Surah Al-Baqarah (2:142)

سَيَقُوۡلُ السُّفَهَآءُ مِنَ النَّاسِ مَا وَلّٰٮهُمۡ عَنۡ قِبۡلَتِهِمُ الَّتِىۡ كَانُوۡا عَلَيۡهَا ؕ قُل لِّلّٰهِ الۡمَشۡرِقُ وَالۡمَغۡرِبُ ؕ يَهۡدِىۡ مَنۡ يَّشَآءُ اِلٰى صِراطٍ مُّسۡتَقِيۡمٍ‏ ۝

Sayaqoolu assufahao mina annasima wallahum AAan qiblatihimu allatee kanooAAalayha qul lillahi almashriqu walmaghribuyahdee man yashao ila siratinmustaqeem

The foolish among the people will say, "What has turned them away from their qiblah, which they used to face?" Say, "To Allāh belongs the east and the west. He guides whom He wills to a straight path."

Tadabbur (Reflection)

Theme of the Ayat

The Change of Qibla: The test of obedience to divine command.

The Insight

This addresses the initial confusion when God changed the direction of prayer (*Qibla*) from Jerusalem to the Kaaba in Mecca. This was a test to distinguish the true followers of the Prophet from those who were merely superficial. Embrace change as a test. When God changes the commands or circumstances of your life, obedience should be immediate, proving that your devotion is to God's will, not to a familiar routine or place.