The Book of the Qiblah

كتاب القبلة

Chapter 1: Facing the Qibla

Narrated Al Bara bin Azib

Al Bara bin Azib said: The messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) came to Al-Madinah and prayed toward Bait-al-Maqdis for sixteen months, then he was commanded to pray toward the Ka'bah. A man who had prayed with the prophet (peace be upon him)passed by some of the Ansar and said: "I bear witness that the messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) has been commanded to face toward the Ka'bah. So they turned to face the Ka'bah".

Chapter 2: Situation in which it is permissible to face a direction other than the Qibla

It was narrated that Ibn Umar said

"The messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to pray atop his mount while travelling, facing whatever direction it was facing." (One of the narrators) Malik said: "Abdullah bin Dinar said: and Ibn Umar used to do likewise".

It was narrated that Abdullah said

"The messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to pray atop his mount while traveling, facing whatever direction it was facing, and he would pray witr atop it, but he did not pray the prescribed prayers atop it ".

Chapter 3: Finding out that one's judgement was wrong

It was narrated that Ibn Umar said

"While the people were in Quba praying Subh prayer, someone came to them and said that revelation had come to Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) the night before, and he had been commanded to face Ka'bah. So face toward it. They had been facing toward Ash-Sham, so they turned to face toward Ka'bah."

Chapter 4: The Sutra (screen) of one who is praying

It was narrated that Aisha(ra) said

"The messenger of Allah(ﷺ) was asked during the campaign of Tabuk about the Sutra of one who is praying. He said: "Something as high as the back of a camel saddle."

Narrated Ibn Umar

It was narrated from Ibn Umar concerning the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) he said: "He used to set up a short spear then pray facing toward it."

Chapter 5: The command to get close to the Sutra

It was narrated that Sahl bin Abi Hathmah said

"When anyone of you prays toward a Sutra, let him get close to it and not allow the Shaitan to sever his prayer for him."

Chapter 6: The distance for that

Narrated Abdullah bin Umar

It was narrated from Abdullah bin Umar that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) entered the Ka'bah with Usamah bin Zaid, Bilal and Uthman bin Talha al Hajabi, and locked the door behind him. Abdullah bin Umar said: "I asked Bilal when he came out: " What did the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) do?" He said: "He stood with one pillar to his left, two pillars to his right and three pillars behind him - at that time the House stood on six pillars - and he prayed with approximately three forearm's length between him and the wall."

Chapter 7: Mention of what interrupts the prayer and what does not if a praying person does not have a Sutra in front of him

It was narrated that Abu Dharr said

The messenger of Allah(ﷺ) said: "When anyone of you stands to pray, then he is screened if he has in front of him something as high as the back of a camel saddle. If he does not have something as high as the back of a camel saddle in front of him, then his prayer is nullified by a woman, a donkey or a black dog." I (one of the narrators)said: "What is the difference between a black dog, a yellow one and a red one?" He said: I asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) just like you and he said:"The black dog is a shaitan."

It was narrated that Qatadah said

"I aid to Jabir bin Zaid: "What invalidates prayer?" He said: "Ibn Abbas used to say: A menstruating woman and a dog." (One of the narrators)Yahya said: "Shubah said it was a marfu report."

It was narrated that Ibn Abbas said

"Al-Fadl and I came riding a female donkey of ours, and the Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) was leading the people at Arafat." Then he said something to that effect. "We passed by part of the row, and then we dismounted and left the donkey grazing, and the Messenger of Allah(ﷺ)did not say anything to us."

It was narrated that Al-Fadl bin 'Abbas said

"The Messenger of Allah(ﷺ)visited Al Abbas in some land of ours outside the city, and we had a small dog and a donkey which was grazing. The Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) prayed Asr and theywere in front of him, and they were not shooed away or pushed away."

It was narrated that Suhaib said

"I heard Ibn Abbas narrate that he passed in front of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), he and a young boy of Banu Hashim, riding a donkey in front of the Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) when he was praying. Then they dismounted and joined the prayer, and he did not stop praying. Then two young girls ofBanu Abdul-Muttalib started running around and grabbing him by the knees. He separated thembut he did not stop praying."

It was narrated that Aishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said

"I was in front of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) when he was praying, and when I wanted to leave I did not want to get up and pass in front of him, so I just slipped away slowly and quietly."

Chapter 8: Stern warning against passing between a praying person and his Sutra

Narrated Busr bin Saeed

It was narrated from Busr bin Sa'eed said that Zaid bin Khalid sent him to Abu Juhaim to ask him what he had heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say about one who passes in front of a person who is praying? Abu Juhaim said: "The Messenger of Allah(ﷺ)said: "If the one who passes in front of a person who is praying knew what (burden of sin) there is on him, standing for forty would be better for him than passing in front of him."

Narrated Abu Saeed

It was narrated from Abu Saeed that the Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) said: " If anyone of you is praying, he should not let anyone pass in front of him, and if he insists (on passing) then let him fight him."

Chapter 9: The Concession regarding that

Narrated Kathir bin Kathir

It was narrated from Kathir bin Kathir, from his father, that his grandfather said: "I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) circumambulate the House seven times, then he prayed two Rak'ahs at the edge of the Maqam, and there was nothing between him and the people who were performing Tawaf."

Chapter 10: The concession allowing praying behind one who is sleeping

It was narrated that Aisha said

"The Messenger of Allah(ﷺ)used to pray at night while I was lying down sleeping between him and the Qibla on his bed. When he wanted to pray witr he would wake me up and I would pray witr"

Chapter 11: The prohibition of praying toward graves

It was narrated that Abu Marthad al Ghanawi said

"The Messenger of Allah(ﷺ)said: 'Do not pray toward graves and do not sit on them.'"