Fatwa ID: 09016
Answered by Maulana Muhammad Haque
Question:
I am from the USA. A masjid management, with full knowledge of the precise Qibla direction (verified by modern instruments), has deliberately established the mihrab approximately 20 degrees off from the correct Qibla direction, citing aesthetics and accommodating more worshippers as their reasons. They are aware of this deviation and have chosen not to correct it. What is the Shari’a ruling on the management’s action — not merely on the validity of individual prayers — across the four madhahibs?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
If the Ka’bah is within view, it is a condition of Salah to face the Ka’bah precisely, and in such a case, to deviate from the Ka’bah will invalidate the Salah. However, people in different lands are permitted to pray towards the direction of the Qibla with a 45-degree angle leniency to the right and left of the Ka’bah, and a direction within this range will be acceptable [1]. As such, Salah in the Masjid you mention is valid without any dislike (Karaahah).
Our answers are according to the Hanafi Madhab. For a Fatwa, according to the other Madhaahib, please approach the Ulamaa of those Madhaahib.
Only Allah ﷻ knows best.
Written by Maulana Muhammad Haque
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
References:
[1]
ثُمَّ جُمْلَةُ الْكَلَامِ فِي هَذَا الشَّرْطِ أَنَّ الْمُصَلِّيَ لَا يَخْلُو إمَّا
إنْ كَانَ قَادِرًا عَلَى الِاسْتِقْبَالِ أَوْ كَانَ عَاجِزًا عَنْهُ فَإِنْ كَانَ قَادِرًا يَجِبُ عَلَيْهِ التَّوَجُّهُ إلَى الْقِبْلَةِ إنْ كَانَ فِي حَالِ مُشَاهَدَةِ الْكَعْبَةِ فَإِلَى عَيْنِهَا، أَيْ: أَيِّ جِهَةٍ كَانَتْ مِنْ جِهَاتِ الْكَعْبَةِ، حَتَّى لَوْ كَانَ مُنْحَرِفًا عَنْهَا غَيْرَ مُتَوَجِّهٍإ لَى شَيْءٍ مِنْهَا لَمْ يَجُزْ، لِقَوْلِهِ تَعَالَى :﴿فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ وَحَيْثُ مَا كُنْتُمْ فَوَلُّوا وُجُوهَكُمْ شَطْرَهُ﴾ [البقرة: ١٤٤] ، وَفِي وُسْعِهِ تَوْلِيَةُ الْوَجْهِ إلَى عَيْنِهَا فَيَجِبُ ذَلِكَ، وَإِنْ كَانَ نَائِيًا عَنْ الْكَعْبَةِ غَائِبًا عَنْهَا يَجِبُ عَلَيْهِ التَّوَجُّهُ إلَى جِهَتِهَا، وَهِيَ الْمَحَارِيبُ الْمَنْصُوبَةُ بِالْإِمَارَاتِ الدَّالَّةِ عَلَيْهَا لَا إلَى عَيْنِهَا، وَتُعْتَبَرُ الْجِهَةُ دُونَ الْعَيْنِ
كَذَا ذَكَرَ الْكَرْخِيُّ وَالرَّازِي، وَهُوَ قَوْلُ عَامَّةِ مَشَايِخِنَا بِمَا وَرَاءَ النَّهْرِ
كتاب بدائع الصنائع في ترتيب الشرائع، ص: ١١٨، فصل شرائط أركان الصلاة