۞ سَيَقُولُ ٱلسُّفَهَآءُ مِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَا وَلَّىٰهُمْ عَن قِبْلَتِهِمُ ٱلَّتِى كَانُوا۟ عَلَيْهَا ۚ قُل لِّلَّهِ ٱلْمَشْرِقُ وَٱلْمَغْرِبُ ۚ يَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ 142
Translations
The foolish among the people will say, "What has turned them away from their qiblah, which they used to face?" Say, "To Allāh belongs the east and the west. He guides whom He wills to a straight path."
Transliteration
Sayaqulu al-sufahau mina al-nasi ma walla-hum an qiblatihimu al-lati kanu alayha. Qul lillahi al-mashriq wa al-maghrib. Yahdi man yasha ila siratin mustaqim.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the foolish people (sufahau) who questioned the change of the qiblah from Jerusalem to Mecca, which had been commanded by Allah. The response clarifies that all directions—east and west—belong to Allah, and that He guides whomever He wills to the straight path, indicating that obedience to divine commandment transcends the physical direction of prayer. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that this ayah establishes the principle of divine wisdom in legislation and the importance of submission to Allah's commands without questioning their rationale.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed after the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) changed the qiblah from Bayt al-Maqdis (Jerusalem) in the 16th or 17th month of hijrah to the Ka'bah in Mecca, as commanded by Allah. The Jews and hypocrites criticized this change, prompting this divine response clarifying that the qiblah is a matter of divine decree and that true worship depends on sincere obedience rather than the physical direction.
Related Hadiths
Hadith in Sahih Bukhari narrated by Abu Hurairah: The Prophet said, 'The worst of the flock are the foolish ones,' which relates to the term 'sufahau' (the foolish) used in this ayah. Additionally, Jabir ibn Abdullah reported the exact moment the qiblah was changed during the Zuhr prayer in Medina, documented in Sahih Muslim.
Themes
Key Lesson
True faith requires unconditional submission to Allah's commands, understanding that what matters in worship is sincere obedience rather than personal preference or understanding of rationale. This teaches believers to trust in divine wisdom and avoid the trap of foolishness—criticizing established religious rulings based on worldly logic or stubbornness.
Related Ayahs
وَإِذَا لَقُوا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ قَالُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا وَإِذَا خَلَوْا۟ إِلَىٰ شَيَـٰطِينِهِمْ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا مَعَكُمْ إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ مُسْتَهْزِءُونَ
And when they meet those who believe, they say, "We believe"; but when they are alone with their evil ones, they say, "Indeed, we are with you; we were only mockers."
۞ يَسْـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلْأَهِلَّةِ ۖ قُلْ هِىَ مَوَٰقِيتُ لِلنَّاسِ وَٱلْحَجِّ ۗ وَلَيْسَ ٱلْبِرُّ بِأَن تَأْتُوا۟ ٱلْبُيُوتَ مِن ظُهُورِهَا وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱلْبِرَّ مَنِ ٱتَّقَىٰ ۗ وَأْتُوا۟ ٱلْبُيُوتَ مِنْ أَبْوَٰبِهَا ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
They ask you, [O Muḥammad], about the crescent moons. Say, "They are measurements of time for the people and for ḥajj [pilgrimage]." And it is not righteousness to enter houses from the back, but righteousness is [in] one who fears Allāh. And enter houses from their doors. And fear Allāh that you may succeed.
وَٱسْتَعِينُوا۟ بِٱلصَّبْرِ وَٱلصَّلَوٰةِ ۚ وَإِنَّهَا لَكَبِيرَةٌ إِلَّا عَلَى ٱلْخَـٰشِعِينَ
And seek help through patience and prayer; and indeed, it is difficult except for the humbly submissive [to Allāh]
رَبَّنَا وَٱبْعَثْ فِيهِمْ رَسُولًا مِّنْهُمْ يَتْلُوا۟ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَايَـٰتِكَ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَٱلْحِكْمَةَ وَيُزَكِّيهِمْ ۚ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ
Our Lord, and send among them a messenger from themselves who will recite to them Your verses and teach them the Book and wisdom and purify them. Indeed, You are the Exalted in Might, the Wise."