تِلۡكَ أُمَّةٞ قَدۡ خَلَتۡۖ لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتۡ وَلَكُم مَّا كَسَبۡتُمۡۖ وَلَا تُسۡ‍َٔلُونَ عَمَّا كَانُواْ يَعۡمَلُونَ 134

134        That was one group of people who has passed away. They will account for what they did and you will account for what you do. You will not be asked for what they used to do.

وَقَالُواْ كُونُواْ هُودًا أَوۡ نَصَٰرَىٰ تَهۡتَدُواْۗ قُلۡ بَلۡ مِلَّةَ إِبۡرَٰهِ‍ۧمَ حَنِيفٗاۖ وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُشۡرِكِينَ 135

135        And they say: “Be a Jew or a Christian, then you will be rightly guided. [O Muhammad (May Allah's peace and blessings be upon him )!] Say to them: “In fact, the followers of the religion of Ibrahim (peace be upon him ) are at the straight path. He worshipped one God and he was not of the idolaters.”

قُولُوٓاْ ءَامَنَّا بِٱللَّهِ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيۡنَا وَمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَىٰٓ إِبۡرَٰهِ‍ۧمَ وَإِسۡمَٰعِيلَ وَإِسۡحَٰقَ وَيَعۡقُوبَ وَٱلۡأَسۡبَاطِ وَمَآ أُوتِيَ مُوسَىٰ وَعِيسَىٰ وَمَآ أُوتِيَ ٱلنَّبِيُّونَ مِن رَّبِّهِمۡ لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَيۡنَ أَحَدٖ مِّنۡهُمۡ وَنَحۡنُ لَهُۥ مُسۡلِمُونَ 136

136        [O Muhammad (May Allah's peace and blessings be upon him )!] Say: “We believe in Allah and that which is re-vealed to us and that which was re-vealed to Ibrahim (peace be upon him ), Ismail (peace be upon him ),
Ishaq (peace be upon him ), Yaqub (peace be upon him and to the children of Yaqub (peace be upon him ) and that which has been given to Musa 
(peace be upon him ) and Isa (peace be upon him ), and that which has been given to the Prophets from their Creator. We make no distinc-tion between any of them and we have submitted to Allah as Muslims.”

فَإِنۡ ءَامَنُواْ بِمِثۡلِ مَآ ءَامَنتُم بِهِۦ فَقَدِ ٱهۡتَدَواْۖ وَّإِن تَوَلَّوۡاْ فَإِنَّمَا هُمۡ فِي شِقَاقٖۖ فَسَيَكۡفِيكَهُمُ ٱللَّهُۚ وَهُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلۡعَلِيمُ 137

137        Hence, if they believe similarly as you believe, then they are rightly guided. But if they turn away, then they are in (open) opposition. So Allah’s support against them is enough for you. And He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.

صِبۡغَةَ ٱللَّهِ وَمَنۡ أَحۡسَنُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ صِبۡغَةٗۖ وَنَحۡنُ لَهُۥ عَٰبِدُونَ 138

138        Take your colour from Allah and whose colour is better than the colour from Allah ? (Or our religion is the Religion of Allah, and which religion can be better than Allah’s? – Ibn-Kathir) And we are His worshipers.

قُلۡ أَتُحَآجُّونَنَا فِي ٱللَّهِ وَهُوَ رَبُّنَا وَرَبُّكُمۡ وَلَنَآ أَعۡمَٰلُنَا وَلَكُمۡ أَعۡمَٰلُكُمۡ وَنَحۡنُ لَهُۥ مُخۡلِصُونَ 139

139        [O Muhammad (May Allah's peace and blessings be upon him )!] Say: (to Jews and Christians) “Do you still dispute with us regar-ding Allah (stating that He will not forgive Muslims on the Day of Judgement) while he is our and your Creator? And we will be treated accor-ding to our deeds and you shall be treated accor-ding to your deeds. And we are sincere to Him.

أَمۡ تَقُولُونَ إِنَّ إِبۡرَٰهِ‍ۧمَ وَإِسۡمَٰعِيلَ وَإِسۡحَٰقَ وَيَعۡقُوبَ وَٱلۡأَسۡبَاطَ كَانُواْ هُودًا أَوۡ نَصَٰرَىٰۗ قُلۡ ءَأَنتُمۡ أَعۡلَمُ أَمِ ٱللَّهُۗ وَمَنۡ أَظۡلَمُ مِمَّن كَتَمَ شَهَٰدَةً عِندَهُۥ مِنَ ٱللَّهِۗ وَمَا ٱللَّهُ بِغَٰفِلٍ عَمَّا تَعۡمَلُونَ 140

140        Or, do you still keep saying that Ibrahim (peace be upon him ), Ismail (peace be upon him ), Ishaq 
(peace be upon him ), Yaqub (peace be upon him ) and Children of Yaqub (peace be upon him ) were either Jews or Christians?” Say to them: “Do you know more or Allah? And who will be more unjust than the one who conceals the testimony with him from Allah? And Allah is not unaware of what you do.”

