Direction of Salaat

[Sister]

As'salemolikum

When I first learned to pray I was taught that we are to pray toward the East.

I was at a friends house not to long ago and they pray toward the North because the compass points to the center of the earth which is North and that Mecca is where the center of the Earth is.

Is Mecca located where the center of the earth is?
Should we pray toward the North then?

Inshallah you will be able to answer clear this up for me.

Jak Allah Khair

[Imam]

Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem

Wa'alaykum 'Assalam wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu



All Praise be to Allah who is the Lord of the worlds, and may Endless Blessings be showered upon His Most Beloved, and Final Messenger of Islam, Hadrat Muhammad Mustafa Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam


Jazak'allah for your question. From America, Makkah will definitely not be north. Therefore it would be incorrect to perform prayer in that direction. From America, I think it would be 'East, East, South, which would be like -the dash in the last letter from the top of the 'e' in like. I know that in England it is South East, which is at more of an angle.


Alternatively, you can walk into any Islamic book shop, or ask a Muslim who prays regularly, what the direction is, and he will give you a number that you can use on your compass, which will show you the direction of the Qiblah, after you have pointed it north.


I hope that I have made sense. In any event, if you are unsure, please refer back and I will be able to help you further.


Jazak'allah Khayr


M. Waseem Ashrafi