(Abolition of Bigotry and Prejudice*)
The fools among the people would say, “Why did they change the direction of their Qiblah?” Say, “To God belongs the east and the west; He guides whoever wills in a straight path.”
سَيَقولُ السُّفَهاءُ مِنَ النّاسِ ما وَلّىٰهُم عَن قِبلَتِهِمُ الَّتى كانوا عَلَيها قُل لِلَّهِ المَشرِقُ وَالمَغرِبُ يَهدى مَن يَشاءُ إِلىٰ صِرٰطٍ مُستَقيمٍ
sayaqoolus sufahaaa’u minan naasi maa wallaahum ‘an Qiblatihimul latee kaanoo ‘alaihaa; qul lillaahil mashriqu walmaghrib; yahdee mai yashaaa’u ilaa Siraatim Mustaqeem
*2:142-145 “Qiblah” is the direction one faces during the Contact Prayers (Salat). When Gabriel conveyed to Muhammad the command to face Jerusalem instead of Mecca, the hypocrites were exposed. The Arabs were strongly prejudiced in favor of the Ka`aba as their “Qiblah.” Only the true believers were able to overcome their prejudices; they readily obeyed the messenger.