وَكَذَٰلِكَ جَعَلْنَاكُمْ أُمَّةً وَسَطًا لِّتَكُونُوا شُهَدَاءَ عَلَى النَّاسِ وَيَكُونَ الرَّسُولُ عَلَيْكُمْ شَهِيدًا ۗ وَمَا جَعَلْنَا الْقِبْلَةَ الَّتِي كُنتَ عَلَيْهَا إِلَّا لِنَعْلَمَ مَن يَتَّبِعُ الرَّسُولَ مِمَّن يَنقَلِبُ عَلَىٰ عَقِبَيْهِ ۚ وَإِن كَانَتْ لَكَبِيرَةً إِلَّا عَلَى الَّذِينَ هَدَى اللَّهُ ۗ وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيُضِيعَ إِيمَانَكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بِالنَّاسِ لَرَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ ١٤٣

Thus We have made you [true Muslims - real believers of Islamic Monotheism, true followers of Prophet Muhammad SAW and his Sunnah (legal ways)], a Wasat (just) (and the best) nation, that you be witnesses over mankind and the Messenger (Muhammad SAW) be a witness over you. And We made the Qiblah (prayer direction towards Jerusalem) which you used to face, only to test those who followed the Messenger (Muhammad SAW) from those who would turn on their heels (i.e. disobey the Messenger). Indeed it was great (heavy) except for those whom Allah guided. And Allah would never make your faith (prayers) to be lost (i.e. your prayers offered towards Jerusalem). Truly, Allah is full of kindness, the Most Merciful towards mankind.

وَكَذَٰلِكَ جَعَلْنَاكُمْ أُمَّةً وَسَطًا

Thus We have made you [true Muslims - real believers of Islamic Monotheism, true followers of Prophet Muhammad SAW and his Sunnah (legal ways)], a Wasat (just) (and the best) nation,

لِّتَكُونُوا شُهَدَاءَ عَلَى النَّاسِ

that you be witnesses over mankind

وَيَكُونَ الرَّسُولُ عَلَيْكُمْ شَهِيدًا ۗ

and the Messenger (Muhammad SAW) be a witness over you.

وَمَا جَعَلْنَا الْقِبْلَةَ الَّتِي كُنتَ عَلَيْهَا

And We made the Qiblah (prayer direction towards Jerusalem) which you used to face,

إِلَّا لِنَعْلَمَ مَن يَتَّبِعُ الرَّسُولَ

only to test those who followed the Messenger (Muhammad SAW)

مِمَّن يَنقَلِبُ عَلَىٰ عَقِبَيْهِ ۚ

from those who would turn on their heels (i.e. disobey the Messenger).

وَإِن كَانَتْ لَكَبِيرَةً إِلَّا عَلَى الَّذِينَ هَدَى اللَّهُ ۗ

Indeed it was great (heavy) except for those whom Allah guided.

وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيُضِيعَ إِيمَانَكُمْ ۚ

And Allah would never make your faith (prayers) to be lost (i.e. your prayers offered towards Jerusalem).

إِنَّ اللَّهَ بِالنَّاسِ لَرَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ

Truly, Allah is full of kindness, the Most Merciful towards mankind.

قَدْ نَرَىٰ تَقَلُّبَ وَجْهِكَ فِي السَّمَاءِ ۖ فَلَنُوَلِّيَنَّكَ قِبْلَةً تَرْضَاهَا ۚ فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ ۚ وَحَيْثُ مَا كُنتُمْ فَوَلُّوا وُجُوهَكُمْ شَطْرَهُ ۗ وَإِنَّ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ لَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ ۗ وَمَا اللَّهُ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا يَعْمَلُونَ ١٤٤

Verily! We have seen the turning of your (Muhammad's SAW) face towards the heaven. Surely, We shall turn you to a Qiblah (prayer direction) that shall please you, so turn your face in the direction of Al-Masjid- al-Haram (at Makkah). And wheresoever you people are, turn your faces (in prayer) in that direction. Certainly, the people who were given the Scriptures (i.e. Jews and the Christians) know well that, that (your turning towards the direction of the Ka'bah at Makkah in prayers) is the truth from their Lord. And Allah is not unaware of what they do.

