Important Fataawaa related to the Salaah - Sh `Abdul-`Azeez bin Baaz

[Yusuf.McNulty.al.Irlandee]

Question:

What is the ruling if it becomes clear after salaah that it was not prayed in the direction of the qiblah (towards the Ka`bah in Makkah), even though one had tried to determine the direction before the salaah? And is there a difference in the ruling if that occurred in the land of the muslims or land of the disbelievers, or if it was out in the open somewhere?


Sh `Abdul-`Azeez ibn Baaz:

If a muslim is upon a journey or is in (an unfamiliar) land and it’s not easy to find someone who is able to direct him towards the qiblah, then his prayer (that he prayed in the wrong direction) would still be correct, so long as he had tried his best and only realised (after the salaah) that he had prayed in the wrong direction [1].

As for if this occurred in a (populated) muslim area, then his salaah in this instance would not be correct, because he would be able to ask someone who could inform him of the direction of the qiblah. Likewise he would be able to work out the qiblah by way of the masaajid (mosques).


- Translated by Yusuf McNulty
- Fataawaa Muhim-mah Ta-ta`al-laqu bis-Salaah
- Question no. 5, Page no. 8


[1] Translator's Note:

Narrated `Aamir Ibn Rabee`ah - radiyallaahu `anhu: We were once with the Prophet - sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam, on a very dark night, and so the qiblah became difficult upon us (to work out). We prayed and once the sun had risen (in the morning) we realised that we hadn't prayed towards the qiblah. Thereafter Allaah revealed (the meaning of): <<So wherever you turn, there is the Face of Allaah>>

Reported by at-Tirmidhee and graded Hasan Li-Ghayrihi (good/acceptable due to supporting narrations) by Sh al-Albaanee - rahimahullaah, in al-Irwaa' (1/323).