IT WAS INDEED A HARD TEST, SAVE FOR THOSE WHOM ALLAH HAS GUIDED.

IT WAS INDEED A HARD TEST, SAVE FOR THOSE WHOM ALLAH HAS GUIDED. AND ALLAH WAS NOT GOING TO RENDER YOUR FAITH (WHICH WAS MANIFESTED THROUGH YOUR PRAYERS TOWARD JERUSALEM) FRUITLESS, BECAUSE ALLAH IS COMPASSIONATE AND MERCIFUL TO ALL PEOPLE. **THE COMMENTARY THE MIDMOST NATION (VERSE NO.

143)** The essence of Islam is to avoid all extravagances on either side, such as the extreme worldliness of the Jews; or the monastic life of a group of Christians who retire from the material world and devote themselves to asceticism to this effect Qura"n notifies: ``The new QIBLA, was also a midmost point of reference like the ummat. This is because when the Christians faced towards the birth place of their prophet Jesus (AS), they had to direct themselves towards the East.

On the other hand the Jews [ 155 ] who mostly lived in Syria, and Babylon, when faced towards Jerusalem, they would have to direct themselves towards the west. But Muslims who were almost all in Medina, directed themselves towards Mecca in a point and direction that was a midmost between the East and the West.'' Worthy of…