Q. My question is regarding salah. I did ask people in the area I was at about the qibla direction. I was given wrong direction. Later I was told of the new direction, must i re-pray the prayers that were done in the wrong direction?

Q. If Allah is everywhere, then how painstaking do I have to get to be with qibla?

Q. Do I have to repeat my salah?

Answer

Point1: There are multiple points that are discussed under the topic of seeking the direction of qibla. The first thing the inquirer must do is ask people that are familiar with directions within a given locality.  Simple information approximating the direction of north, south, etc. would generally suffice.  This step is indeed necessary. Also this process should also be inclusive of a sincere attempt in making sure that the direction that is given to you is indeed correct prior to you performing the salaah.

If whist performing your salaah the correct direction had been made known to you or a person shifts or turns you to the correct direction, you would merely (build upon) continue your prayers in this new direction and the salaah would be valid.

The complicated portion

If the shift comprises of 180 degrees or if the person prayed whilst having their back towards the qibla then the salah would have to be repeated.  Likewise, if the correct direction was found out after the salaah and the person had performed the salah 90 degrees to the right or left,  then again the salaah would have to be re-performed should time permit. Should the salah time expire, then majority of the Imaams allow for it not to be repeated in the latter situation.

Point2: A small deviation of degrees as a result of error is allowed and repetition would not be required. A small deviation here is defined as a maximum of 24 degrees on either to the right or left facing the Ka’ba. Many have used the 45 or 48 degree rule haphazardly in that they assume that if one is off by 45 or 48 degrees of the Ka’ba than it is fine. Others have based their notions that Islam stands for ease, and thus 45-48 degrees off from the targeted direction would also be accepted. This is a misrepresentation of specifically the 45-48 degree deviation rule.

Thus, although (24)-45-48 degree latitude does exist, it is safest to take the view that a 48 degree deviation should be accepted to mean that 24 degree latitude exists from the direction of the Ka’ba, either to its right or left.

Point3: If you happen to be stranded and cannot determine the qibla by using your dominant thinking (ghalib-ur-rai) (mental quest, gps system, compass, etc) then the Mujtahedeen have all agreed that a person must perform in any direction to fulfill the obligation of salaah, and such salah would be valid.  Imaam Shafee, however, states that such performed salaah would have to be repeated upon the determination of accuracy.

Should a person have sufficient time to fulfill the requirement of salaah whilst being in a state of directional loss, then majority of the Mujtahids would have the person perform the salaah four times in all four directions. Should time be a limiting factor, then performing this salaah once would suffice.

Point4: Ascertaining the direction of the qibla is critical. To show its significance, the Mujtahid imams state that a person should not neglect the responsibility of taking the necessary steps in determining the qibla. Nevertheless, if by mere fluke the person performed salaah in the correct the direction, according to Imaams Malik and Hanbal, the salaah would have to be repeated. Imaam Abu Hanefas’ view is that  such a salaah would be valid not requiring a repetition; whilst Imaam shafee calls for a repetition of salaah if one knows they were indeed wrong with the direction of the qibla. However, Imaam Shafee also states that if it was in all likelihood that the qibla was correct despite it being an educated guess, then there would be no need to repeat the salaah. From these various proofs, we learn to take the direction of qiblah as a serious concern.

Point5: As far as your comment on Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) being everywhere, the issue is not regarding the presence of Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala). It is performing the salaah as prescribed by Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) that makes the salaah valid. To neglect this would be to neglect a great portion of deen.

Note:  If you fail to comprehend any of the above, then merely ask us for added clarification.

May Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) be with you and pray for us as well. Ameem.

Allah certainly knows best.