revealed verse.
- The hadith connects faith with prayer in this setting.
