When Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) arrived at Medina, he prayed facing Jerusalem for sixteen or seventeen months but he wished that he would be ordered to face the Ka`ba. So Allah revealed: -- 'Verily! We have seen the turning of your face towards the heaven; surely we shall turn you to a prayer direction (Qibla) that shall please you.' (2.144) Thus he was directed towards the Ka`ba. A man prayed the `Asr prayer with the Prophet (ﷺ) and then went out, and passing by some people from the Ansar, he said, "I testify. that I have prayed with the Prophet (ﷺ) and he (the Prophet) has prayed facing the Ka`ba." Thereupon they, who were bowing in the `Asr prayer, turned towards the Ka`ba.
The Wisdom Behind Qibla Change
The transition from Jerusalem to Ka'ba as qibla demonstrates divine wisdom in gradual legislation. Initially praying toward Jerusalem maintained continuity with previous revelations while distinguishing Muslims in prayer timing and manner. This sixteen-month period served as spiritual preparation before the final qibla establishment.
Prophetic Longing and Divine Response
The Prophet's inward desire for Ka'ba direction reflects his natural attachment to the primordial house built by Abraham and Ishmael. Allah's response in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:144) illustrates how divine decree accommodates prophetic disposition while establishing eternal legislation.
The phrase "We shall turn you to a prayer direction that shall please you" indicates divine benevolence in aligning religious obligation with the Prophet's heartfelt inclination, demonstrating harmony between divine command and human nature.
Immediate Implementation of Revelation
The companion's immediate announcement after praying Asr with the Prophet demonstrates the rapid implementation of Quranic revelation. The Ansar's immediate adjustment mid-prayer reveals their absolute submission to divine command and their trust in the truthful informant.
This incident establishes the Islamic legal principle of accepting information from a single truthful transmitter (khabar al-wāhid), as the community changed their prayer direction based solely on one companion's testimony.
Legal and Theological Implications
Scholars derive from this narration that a single reliable narrator's report must be accepted in matters of law and belief. The Ansar's action demonstrates that the testimony of a truthful person constitutes definitive proof requiring immediate compliance.
This incident also shows the permissibility of changing qibla during prayer when authentic information reaches the worshipper, establishing important jurisprudence regarding prayer validity and correction.