۞ 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
وَلَقَدْ ءَاتَيْنَا مُوسَى ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَقَفَّيْنَا مِنۢ بَعْدِهِۦ بِٱلرُّسُلِ ۖ وَءَاتَيْنَا عِيسَى ٱبْنَ مَرْيَمَ ٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ وَأَيَّدْنَـٰهُ بِرُوحِ ٱلْقُدُسِ ۗ أَفَكُلَّمَا جَآءَكُمْ رَسُولٌۢ بِمَا لَا تَهْوَىٰٓ أَنفُسُكُمُ ٱسْتَكْبَرْتُمْ فَفَرِيقًا كَذَّبْتُمْ وَفَرِيقًا تَقْتُلُونَ
And We did certainly give Moses the Scripture [i.e., the Torah] and followed up after him with messengers. And We gave Jesus, the son of Mary, clear proofs and supported him with the Pure Spirit [i.e., the angel Gabriel]. But is it [not] that every time a messenger came to you, [O Children of Israel], with what your souls did not desire, you were arrogant? And a party [of messengers] you denied and another party you killed.
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱشْتَرَوُا۟ ٱلضَّلَـٰلَةَ بِٱلْهُدَىٰ فَمَا رَبِحَت تِّجَـٰرَتُهُمْ وَمَا كَانُوا۟ مُهْتَدِينَ
Those are the ones who have purchased error [in exchange] for guidance, so their transaction has brought no profit, nor were they guided.
وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ وَكَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَآ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ
And those who disbelieve and deny Our signs - those will be companions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally."
بَلَىٰ مَنْ أَسْلَمَ وَجْهَهُۥ لِلَّهِ وَهُوَ مُحْسِنٌ فَلَهُۥٓ أَجْرُهُۥ عِندَ رَبِّهِۦ وَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ
Yes, [on the contrary], whoever submits his face [i.e., self] in Islām to Allāh while being a doer of good will have his reward with his Lord. And no fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve.