۞ 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 أَنزَلْنَآ إِلَيْكَ ءَايَـٰتٍۭ بَيِّنَـٰتٍ ۖ وَمَا يَكْفُرُ بِهَآ إِلَّا ٱلْفَـٰسِقُونَ
And We have certainly revealed to you verses [which are] clear proofs, and no one would deny them except the defiantly disobedient.
وَمِنْهُمْ أُمِّيُّونَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ إِلَّآ أَمَانِىَّ وَإِنْ هُمْ إِلَّا يَظُنُّونَ
And among them are unlettered ones who do not know the Scripture except [indulgement in] wishful thinking, but they are only assuming.
وَأَنفِقُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا تُلْقُوا۟ بِأَيْدِيكُمْ إِلَى ٱلتَّهْلُكَةِ ۛ وَأَحْسِنُوٓا۟ ۛ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
And spend in the way of Allāh and do not throw [yourselves] with your [own] hands into destruction [by refraining]. And do good; indeed, Allāh loves the doers of good.
يُخَـٰدِعُونَ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَمَا يَخْدَعُونَ إِلَّآ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ
They [think to] deceive Allāh and those who believe, but they deceive not except themselves and perceive [it] not.