to face the Sacred Mosque—that is, its direction. Nevertheless, three situations are excepted from this ruling:

The first situation: when a person is incapable, such as an invalid who is lying with his face turned away from the qiblah and cannot reorient himself. In this case the obligation to face the qiblah is lifted, for Allah the Exalted says, “So fear Allah as much as you are able” (Q 64:16) and, “Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity” (Q 2:286); and the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said, “When I command you to do something, do of it as much as you can.”

The second situation: when one is in a state of intense fear—such as someone fleeing from an enemy, a wild beast, a fire, or a flood that threatens to drown him. In these circumstances he prays facing whatever direction he happens to be turned toward. The evidence is Allah’s words, “If you are in fear, then pray on foot or riding; and when you are safe, remember Allah as He has taught you what you did not know” (Q 2:239). The phrase “If you are in fear” is general and covers every kind of fear, while “and when you are safe…” shows that omitting any remembrance of Allah because of fear brings no blame. These two noble verses, together with the prophetic hadith, establish the principle that every duty is conditioned by one’s ability to perform it.