And, the change of the Qiblah, in fact, is one stage of the...

And, the change of the Qiblah, in fact, is one stage of the many different stages of trial and development, each of which is an example of Divine Guidance. It is He Who guides people to the 'Straight Path'.

"And thus have We made you an Ummat of middling stand that you may be witnesses over mankind, and the Messenger may be (as) witness over you. We did not make the (former) Qiblah (direction of prayer) towards which you were facing at, except that We might distinguish him who follows the Messenger from him who turns back upon his heels; it was indeed hard except for those whom Allah has guided.

Allah would never let your Faith be wasted -truly Allah is to mankind Most Affectionate, Most Merciful." An Ummat of Middle Standing In this verse a part of the philosophy and secret of the change of the Qiblah is referred to. At first it says: **"** And thus have We made you an Ummat of middling stand..." A nation that is a medium one from any aspect, viz. it is in a state that is neither in excess nor defects and can be brought forth as an example. But, why is the Muslims' Qiblah a middle one?

Haply, it is because most of the Christians were living in countries west of their Qiblah. In order to stand towards the direction of the birthplace of Jesus which was located in Jerusalem they had to stand nearly towards the direction of the East. Therefore the East was considered the direction of their Qiblah. The Jews, who mostly were living in Syria, Babylon and the like, prayed towards Jerusalem which was located nearly in the West for them.

Hence, the West was considered the direction of their Qiblah. But, for the Muslims of that time (Muslims in Medina); the Ka'bah was located in the South, between the East and the West which, thereby, was considered a middle ground. All of those meanings, in fact, are understood from the phrase /wakaŎalika/ 'and thus' stated in the verse.