The Holy Quran 2:177 — Surah Al-Baqarah

Arabic text

۞ لَّيْسَ ٱلْبِرَّ أَن تُوَلُّوا۟ وُجُوهَكُمْ قِبَلَ ٱلْمَشْرِقِ وَٱلْمَغْرِبِ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱلْبِرَّ مَنْ ءَامَنَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ وَٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ وَٱلْكِتَـٰبِ وَٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ وَءَاتَى ٱلْمَالَ عَلَىٰ حُبِّهِۦ ذَوِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ وَٱلْيَتَـٰمَىٰ وَٱلْمَسَـٰكِينَ وَٱبْنَ ٱلسَّبِيلِ وَٱلسَّآئِلِينَ وَفِى ٱلرِّقَابِ وَأَقَامَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتَى ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَٱلْمُوفُونَ بِعَهْدِهِمْ إِذَا عَـٰهَدُوا۟ ۖ وَٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ فِى ٱلْبَأْسَآءِ وَٱلضَّرَّآءِ وَحِينَ ٱلْبَأْسِ ۗ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا۟ ۖ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُتَّقُونَ

Translation

Righteousness is not that you turn your faces towards the east or west (during salaah), but (a person of) righteousness is that person who believes (validity in beliefs) in Allaah, the Last Day (the Day of Qiyaamah), the angels, the Books, and the Ambiyaa (Allaah's prophets); and despite his love for wealth, he spends it on his relatives, orphans, poor people, travellers, beggars and to set slaves (and prisoners-of-war) free. (In addition to all of this, the righteous person is) He (who) establishes salaah, gives zakaah, fulfils promises when making them (with Allaah and with people), exercises patience during hardships (such as poverty), adversities (such as illness and fear) and during times of war. These are the ones who are true (in their Imaan and in their claim to righteousness) and they are the ones who have Taqwa.

Tafsir (excerpt) — Tafsir Usmani

When the Jews and Christians heard the previous verses condemning them, they began to say: “We have many means and signs of guidance and forgiveness. One obvious thing is that, turning towards the qibla we have been commanded to face, we perform the prayer, which is the most excellent of acts of worship, in accordance with the command of Allah.

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