قَدْ نَرَىٰ تَقَلُّبَ وَجْهِكَ فِي السَّمَاءِ ۖ

Verily! We have seen the turning of your (Muhammad's SAW) face towards the heaven.

فَلَنُوَلِّيَنَّكَ قِبْلَةً تَرْضَاهَا ۚ

Surely, We shall turn you to a Qiblah (prayer direction) that shall please you,

فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ ۚ

so turn your face in the direction of Al-Masjid-al-Haram (at Makkah).

وَحَيْثُ مَا كُنتُمْ فَوَلُّوا وُجُوهَكُمْ شَطْرَهُ ۗ

And wheresoever you people are, turn your faces (in prayer) in that direction.

وَإِنَّ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ لَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ ۗ

Certainly, the people who were given the Scriptures (i.e. Jews and the Christians) know well that, that (your turning towards the direction of the Ka'bah at Makkah in prayers) is the truth from their Lord.

وَمَا اللَّهُ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا يَعْمَلُونَ

And Allah is not unaware of what they do.

وَلَئِنْ أَتَيْتَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ بِكُلِّ آيَةٍ مَّا تَبِعُوا قِبْلَتَكَ ۚ وَمَا أَنتَ بِتَابِعٍ قِبْلَتَهُمْ ۚ وَمَا بَعْضُهُم بِتَابِعٍ قِبْلَةَ بَعْضٍ ۚ وَلَئِنِ اتَّبَعْتَ أَهْوَاءَهُم مِّن بَعْدِ مَا جَاءَكَ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ ۙ إِنَّكَ إِذًا لَّمِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ ١٤٥

And even if you were to bring to the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) all the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.), they would not follow your Qiblah (prayer direction), nor are you going to follow their Qiblah (prayer direction). And they will not follow each other's Qiblah (prayer direction). Verily, if you follow their desires after that which you have received of knowledge (from Allah), then indeed you will be one of the Zalimun (polytheists, wrong-doers, etc.).

وَلَئِنْ أَتَيْتَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ بِكُلِّ آيَةٍ

And even if you were to bring to the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) all the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.),

مَّا تَبِعُوا قِبْلَتَكَ ۚ

they would not follow your Qiblah (prayer direction),

وَمَا أَنتَ بِتَابِعٍ قِبْلَتَهُمْ ۚ

nor are you going to follow their Qiblah (prayer direction).

وَمَا بَعْضُهُم بِتَابِعٍ قِبْلَةَ بَعْضٍ ۚ

And they will not follow each other's Qiblah (prayer direction).

وَلَئِنِ اتَّبَعْتَ أَهْوَاءَهُم

Verily, if you follow their desires

مِّن بَعْدِ مَا جَاءَكَ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ ۙ

after that which you have received of knowledge (from Allah),

إِنَّكَ إِذًا لَّمِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ

then indeed you will be one of the Zalimun (polytheists, wrong-doers, etc.).

الَّذِينَ آتَيْنَاهُمُ الْكِتَابَ يَعْرِفُونَهُ كَمَا يَعْرِفُونَ أَبْنَاءَهُمْ ۖ وَإِنَّ فَرِيقًا مِّنْهُمْ لَيَكْتُمُونَ الْحَقَّ وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ ١٤٦

Those to whom We gave the Scripture (Jews and Christians) recognise him (Muhammad SAW or the Ka'bah at Makkah) as they recongise their sons. But verily, a party of them conceal the truth while they know it - [i.e. the qualities of Muhammad SAW which are written in the Taurat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)].

