#1. Facing the Qibla
The Prophet (SAW) faced the Qibla when he performed obligatory prayers, while during travelling Prophet Muhammad (SAW) had not faced the Qibla when he performed circumcision prayers.
Narrated Jabir bin Abdullah (RA),
The Prophet (SAW) used to offer the voluntary prayer, while riding, facing a direction other than that of the Qibla. Whenever he wanted to offer the compulsory prayer, he used to dismount and face the Qibla. He never offered the compulsory prayer on his mount. (Bukhari: 400, Muslim: 540).
Abu Hurairah (RA) narrated,
The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: “When you stand for prayer perform the wudu well, and then face the Qibla and say Takbir ‘Allahu Akbar’ (Allah is the Most Greatest) (Bukhari: 6251, Muslim: 397).
Narrated Abu Hurairah (RA),
Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said: “the Qiblah is between the East and the West.” (Tirmidhi: 342)
It is said that because the Ka’ba is in the southern part of Madina, the Prophet (SAW) mentioned that the Qiblah is between the East and West. While for people who live in other countries, of course the Qibla’s direction will be different. As mentioned in the Qur’an, Al-Baqarah 144,
“….turn your face in the direction of Al-Masjid Al-Haram (at Makkah)”
Do not know the direction of Qibla
Often when we are in a new place, we do not know the direction of the Qibla. If we stay in a hotel, the Qibla direction is usually indicated by an arrow on the ceiling of the room, on the floor, or on a sticker in a desk drawer. If it is not provided, we can ask someone from the hotel employee staff. However, if after we have tried to find the direction of Qibla but we are still not sure, then one does not need to repeat his/her prayer when his/her Qibla direction may be wrong, similarly, repeating the prayer is not necessary when we are in a plane or ship. (The Prayer of Muhammad, Dr. Syed Shafiq Ur-Rahman).
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