Home Hadith Hadith 4293
While some people were offering Fajr prayer at Quba mosque, someone came to them and said,
"Quranic literature" has been revealed to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) tonight, and he has been ordered to face the
Ka`ba (of Mecca) so you too, should turn your faces towards it. Their faces were then towards Sham
(Jerusalem), so they turned towards the Qibla (i.e. Ka`ba of Mecca).
Sahih al-Bukhari Book 65, Hadith 21
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While some people were at Quba (offering) morning prayer, a man came to them and said, "Last night
Quranic Verses have been revealed whereby the Prophet (ﷺ) has been ordered to face the Ka`ba (at
Mecca), so you too should face it." So they, keeping their postures, turned towards the Ka`ba.
Formerly the people were facing Sham (Jerusalem) (Allah said):--
"And from whence-so-ever you start forth (for prayers), turn your face in the direction of the Sacred
Mosque of Mecca (Al-Masjid-ul-Haram), and whence-so-ever you are, turn your face towards it
(when you pray)" (2.150)
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I said to `Aisha, the wife of the Prophet, and I was at that time a young boy, "How do you interpret the
Statement of Allah:
"Verily, Safa and Marwa (i.e. two mountains at Mecca) are among the Symbols of Allah."
So it is not harmful of those who perform the Hajj to the House of Allah) or perform the Umra, to
ambulate (Tawaf) between them. In my opinion it is not sinful for one not to ambulate (Tawaf)
between them." `Aisha said, "Your interpretation is wrong for as you say, the Verse should have been:
"So it is not harmful of those who perform the Hajj or Umra to the House, not to ambulate (Tawaf)
between them.' This Verse was revealed in connection with the Ansar who (during the Pre-Islamic
Period) used to visit Manat (i.e. an idol) after assuming their Ihram, and it was situated near Qudaid
(i.e. a place at Mecca), and they used to regard it sinful to ambulate between Safa and Marwa after
embracing Islam. When Islam came, they asked Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) about it, whereupon Allah revealed:--
"Verily, Safa and Marwa (i.e. two mountains at Mecca) are among the Symbols of Allah. So it is not
harmful of those who perform the Hajj of the House (of Allah) or perform the Umra, to ambulate
(Tawaf) between them." (2.158)