تِلۡكَ أُمَّةٞ قَدۡ خَلَتۡۖ لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتۡ وَلَكُم مَّا كَسَبۡتُمۡۖ وَلَا تُسۡ‍َٔلُونَ عَمَّا كَانُواْ يَعۡمَلُونَ 141

141        That was one group of (chosen) people who has passed away. They will account for what they did and you will account for what you do. You will not be asked for what they used to do.

۞سَيَقُولُ ٱلسُّفَهَآءُ مِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَا وَلَّىٰهُمۡ عَن قِبۡلَتِهِمُ ٱلَّتِي كَانُواْ عَلَيۡهَاۚ قُل لِّلَّهِ ٱلۡمَشۡرِقُ وَٱلۡمَغۡرِبُۚ يَهۡدِي مَن يَشَآءُ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطٖ مُّسۡتَقِيمٖ 142

142        Soon the fools among the people will say: “What has made the Muslims change their Qiblah (the direction of praying) on which they were? [O Muhammad (May Allah's peace and blessings be upon him )!] Say to them: “East and west belong to Allah.” (Being the owner, He can fix any direction He likes without giving reason for it). However, Allah guides whom He wills towards a Straight Path.

وَكَذَٰلِكَ جَعَلۡنَٰكُمۡ أُمَّةٗ وَسَطٗا لِّتَكُونُواْ شُهَدَآءَ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ وَيَكُونَ ٱلرَّسُولُ عَلَيۡكُمۡ شَهِيدٗاۗ وَمَا جَعَلۡنَا ٱلۡقِبۡلَةَ ٱلَّتِي كُنتَ عَلَيۡهَآ إِلَّا لِنَعۡلَمَ مَن يَتَّبِعُ ٱلرَّسُولَ مِمَّن يَنقَلِبُ عَلَىٰ عَقِبَيۡهِۚ وَإِن كَانَتۡ لَكَبِيرَةً إِلَّا عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ هَدَى ٱللَّهُۗ وَمَا كَانَ ٱللَّهُ لِيُضِيعَ إِيمَٰنَكُمۡۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِٱلنَّاسِ لَرَءُوفٞ رَّحِيمٞ 143

143        And (just as We have given you the best Qiblah, similarly) We have made you the just and best nation, (and honoured you) so that you may be witnesses against mankind and that the messenger [Prophet Muhammad (May Allah's peace and blessings be upon him )] be a witness against you (on the Day of Resurrection). We did not appoint the Qiblah which you used to face but to test who (openly) followed Prophet Muhammad (May Allah's peace and blessings be upon him ) and who would turn on his heels. And though it (the change of Qiblah) was very hard on people except those whom Allah has guided. And (don’t worry) Allah would never let your Salat (offered facing Masjid-al Aqsa) go waste. Indeed, Allah is extremely Kind, Most Merciful towards mankind.

قَدۡ نَرَىٰ تَقَلُّبَ وَجۡهِكَ فِي ٱلسَّمَآءِۖ فَلَنُوَلِّيَنَّكَ قِبۡلَةٗ تَرۡضَىٰهَاۚ فَوَلِّ وَجۡهَكَ شَطۡرَ ٱلۡمَسۡجِدِ ٱلۡحَرَامِۚ وَحَيۡثُ مَا كُنتُمۡ فَوَلُّواْ وُجُوهَكُمۡ شَطۡرَهُۥۗ وَإِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ ٱلۡكِتَٰبَ لَيَعۡلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ ٱلۡحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّهِمۡۗ وَمَا ٱللَّهُ بِغَٰفِلٍ عَمَّا يَعۡمَلُونَ 144

144        [O Muhammad (May Allah's peace and blessings be upon him )!] Yes, We have seen the turning of your face to heaven (for guidance). Hence, We will turn you to Qiblah which will please you. So you turn your face towards the Sacred Masjid (Masjid-al-Haram) and wherever you people are, turn your face towards this direction. And, indeed, the People of the Scripture know that this revelation is true from their Creator (as it is written in their Books). And Allah is not unaware of what they do.

وَلَئِنۡ أَتَيۡتَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ ٱلۡكِتَٰبَ بِكُلِّ ءَايَةٖ مَّا تَبِعُواْ قِبۡلَتَكَۚ وَمَآ أَنتَ بِتَابِعٖ قِبۡلَتَهُمۡۚ وَمَا بَعۡضُهُم بِتَابِعٖ قِبۡلَةَ بَعۡضٖۚ وَلَئِنِ ٱتَّبَعۡتَ أَهۡوَآءَهُم مِّنۢ بَعۡدِ مَا جَآءَكَ مِنَ ٱلۡعِلۡمِ إِنَّكَ إِذٗا لَّمِنَ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ 145

145        Even if you give all the proofs to those who were given the Scripture, they will not accept your Qiblah. [O Muhammad (May Allah's peace and blessings be upon him )!] You are also not going to accept their Qiblah. Furthermore, they (Jews and Christians) are not willing to accept each other’s Qiblah. [O Muhammad (May Allah's peace and blessings be upon him )!] If you happen to follow their desires after this knowledge has come to you, then you will surely be one of the wrong-doers.

