At this time...

At this time, the Jews began to mock the Muslims saying that they were using Jewish holy sites for their religious prayers. The people also began to ask the Prophet (s.a.w.w.) why they did not face the Ka'aba. They said that if the Prophet (s.a.w.w.) truly preached the same faith as Prophet Ibrahim (a.s.)'s then they should have faced the Ka'aba built by him.

It was soon after this that Allah (S.W.T.) told the Prophet (s.a.w.w.) to change Qiblah: "Indeed We see the turning of your face to heaven, so We shall surely turn you to a Qiblah which you shall like. Turn then your face towards the sacred mosque." The Prophet (s.a.w.w.) received this verse when he had completed two rakaats of a four rakaat prayer facing Baytul Muqaddas and he immediately turned towards the Ka'aba to complete the remaining two.

Unfortunately, even after this, there were some who criticised this change and so Allah (S.W.T.) revealed another verse saying: "Any direction you face in your prayers, indeed you are facing Allah." We should keep in mind that the Ka'aba was chosen as qiblah to make the Muslims independent of the Jews. Allah (S.W.T.) did not wish for them to have to rely on others for a holy site. The Ka'aba provides a central point for all Muslims.

They turn towards it not only in prayer and dua but, at all times: when eating, sleeping, in death, when slaughtering an animal etc. The Ka'aba provides an external and physical qiblah. It acts as a symbol of unity of the Muslim ummah. A Believers true qiblah, though, lies in his heart, which faces and submits to Allah (S.W.T.) in prayer. 2. Adhaan Adhaan is the call to prayer and a mustahab pre-requisite to Salaat.

It begins with the professing of ones belief in Allah (S.W.T.) and ends with the same. In between, one acknowledges the tenets of Nubuwwat and Imamat. Adhaan prepares a person for Salaat by reminding him of his basic beliefs and brings him closer to Allah (S.W.T.) before he actually begins his communication with the Almighty. Its beauty in words and depth in meaning not only enhance the spirit of the reciter but also give him strength of conviction. 3.

Place and Dress When praying, a person must ensure that his clothes and the place of prayer are clean and Taahir. Neither should be Ghasbi. Also, any money used to obtain either should be pure i.e. khums and zakaat should have been paid on it and it should not have been earned in a haram manner.