[2:144-145 ][^2] Upon hearing this, the Jews said: ‘Why did...

[2:144-145 ][^2] Upon hearing this, the Jews said: ‘Why did Muslims stop facing their previous Qibla [ Bayt–ul–Muqaddas ] and turned to Kaaba ?’ God gave a perfect answer to this question and the Prophet (S) said: The fools among the people will say: What has turned them from their qibla which they had? Say: The East and the West belong only to Allah; He guides whom He likes to the right path. [2:142].

And He is all-aware of the interests of His servants, and it is He who will send His obedient servants to gardens of bliss.”[^3] Imam Hassan Askari (as) said: ‘Then, some Jews came to the Prophet (S) and started talking: ‘O Muhammad!

You prayed while facing the Qibla you call Bayt–ul–Muqaddas for 14 years and now you suddenly left it so can we ask you a question: Were you following haq [righteous way, truth] before and now you have left it and started following batil [erroneous way, wrong, against haq ] or were you following batil before for a period of time and now you have come to follow haq ?’ The Prophet (S) said: “I was on haq before and I am on haq now as well because God’s clear command is that the east and the west are His and He guides whoever He wishes to the right path.

Oh servants of God! When Allah felt that your interest and welfare lies in praying while facing the east, He ordered you to make east your Qibla and when He saw that your interest and welfare lies in making the west as your Qibla , He ordered you to face the west. Hence, do not interfere in divine plans for His servants and His will for your interest” The Prophet (S) then continued: “Now you tell me, you stopped working on Saturdays and then you worked on all the days.

Then again you stopped working on Saturdays and then you again worked on all the days. Now tell me, did you come towards batil from haq or from batil towards haq or from batil towards batil or from haq towards haq ? Explain in any way you wish. Then our answer will be the same as yours.” The Jews said: ‘Yes, our ‘ tark al-amal ’ [leaving daily work for earning] on Saturdays was haq and our working afterwards was also haq .’ The Prophet (S) said: “So, this is exactly our situation.

It was haq at that time when Bayt–ul–Muqaddas was made the Qibla .