145- AND IF YOU WERE TO BRING ALL SIGNS AND EVIDENCE TO THE PEOPLE OF THE BOOK, THEY WILL NOT FOLLOW YOUR QIBLA, AND YOU WILL NOT FOLLOW THEIR QIBLA, AND THEY WILL NOT FOLLOW EACH OTHER’S QIBLA.  AND IF YOU FOLLOW THEIR DESIRES AFTER THE KNOWLEDGE THAT CAME TO YOU, YOU WILL THEN BE OF THE WRONG-DOERS.

146- THOSE WE HAVE GIVEN THE BOOK, THEY KNOW THE BOOK AS THEY KNOW THEIR OWN CHILDREN, WHILE SOME OF THEM HIDE THE TRUTH, KNOWINGLY.

147- THE TRUTH FROM YOUR LORD, SO DO NOT BE OF THE DOUBTFUL.

The people of the Book do not follow the Qibla of the Muslims as they do not believe in the prophecy of Mohamed prayer and peace upon him or that of Ismail, peace be upon him.  They claim that Ismail was a slave girl’s son, therefore can not be a prophet, and a prophet can not come from his line.  Some even say that Ismail peace upon him was an illegitimate child, consequently, can not be a prophet and can not produce a prophet from his line. 

Are they not aware that in saying that they are calling Ibrahim peace upon him adulterer?

Their perversions of their books permanently altered their belief, and the belief of all who follow them.  They do not accept and submit to Allah’s will, which is what we are commanded to do.

The Issue about the Qibla is that of Obedience and Submission.   It is not the decision of the believer and the believer might know why, but does not have to.  A true believer should obey and submit to Allah’s Will, expressed in His Book the Quran or through His messenger prayer and peace upon him, regardless.  Allah the Highest said: “IT IS NOT FOR THE BELIEVERS, MEN AND WOMEN, TO HAVE ANY OPTION CONCERNING WHAT TO DO IF A MATTER HAS BEEN DECIDED BY ALLAH AND HIS MESSENGER; AND ANY ONE WHO DISOBEYS ALLAH AND HIS MESSENGER, HE HAS CLEARLY GONE ASTRAY OF THE RIGHT PATH”.  (S: 33 A: 36)

This is what it is for the Muslim, Obedience and Submission.

The Qibla here symbolizes all the things which are held dear, morality and principles in life, if they are different from ours.  We should be aware that what we hold dear might be different from what the people of the book hold dear.  They will not follow our values, and we should not follow theirs.  Some things in life are not negotiable, and if we negotiate or dilute our values, the loss is very great then.