Coming to Terms with the Qur'an [Paperback]

Regarding Dr. Faizer's citation: She referred to the idea that there was a change in qibla. If you wish to overlook the verses of the qu'ran themselves, as well as the centuries of tafsir? The Quran 2:142 makes it clear that the change in Qibla did cause some disputation. On another note, you seem to have singled out one article while making the claim that there are so many mistakes. As a co-editor, I am aware that the academic material in the book may not be accepted by the confessional segment. The book was not prepared as seminarian material, or for confessional purposes, but rather as an academic approach. Which is why you see the authors are all professors/lecturers. Within the confessional tradition, however, there is the exhortation to not utter that which is untrue. Hopefully the book succeeded in that.

I found this book substandard on account of research and material contained within. There are so many examples of distorted references, and after finding the basic thesis wrong, I have stopped cross-checking rest of them. I will give you one example. On page 78 of this book, Rizwi Faizer writes" It was only after a period of constant quarreling with the Jews of Medina that he turned towards the Kaba in Mecca instead". I checked the reference 7, which is A. Guillaume, The Life of Muhammad, page 289 which says "It is said that the Qibla was changed in Shaban (8th momth of Muslim Lunar year) at the beginning of the eighteenth month after the apostle's arrive in Medina".

So you read Rizwi's claim that after quarreling with Jews of Medina, Muhammad changed the focus of prayer from Mosque in Jerusalem to Mosque in Mecca. Where in the quoted reference it says about Quarrel with Jews? whereas the quoted reference says 18 months after migration to Medina. Where this quarrel with Jews came from in context of Change of Qibla? (Qibla ~ focus point of Muslim prayer, which is Kaaba in Mecca). Now we now from history, and from the same quoted reference "The Life of Muhammad" by A Guillaume, that not even the first battle with Meccans has taken place 18 months after migration to Medina, lest a Quarrel with Jews of Medina, which happened after Battle of Badar (The first battle).

We also know that Muhammad remained in Mecca for 13 years, trying to convey his message to idolatrous of Mecca, who regard Kaaba in the highest esteem. If Muhammad has any desire to win favor of Meccans, he would had chosen Kaaba in the first place as Qibla. On the contrary, for 13 years in Mecca and for 18 months after migration to Medina, Qibla remains as Dome of The Rock in Jerusalem. Muhammad should have changed it earlier, if that was his decision. Moreover after migrating to Medina, Muhammad should had kept the Qibla towards Mosque in Jerusalem, as that would had been more acceptable to Jews of Medina, if changing of the Qibla was his own decision.

Now I failed to understand what caused the linkage to Quarrel with Jews in relation to change in Qibla when the name of the Article is "The Dome of the Rock and Quran", and Why the author failed to give the Quran as a reference itself. Quran says,
[2:143] The foolish among the people will say: `What has turned them away from their Qiblah which they followed?' Say: `To Allah belong the East and the West. He guides whom He pleases to the right path.' [2:144] And thus have We made you an exalted nation, that you may be guardians over men, and the Messenger of God may be a guardian over you. And We did not appoint the Qiblah which thou didst follow, except that We might know him who follows the Messenger of God from him who turns upon his heels. And this is indeed hard, except for those whom Allah has guided. And it does not behove Allah to let your faith go in vain; surely, Allah is Compassionate and Merciful to the people. [2:145] Verily, We see thee turning thy face often to heaven; surely, then, will We make thee turn to the Qiblah which thou likest. So, turn thy face towards the Sacred Mosque; and wherever you be, turn your faces towards it. And they to whom the Book has been given know that this is the truth from their Lord; and Allah is not unmindful of what they do. [2:149] And every one has a goal which dominates him; vie, then, with one another in good works. Wherever you be, Allah will bring you all together. Surely, Allah has the power to do all that He wills.

Now you can read from Quran, it clearly says that real goal of prayer is to become over-achiever in goodness and that is the goal of prayer to prepare one for this goal. Choice of Qibla has no other significance, it Quranic reference clearly says God does not distinction between East or West.

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