Surah 1-2 - YasSarNal QuR'aN

Al-Baqarah (The Cow) | CHANGE OF DIRECTIONrole and aim in the world.The Muslim world community transcends race and language. The principle ofGod’s oneness, the bedrock of Islam, is thus manifested in total subservience to Godalone; allegiance to the same leadership, that of Muĥammad; adherence to the samereligion, Islam; and adoption of the same direction of prayer. Despite all thesuperficial differences that may exist between people, they are one and equal in theirfaith. There is no other means by which a truly universal and equitable humansociety can be brought forth and successfully organized.Turning to the people of earlier revelations, the sūrah confirms their certainknowledge of the history and religious status of the Sacred Mosque at the Ka`bah.They were well aware that it had been established by Abraham, the founding fatherof the community that had inherited the creed of God’s oneness, and that itsdesignation as the universal and permanent direction of Islamic prayer would betotally in line with the divine universal order.Nevertheless, the sūrah points out, they would raise doubts and endlessly quibbleover it. The Muslims should not be unduly concerned at that; God will take care of it,as He is fully aware of what they do.There would be no point in reasoning with the Jews over the issue of the qiblah.Their problem was not lack of evidence or persuasion, but lack of faith andunwillingness to accept the truth. “Were you to bring every possible sign before those whohad been granted revelations, they would not follow your direction of prayer.” (Verse 145)It was not ignorance or lack of understanding that was responsible for thatstubborn attitude, but caprice and vested interests. This would also be the source ofsubsequent Jewish and Christian animosity towards Islam, which was to emerge invarious forms in later centuries.In response to that bigoted stance, the proper and natural attitude of the Prophet isstated: “And neither may you follow their direction of prayer” (Verse 145) This Qur’ānicstatement implies, particularly in its Arabic phraseology, a strong sense of finalityand permanence. It also conveys to the Muslims a clear instruction never to adoptany direction of prayer, distinctive symbol or a way of life other than what gives it itsclear Islamic identity.The sūrah further reveals that neither the bitterly divided Jewish and Christiansects, nor even the majority of the Jews and the Christians, could ever agree on theadoption of one direction of prayer: “nor would they even follow one another’s direction.”(Verse 145)As the Prophet is made fully aware of the truth in this matter of worship, he iswarned against falling in with those people and their desires: “If you were to follow153