Istiqbal al-Qibla (Facing the Qibla)

The Kaaba is the first place of worship of humanity, which has existed since the Prophet Adam. The naming of this holy place as Bayt Allah, the house of Allah, is symbolic. Prophet Muhammad (saw) expressed his respect and love to the Kaaba with the words “How good you are and how good your fragrance; how great you are and how great your sanctity! ” (Sunan Ibn Majah, Fitan 2) It is a source of trust and a sign of Muslim unity. The Kaaba is a sign of the unity of Muslims and a place of trust. A believer turns to the Kaaba in the spirit of common feeling and unity with all his fellow believers in the five daily salah and other salah he performs. Due to this powerful effect and unifying feature, the Kaaba has become the qibla of those who have embraced Islam. (Baqarah, 2/144)

From the perspective of ritual discipline and spiritual unity, the Kaaba – the direction we face in many of our rituals, especially prayer – bears great significance. (Ahmet Özel, “Kıble”, DİA, XXV, 365) By saying that “Whoever prays like us, faces our Qibla and eats our slaughtered animals is a Muslim and is under Allah's and His Apostle's protection” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Salah, 28), the Prophet Muhammad (saw) expressed the importance of facing the Masjid al-Haram in the Muslim identity.  Turning towards the holy sanctuary with the face and whole body actually means to turn your heart, mind and soul to Allah (swt) and submit it all to Him.  The Prophet of Mercy (saw) points out the meaning and importance of facing the Qibla “Whoever of you turns to the Qibla, he has turned towards the great Lord.” (Sunan Abu Davud, Salah, 22).   By turning to the side of the Kaaba in salah, the servant also abandons all kinds of worldly and bad feelings in his heart and mind and strengthens his worship concentration. The fact that everyone turns to the same side in salah ensures both the order of worship and the peace and serenity of the heart. (Heyet, İlmihal, I, 231)

A person who sees the Kaaba with his own eyes turns to it while performing salah. It is sufficient for those who are far away to turn their face and body towards that direction. While it is makruh (disapproved) to turn one's face away from the qibla while performing salah, it does not invalidate it. Turning the chest more than 45 degrees to the right and left invalidates the salah and requires it to be performed again.