ٱلَّذِينَ ءَاتَيۡنَٰهُمُ ٱلۡكِتَٰبَ يَعۡرِفُونَهُۥ كَمَا يَعۡرِفُونَ أَبۡنَآءَهُمۡۖ وَإِنَّ فَرِيقٗا مِّنۡهُمۡ لَيَكۡتُمُونَ ٱلۡحَقَّ وَهُمۡ يَعۡلَمُونَ 146

146        The People of the Scripture recog-nize [Prophethood of Muhammad (May Allah's peace and blessings be upon him )] as clearly and fully as they recognize their own sons. However, a group of them con-ceals the truth after knowing it.

ٱلۡحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكَ فَلَا تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلۡمُمۡتَرِينَ 147

147        (This is) the truth from your Creator. Hence, don’t be one of those who doubt.

وَلِكُلّٖ وِجۡهَةٌ هُوَ مُوَلِّيهَاۖ فَٱسۡتَبِقُواْ ٱلۡخَيۡرَٰتِۚ أَيۡنَ مَا تَكُونُواْ يَأۡتِ بِكُمُ ٱللَّهُ جَمِيعًاۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيۡءٖ قَدِيرٞ 148

148        For every person (or nation) there is a direction to which they face (in their prayers). (Hence, forget about this discussion of Qiblah) You rather compete and concentrate on performing good deeds. Allah will gather you together on the Day of Resurrection. Indeed, Allah is Able to do all things.

وَمِنۡ حَيۡثُ خَرَجۡتَ فَوَلِّ وَجۡهَكَ شَطۡرَ ٱلۡمَسۡجِدِ ٱلۡحَرَامِۖ وَإِنَّهُۥ لَلۡحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكَۗ وَمَا ٱللَّهُ بِغَٰفِلٍ عَمَّا تَعۡمَلُونَ 149

149        [O Muhammad (May Allah's peace and blessings be upon him )!] And from wheresoever you start your journey, you should turn your face towards Masjid-al-Haram (for Salat), that is, indeed, the truth from your Creator. And Allah is not unaware of what you do.

وَمِنۡ حَيۡثُ خَرَجۡتَ فَوَلِّ وَجۡهَكَ شَطۡرَ ٱلۡمَسۡجِدِ ٱلۡحَرَامِۚ وَحَيۡثُ مَا كُنتُمۡ فَوَلُّواْ وُجُوهَكُمۡ شَطۡرَهُۥ لِئَلَّا يَكُونَ لِلنَّاسِ عَلَيۡكُمۡ حُجَّةٌ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ مِنۡهُمۡ فَلَا تَخۡشَوۡهُمۡ وَٱخۡشَوۡنِي وَلِأُتِمَّ نِعۡمَتِي عَلَيۡكُمۡ وَلَعَلَّكُمۡ تَهۡتَدُونَ 150

150        [O Muhammad (May Allah's peace and blessings be upon him )!] And from wheresoever you start a journey, you should turn your face towards Masjid-al-Haram. And wherever you are, turn your face to this direction (when you pray). (This message is repeated) so that the people (i.e. your opponents) are left with no argument against you, except those who are wrong-doers among them. Hence, don’t fear them, rather fear Me Alone so that I may complete My Blessings on you (By providing you abode in Paradise in the Hereafter) and so that you be guided (to Islam in this world).

كَمَآ أَرۡسَلۡنَا فِيكُمۡ رَسُولٗا مِّنكُمۡ يَتۡلُواْ عَلَيۡكُمۡ ءَايَٰتِنَا وَيُزَكِّيكُمۡ وَيُعَلِّمُكُمُ ٱلۡكِتَٰبَ وَٱلۡحِكۡمَةَ وَيُعَلِّمُكُم مَّا لَمۡ تَكُونُواْ تَعۡلَمُونَ 151

151        [By making Masjid-al-Haram as Qiblah, We have fulfilled the supplication of Ibrahim (peace be upon him ). Similarly We have fulfilled his second part of supplication by sending Prophet Muhammad (May Allah's peace and blessings be upon him )]. As We sent a Prophet among you from you who recites Our revela-tions to you and purifies you (from sins), and teaches you (the meanings of) the Book and wisdom and teaches you (beneficial) know-ledge which you did not have.

فَٱذۡكُرُونِيٓ أَذۡكُرۡكُمۡ وَٱشۡكُرُواْ لِي وَلَا تَكۡفُرُونِ 152

152        Hence, remember Me, I will re-member you. Be grateful to Me and save yourself from ungratefulness.

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱسۡتَعِينُواْ بِٱلصَّبۡرِ وَٱلصَّلَوٰةِۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلصَّٰبِرِينَ 153

153        O you who believe! Seek help with patience and Salat. Indeed, Allah is with patient people.