وَكَذٰلِكَ جَعَلناكُم أُمَّةً وَسَطًا لِتَكونوا شُهَداءَ عَلَى النّاسِ وَيَكونَ الرَّسولُ عَلَيكُم شَهيدًا ۗ وَما جَعَلنَا القِبلَةَ الَّتي كُنتَ عَلَيها إِلّا لِنَعلَمَ مَن يَتَّبِعُ الرَّسولَ مِمَّن يَنقَلِبُ عَلىٰ عَقِبَيهِ ۚ وَإِن كانَت لَكَبيرَةً إِلّا عَلَى الَّذينَ هَدَى اللَّهُ ۗ وَما كانَ اللَّهُ لِيُضيعَ إيمانَكُم ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بِالنّاسِ لَرَءوفٌ رَحيمٌ

We made you a balanced community, so that you may be witnesses over humanity, and the Messenger may be a witness over you. We established your former prayer direction to differentiate those who follow the Messenger from those who turn back on their heels. It was indeed significant, except for those whom God has guided. God won’t let your faith be wasted. Indeed, God is, to the people, Kind and Merciful.

قَد نَرىٰ تَقَلُّبَ وَجهِكَ فِي السَّماءِ ۖ فَلَنُوَلِّيَنَّكَ قِبلَةً تَرضاها ۚ فَوَلِّ وَجهَكَ شَطرَ المَسجِدِ الحَرامِ ۚ وَحَيثُ ما كُنتُم فَوَلّوا وُجوهَكُم شَطرَهُ ۗ وَإِنَّ الَّذينَ أوتُوا الكِتابَ لَيَعلَمونَ أَنَّهُ الحَقُّ مِن رَبِّهِم ۗ وَمَا اللَّهُ بِغافِلٍ عَمّا يَعمَلونَ

We observed you turning your face towards the heavens, so We will guide you to a direction that will please you. Turn your face towards the Sacred Mosque, and wherever you may be, face it. Those given the Scripture know this to be the truth from their Lord. God is not unaware of what they do.

وَلَئِن أَتَيتَ الَّذينَ أوتُوا الكِتابَ بِكُلِّ آيَةٍ ما تَبِعوا قِبلَتَكَ ۚ وَما أَنتَ بِتابِعٍ قِبلَتَهُم ۚ وَما بَعضُهُم بِتابِعٍ قِبلَةَ بَعضٍ ۚ وَلَئِنِ اتَّبَعتَ أَهواءَهُم مِن بَعدِ ما جاءَكَ مِنَ العِلمِ ۙ إِنَّكَ إِذًا لَمِنَ الظّالِمينَ

Even if you were to bring to those who were given the Scripture every verse, they wouldn’t follow your direction, nor should you follow theirs. Nor do they follow one another’s direction. If you followed their desires, after the knowledge that has come to you, you would then be among the unjust.

الَّذينَ آتَيناهُمُ الكِتابَ يَعرِفونَهُ كَما يَعرِفونَ أَبناءَهُم ۖ وَإِنَّ فَريقًا مِنهُم لَيَكتُمونَ الحَقَّ وَهُم يَعلَمونَ

Those to whom We gave the Scripture recognize it as they recognize their own children. But some of them knowingly conceal the truth.

الحَقُّ مِن رَبِّكَ ۖ فَلا تَكونَنَّ مِنَ المُمتَرينَ

The truth is from your Lord, so don’t be among the doubters.

وَمِن حَيثُ خَرَجتَ فَوَلِّ وَجهَكَ شَطرَ المَسجِدِ الحَرامِ ۖ وَإِنَّهُ لَلحَقُّ مِن رَبِّكَ ۗ وَمَا اللَّهُ بِغافِلٍ عَمّا تَعمَلونَ

And from wherever you go out, turn your face towards the Sacred Mosque. This is the truth from your Lord. God is not unaware of what you do.

وَمِن حَيثُ خَرَجتَ فَوَلِّ وَجهَكَ شَطرَ المَسجِدِ الحَرامِ ۚ وَحَيثُ ما كُنتُم فَوَلّوا وُجوهَكُم شَطرَهُ لِئَلّا يَكونَ لِلنّاسِ عَلَيكُم حُجَّةٌ إِلَّا الَّذينَ ظَلَموا مِنهُم فَلا تَخشَوهُم وَاخشَوني وَلِأُتِمَّ نِعمَتي عَلَيكُم وَلَعَلَّكُم تَهتَدونَ

From wherever you set out, turn your face towards the Sacred Mosque. And wherever you are, face it, so that people will have no argument against you, except for the wrongdoers among them. So don’t fear them, but fear Me. I will then complete My favor upon you, so that you may be guided.

كَما أَرسَلنا فيكُم رَسولًا مِنكُم يَتلو عَلَيكُم آياتِنا وَيُزَكّيكُم وَيُعَلِّمُكُمُ الكِتابَ وَالحِكمَةَ وَيُعَلِّمُكُم ما لَم تَكونوا تَعلَمونَ

Even as We sent to you a messenger from among you, who conveys Our verses to you, purifies you, teaches you the Scripture and wisdom, and teaches you what you didn’t know.

فَاذكُروني أَذكُركُم وَاشكُروا لي وَلا تَكفُرونِ

So remember Me, and I will remember you. Be thankful to Me, and don’t reject faith.

يا أَيُّهَا الَّذينَ آمَنُوا استَعينوا بِالصَّبرِ وَالصَّلاةِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الصّابِرينَ

O you who believe, seek help through patience and prayer; indeed God is with those who are patient.