A few days after Meraj, the change of Qibla from Jerusalem to Mecca, these two events have special significance in establishing prayers. About sixteen months after the Hijrah, in the middle of the month of Sha’ban, the order to change the Qibla came, which is a special direction of Allah Almighty for the Muslim Ummah.
Two events related to prayer are most important in the life of Rasulullah (SAW). And that is Meraj and Qibla change. Most Islamic thinkers agree that Meraj happened on the night of the 27th of Rajab, about a year before Hijrah. And 16 months after Hijrah, the revelation of changing the Qibla was revealed while praying in congregation in Madina
It is not possible for a Muslim to pray without Qibla. Qibla means direction or correct direction. During five daily prayers, Muslims stand facing the Holy Kaaba Sharif in Mecca. Through this, people from every part of the world associate themselves with a certain center in an invisible spiritual thread.
A symbol of unity
Qibla is a unique system that brings every nation, caste and tribe of the world to the same row five times a day. It acts as the heart of the Muslim Ummah, which keeps the spiritual existence of Muslims around the world alive. It is basically an expression of monotheism — one God, one religion and one Ummah.
Jerusalem to Mecca
The Holy Prophet (PBUH) on the night of Meraj He led all the prophets to Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. This incident created a wonderful combination of Islam with the teachings of Al-Aqsar and all previous prophets with the Kaaba.
The birth of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) was in the lineage of Hazrat Ismail (AS), the eldest son of Hazrat Ibrahim (AS). Jerusalem, on the other hand, represents the lineage of Hazrat Ishaq (as).
Islam was perfected by combining these two, first the order to pray facing Jerusalem and later the order to turn its face towards the Kaaba in Mecca. It was basically a test of who obeys the instructions of Allah and His Messenger without fail.
Debut as a moderate nation
According to the Qur’an, Muslims have been declared a balanced or moderate nation by changing the Qibla. It means, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) Not only the prophet of a particular region or nation, but he is the messenger of the entire humanity. Based on Makkah, this Ummah will now fulfill the responsibility of calling the people of the world to the path of Allah.
Basically, through the change of Qibla, Allah Ta’ala declared the original religion as the final and complete religion. The Qibla change was not just a change in direction, but a heavenly declaration of the fulfillment of Islam and the establishment of the Holy Kaaba in Mecca as the center of the world and religion.
