ONE AYAT A DAY
۞ لَيْسَ الْبِرَّاَنْ تُوَلُّوْا وُجُوْهَكُمْ قِبَلَ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ وَلٰكِنَّ الْبِرَّ مَنْ اٰمَنَ بِاللّٰهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْاٰخِرِ وَالْمَلٰۤىِٕكَةِ وَالْكِتٰبِ وَالنَّبِيّٖنَ ۚ وَاٰتَى الْمَالَ عَلٰى حُبِّهٖ ذَوِى الْقُرْبٰى وَالْيَتٰمٰى وَالْمَسٰكِيْنَ وَابْنَ السَّبِيْلِۙ وَالسَّاۤىِٕلِيْنَ وَفىِ الرِّقَابِۚ وَاَقَامَ الصَّلٰوةَ وَاٰتَى الزَّكٰوةَ ۚ وَالْمُوْفُوْنَ بِعَهْدِهِمْ اِذَا عَاهَدُوْا ۚ وَالصّٰبِرِيْنَ فِى الْبَأْسَاۤءِ وَالضَّرَّاۤءِ وَحِيْنَ الْبَأْسِۗ اُولٰۤىِٕكَ الَّذِيْنَ صَدَقُوْا ۗوَاُولٰۤىِٕكَ هُمُ الْمُتَّقُوْنَ
Laisal-birra an tuwallū wujūhakum qibalal-masyriqi wal-magribi wa lākinnal-birra man āmana billāhi wal-yaumil ākhiri wal-malā'ikati wal-kitābi wan-nabiyyīn(a), wa ātal-māla ‘alā ḥubbihī żawil-qurbā wal-yatāmā wal-masākīna wabnas-sabīl(i), was-sā'ilīna wa fir-riqāb(i), wa aqāmaṣ-ṣalāta wa ātaz-zakāh(ta), wal mūfūna bi‘ahdihim iżā ‘āhadū, waṣ-ṣābirīna fil-ba'sā'i waḍ-ḍarrā'i wa ḥīnal-ba's(i), ulā'ikal-lażīna ṣadaqū, wa ulā'ika humul-muttaqūn(a).
Righteousness is not that you turn your faces toward the east or the west, but [true] righteousness is [in] one who believes in Allāh, the Last Day, the angels, the Book, and the prophets and gives wealth, in spite of love for it, to relatives, orphans, the needy, the traveler, those who ask [for help], and for freeing slaves; [and who] establishes prayer and gives zakāh; [those who] fulfill their promise when they promise; and [those who] are patient in poverty and hardship and during battle. Those are the ones who have been true, and it is those who are the righteous.
Al-Birr (Piety, Righteousness)This Ayah contains many great wisdoms, encompassing rulings and correct beliefs.As for the explanation of this Ayah, Allah first commanded the believers to face Bayt Al-Maqdis, and then to face the Ka`bah during the prayer. This change was difficult for some of the People of the Book, and even for some Muslims. Then Allah sent revelation which clarified the wisdom behind this command, that is, obedience to Allah, adhering to His commands, facing wherever He commands facing, and implementing whatever He legislates, that is the objective. This is Birr, Taqwa and complete faith. Facing the east or the west does not necessitate righteousness or obedience, unless it is legislated by Allah. This is why Allah said:لَّيْسَ الْبِرَّ أَن تُوَلُّواْ وُجُوهَكُمْ قِبَلَ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ وَلَـكِنَّ الْبِرَّ مَنْ ءَامَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الاٌّخِرِ(It is not Birr that you turn your faces towards east and (or) west (in prayers); but Birr is the one who believes in Allah and the Last Day,)Similarly, Allah said about the sacrifices:لَن يَنَالَ اللَّهَ لُحُومُهَا وَلاَ دِمَآؤُهَا وَلَـكِن يَنَالُهُ التَّقْوَى مِنكُمْ(It is neither their meat nor their blood that reaches Allah, but it is the piety from you that reaches Him.) (22:37)Abu Al-`Aliyah said, "The Jews used to face the west for their Qiblah, while the Christians used to face the east for their…