148- AND FOR EVERY NATION THERE IS A DIRECTION HE (ALLAH) DIRECTS THEM TO, SO RACE AND COMPETE FOR THE GOOD DEEDS.  WHEREVER YOU ARE ALLAH WILL BRING YOU ALL TO HIM, FOR ALLAH IS ABLE TO DO ALL THINGS.

149- AND FROM WHEREVER YOU DEPART DIRECT YOUR FACE TOWARDS THE SACRED MOSQUE, FOR ALLAH IS NOT UNAWARE OF WHAT YOU DO.

150- AND FROM WHICHEVER WAY YOU DEPART, DIRECT YOUR FACE TOWARDS THE SACRED MOSQUE, AND WHEREVER YOU ARE DIRECT YOUR FACE TOWARDS IT, SO THAT PEOPLE SHALL NOT HAVE ANY EVIDENCE AGAINST YOU, EXCEPT FOR THE UNJUST OF THEM, DO NOT FEAR THEM, AND FEAR ME, AND I WILL COMPLETE MY BOUNTY UPON YOU, SO THAT YOU MAY BE RIGHTLY GUIDED. 

Each faith on Earth has a direction to turn to when praying.  The Christians turn towards the east, the Jews turn towards Jerusalem, and the Muslims towards Kabba, the first house of prayer that was ever built. 

Allah the Highest commands us to “RACE AND COMPETE FOR THE GOOD DEEDS”.  It is a competition for obeying and pleasing Allah the Highest. 

We compete to do well in education and at work hoping for rewards or good marks, promotion, financial gain or status.  Competing to please Allah the Highest is a more worthy competition and a more worthy race.  This is because is the reward is much greater and eternal.  Allah the Highest said: “AND RACE TO FORGIVENESS FROM YOUR LORD AND A GARDEN,  IT’S WITH IS THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN ALLAH AND HIS MESSENGERS,  THIS IS ALLAH’S BOUNTY, HE GIVES TO WHOM HE WILLS, FOR ALLAH’S BOUNTY IS IN GREAT ABUNDANCE”.  (S:57 A:21)

In any race or competition, there are winners, those who come in front of other competitors, they are the foremost.  Allah the Highest speaks about them in another Sorah and their very special reward.  They will have the honour and privilege of being drawn closer to Allah the Highest.  Allah the Highest said: “THE FOREMOST THE FORMOST * THEY ARE THOSE DRAWN CLOSE * IN THE GARDENS OF DELIGHTS * A GROUP OF THE EARLY ONES * AND A FEW OF THE LATER ONES”.  (S:56 A:10-14)

Then Allah the Highest speaks about the Qibla again:

1-    The Sacred Mosque is the right Qibla, the Qibla Allah the Highest choose for us.

2-    We do not in any way follow the creed of the people of the book, not even their Qibla. 

3-    The Kabba symbolizes our identity and unity as a Muslim nation When we all direct our faces towards it when we pray. 

4-    Allah the Highest tells us not to worry about or fear the Idolators or the people of the book, if we fear Allah, fearing them should never enter our hearts.

5-    Allah the Highest promises to complete his bounty upon us, the bounty of His Religion and Faith.  Indeed Allah the Highest did and sent this Ayah to confirm completing His bounty upon us:    “TODAY I COMPLETED YOUR RELIGION FOR YOU,  AND PERFECTED MY BOUNTY UPON YOU, AND AM SATISFIED WITH ISLAM AS YOUR RELIGION”.  (S:5 A:3)

We thank Allah the Highest for the bounty of his Faith, His book, and His messenger prayer and peace upon him.