This verse and few others, that follow, are about the change of QIBLA, an important event that occurred in the history of Islam. The prophet Mohammad (AS) and his followers, in their early days of Islam, before they could be organized as a people, they took as a symbol for their QIBLA the sacred temple of Jerusalem. For some thirteen years and few months, they faced towards the said temple in their prayers.

      After that period, when under divine direction, Mohammad (AS) began to organize his people as an UMMAT; an independent people with LAW and rituals of their own; then KABBA was established as a QIBLA.

      This incident raised a hot dispute, and once again the Jews found a pretext to make much ado about nothing! They objected: If the QIBLA towards Jerusalem was right, why should you change it? And if it was wrong, what happens to so much prayers that have been performed in a wrong direction and QIBLA, during the long peroid of thirteen years time? To give that objection, a knocking down answer, QURÄN says:

      ``The fools among the people will soon say; what has turned them away from their first QIBLA to which they were used. Say: to Allah belongs the East and the West. HE guides whom HE will to a way that is straight.