لَّيْسَ الْبِرَّ أَن تُوَلُّوا وُجُوهَكُمْ قِبَلَ...

(TRUE) RIGHTEOUSNESS IS RATHER: TO BELIEVE IN ALLAH - AND THE LAST DAY - AND THE ANGELS - AND THE BOOK - AND THE PROPHETS - AND WHO GIVES HIS WEALTH FOR THE LOVE OF ALLAH, TO: HIS KINSFOLK - AND ORPHAN - AND TO THE NEEDIES - AND TO THE WAYFARER - AND TO THOSE WHO ASK - AND TO RANSOM THE SLAVE - AND TO PERFORM THE PRAYER - AND PAYING THE ALMS-TAX - AND THOSE WHO FULFIL THEIR COVENANT WHICH THEY HAVE MADE - AND THE PATIENT IN DISTRESS AND ADVERSARY, AND IN TIME OF WAR - SUCH ARE THE TRUTHFUL, AND SUCH ARE THOSE WHO AVOID EVIL.

[ 187 ] THE COMMENTARY OCCASION OF REVEALTION The change of QIBLA caused a lot of fuss, and much dispute among the parties, particularly among the Jews and Christians. Some who thought to have lost respects in that sudden change of QIBLA, began to object and criticise which was described in S 2: 172. So this verse came down to show that QIBLA is not that sort of a matter to worth so much ado and controversies, comparing to so many matters of more importance, which are signified by the verse.

THE ROOT AND FOUNDATION OF GOODNESSES Here we are given a beautiful description of the righteous and God-fearing man who first has to fix his gaze on the love of God, and not to the deadening formalism; like directing the face towards the East and the West, or with closed eyes pretending to recite some incantations to God! The verse then implies most important principles and the virtues that a righteous God-fearing man should have.

These are mentioned in six groups of deeds and actions as follows: 1- Righteousness is not only to direct your faces towards the East and West. It is right to have faith in Allah - the Last Day - the Angels - the BOOK - and the prophets. This indicates that faith is not merely a matter of words.