Being 45 degrees off from the qiblah
Question We pray in one of the mosques in Jeddah but it is 45 degrees off from the qiblah. I discovered this via the Google Earth program. What is the ruling? Should it be restored to the true qiblah or not? Please note that the imam of the mosque knows of this deviation but he…
Question
Praise be to Allah.
If the deviation from the
qiblah is less than 45 degrees, then your prayer is valid, because what you
have to do is face the right direction, not face the Ka’bah or Makkah
precisely. This deviation does not mean that you have deviated from the
general direction.
The fuqaha’ have stated
that a slight deviation does not matter, and they explained that the major
deviation is deviation from the general direction.
Al-Dardeer said in
al-Sharh al-Kabeer (1/227): A large deviation means turning to the east
or the west. This was stated in al-Mudawwanah. End quote.
That applies to the people
of Madeenah. For people living to the north or south of Makkah, if they turn
to the east or the west, then they have deviated from the qiblah.
But for those living west
of Makkah, such as the people of Jeddah, the direction of the qiblah for
them is east, so if they deviate from that towards the north or the south,
or they turn their backs on it, then their prayer is not valid.
The basic principle
concerning that is the report narrated by al-Tirmidhi (342) and Ibn Majaah
(1011) from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) who said: The
Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
“Whatever is between the east and the west is qiblah.” Classed as saheeh by
al-Albaani in Irwa’ al-Ghaleel. See also question no.
7535.
Nevertheless, it is better
to correct the qiblah of the mosque.
The imam has done well by
not telling the worshippers, so as to avoid dissent and too much talk.
You should refer the matter
to the authorities to review the direction of the qiblah.
May Allaah help us all to
do that which He loves and which pleases Him.
And Allaah knows best.