الَّذِينَ آتَيْنَاهُمُ الْكِتَابَ

Those to whom We gave the Scripture

يَعْرِفُونَهُ كَمَا يَعْرِفُونَ أَبْنَاءَهُمْ ۖ

recognise him as they recognise their sons

وَإِنَّ فَرِيقًا مِّنْهُمْ

But verily, a party of them

لَيَكْتُمُونَ الْحَقَّ

conceal the truth

وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ

while they know it

الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكَ ۖ فَلَا تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْمُمْتَرِينَ ١٤٧

(This is) the truth from your Lord. So be you not one of those who doubt.

الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكَ ۖ

(This is) the truth from your Lord.

فَلَا تَكُونَنَّ

So be you not

مِنَ الْمُمْتَرِينَ

one of those who doubt.

وَلِكُلٍّ وِجْهَةٌ هُوَ مُوَلِّيهَا ۖ فَاسْتَبِقُوا الْخَيْرَاتِ ۚ أَيْنَ مَا تَكُونُوا يَأْتِ بِكُمُ اللَّهُ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ ١٤٨

For every nation there is a direction to which they face (in their prayers). So hasten towards all that is good. Wheresoever you may be, Allah will bring you together (on the Day of Resurrection). Truly, Allah is Able to do all things.

وَلِكُلٍّ وِجْهَةٌ هُوَ مُوَلِّيهَا ۖ

For every nation there is a direction to which they face (in their prayers).

فَاسْتَبِقُوا الْخَيْرَاتِ ۚ

So hasten towards all that is good.

أَيْنَ مَا تَكُونُوا يَأْتِ بِكُمُ اللَّهُ جَمِيعًا ۚ

Wheresoever you may be, Allah will bring you together (on the Day of Resurrection).

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

Truly, Allah is Able to do all things.

وَمِنْ حَيْثُ خَرَجْتَ فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ ۖ وَإِنَّهُ لَلْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكَ ۗ وَمَا اللَّهُ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ ١٤٩

And from wheresoever you start forth (for prayers), turn your face in the direction of Al-Masjid-al-Haram (at Makkah), that is indeed the truth from your Lord. And Allah is not unaware of what you do.

وَمِنْ حَيْثُ خَرَجْتَ

And from wheresoever you start forth

فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ ۖ

turn your face in the direction of Al-Masjid-al-Haram

وَإِنَّهُ لَلْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكَ ۗ

that is indeed the truth from your Lord

وَمَا اللَّهُ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ

And Allah is not unaware of what you do

وَمِنْ حَيْثُ خَرَجْتَ فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ ۚ وَحَيْثُ مَا كُنتُمْ فَوَلُّوا وُجُوهَكُمْ شَطْرَهُ لِئَلَّا يَكُونَ لِلنَّاسِ عَلَيْكُمْ حُجَّةٌ إِلَّا الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا مِنْهُمْ فَلَا تَخْشَوْهُمْ وَاخْشَوْنِي وَلِأُتِمَّ نِعْمَتِي عَلَيْكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ ١٥٠

And from wheresoever you start forth (for prayers), turn your face in the direction of Al-Masjid-al-Haram (at Makkah), and wheresoever you are, turn your faces towards, it (when you pray) so that men may have no argument against you except those of them that are wrong-doers, so fear them not, but fear Me! - And so that I may complete My Blessings on you and that you may be guided.

وَمِنْ حَيْثُ خَرَجْتَ

And from wheresoever you start forth (for prayers),

فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ ۚ

turn your face in the direction of Al-Masjid-al-Haram (at Makkah),

وَحَيْثُ مَا كُنتُمْ

and wheresoever you are,

فَوَلُّوا وُجُوهَكُمْ شَطْرَهُ

turn your faces towards it (when you pray)

لِئَلَّا يَكُونَ لِلنَّاسِ عَلَيْكُمْ حُجَّةٌ

so that men may have no argument against you

إِلَّا الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا مِنْهُمْ

except those of them that are wrong-doers,

فَلَا تَخْشَوْهُمْ

so fear them not,

وَاخْشَوْنِي

but fear Me!

وَلِأُتِمَّ نِعْمَتِي عَلَيْكُمْ

And so that I may complete My Blessings on you

وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ

and that you may be guided.