Question
When I first arrived at this prison in the U.S.A., the Muslims were performing Salaat towards the south-east. After a couple of years, a Muslim from outside came and said that we should face northeast. I as well as a group of brothers who follow the Ulama of South Africa stuck to the south-east direction. Recently the majority of the inmates decided to unify and perform Salaat facing east, saying that there is a 180 degree leeway in each direction for the Qiblah. I and a few brothers disagreed and have continued facing south-east. We are not making Jamaat with the majority since we are convinced that the Qiblah is southeast by our own observations as well as by the view of the Mujlisul Ulama. Are we wrong in not following the majority? The other group harasses us citing the Qur'aanic aayat of adhering to the 'Rope of Allah and not be divided'. They insinuate that we will be severely punished for not joining them. Is there any merit in their argument?
Answer
The contention of 180 degree leeway is absolutely baseless. The maximum is a leeway of 45 degrees. If one is convinced that the Qiblah is a certain direction, then it will not be permissible to follow a person who faces another direction. Holding on to the Rope of Allah means to hold on to the Shariah. Unity on the basis of error or to please others is Satanism. Such unity be confounded. Nabi Ibraaheem (alayhis salaam) threw to the winds unity with his community when they insisted that he worships their idols, and so did every Nabi. Unity with baatil is haraam.
If you should follow the others to a face a direction which you believe is incorrect, then your Salaat will not be valid. Unity may not be forged on a basis which results in violation of the Shariah. The others are grossly unreasonable for their insistence on you to submit to baatil. Never follow their nafsaani whims and fancies. If they are so much concerned with unity then why do they not unite with you and follow the direction which you believe is correct. Why did they cause disunity when they reached the prison and discovered that the Muslims were facing southeast? They are in fact the cause of the disunity.
Another word of advice for even the seekers of misplaced unity is that if they are genuinely convinced that the Qiblah is north-east or east, then it will be haraam for them to unite with those who face south-east. If the east has been adopted merely for the sake of a misconceived unity, then that too is erroneous because if they believe that the Qiblah is north-east, then they have no right to face east.
Brother, ignore the unreasonable criticism. Let them speak their drivel. Take no notice. Do what is right. Yes, after studying the proofs of those who claim the direction to be north-east, if you sincerely believe that north-east is correct and our view is incorrect, then you will be justified to face north-east. But it is haraam to face north-east simply to achieve a baseless 'unity' – a unity which spawns violation of the Shariah. Confound such satanic unity. Our arguments and views on the Qiblah issue are enclosed for your study as well as for the study of anyone interested in the issue.
- Source
- themajlis.co.za
- Published in
- The Majlis Vol 22 No 05
- PDF page
- 5
Appears under THE QIBLAH IN AMERICA.