Incorrect Qiblah Direction in a Masjid
Question
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Salaam, My local (closest) masjid prays in a direction that is different from NE as advised (to my understanding) by the Hanafi madhab. In the attached screenshot, you'll see that they pray at "111 degrees" roughly in the direction of East Southeast. The same compass shows our Qibla at 47 degrees NE. Is it allowed for me to pray in Jamaat in this masjid? If so, should I be doing anything differently? I have spoken to the Imam at length about my concern and shown him my calculations. He said that the board has decided to not change anything despite requests or objections from many people and that they had this direction approved by Grand Muftis and other Ulema "all over the world." He said that they feared that changing the qibla would split their community and cause fitna. I would like to understand how best to conduct myself and my family's prayers. The closest other masjid is 20 minutes away which makes it difficult to attend daily prayers. I would also like if you have any directions/opinion/fatawa to share with the Imam of the masjid (and possibly the board). JazakumAllah khairan |
Answer
Waʿalaykum al-Salām wa Raḥmat Allah wa Barakātu-h.
In the name of Allah, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful.
The qibla direction from North America is north-easterly. A divergence up to 45 degrees -either side- is tolerable.[i] You should not perform salat in that particular masjid; facing the qibla is a pre-condition for the validity of salat.
You may share the following book with the Imam and the board: Port in a Storm: A Fiqh Solution to the Qibla of North America by Shaykh Nuh Ha Meem Keller
And Allah knows best.
[i] Mufti Shafī‘ ‘Uthmānī, “Tanqīḥ al-Maqāl fī Taṣḥīḥ al-Istiqbāl,” in Jawāhir al-Fiqh (Maktaba-i Dār al-‘Ulūm Karachi, 1431/2010), 2:326-420.