Chapter: Facing the Qiblah

An obligatory prayer is not valid if offered in any direction other than the qiblah, except in a situation of severe fear or while engaged in combat. Whoever neglects to face the qiblah, despite knowing its direction and being able to do so, renders his prayer null and void.

The ruling on facing the qiblah is of two kinds:

1. When the Kaʿbah is actually visible: in this case one must turn squarely toward it, aligning one’s whole body with its precise direction.

2. When the Kaʿbah is out of sight: here one must orient himself toward it by means of available indicators—the sun, the moon, the stars, the prevailing winds, and anything else that can reliably show its direction.

If the Kaʿbah is not visible and a person who is capable of personal investigation prays without making any effort to determine its bearing, and ends up facing the wrong way, his prayer is invalid. However, if he does exert himself, follows the indicators, and only after completing the prayer discovers that he had faced other than the qiblah, he should repeat the prayer provided its time has not yet elapsed. Even so, repeating it is not strictly obligatory, for he has already discharged the basic duty.