115- TO ALLAH BELONGS THE EAST AND THE WEST, AND WHICHEVER DIRECTION YOU TURN, ALLAH’S FACE IS THERE, AND ALLAH IS ALL EMBRACING, ALL KNOWING.

There were probably a number of historical reasons for the sending down of this Ayah:

-         When the Muslims migrated from Makah to Medina, they changed their Qibla, in a way.  In Makah, they prayed facing both the Kabba and Al-Aqsa that is Jerusalem.  They could do that in Makah. 

However, in Medina, Jerusalem was north while Makah was south, so they could not face both directions.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him and the Muslims prayed facing north, Jerusalem

Some of the Muslims felt uncomfortable with that.  This Ayah was a reassurance to the Muslims, that Allah the Highest is every where.

-         It is very well recorded that in his travels, Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him used to pray any Nafl (extra or Sunah) Salah on the back of an animal like a Camel or Mule, facing whichever direction the animal was heading.  (Bukhari – Salah on the back of animals)

He did not do that however when praying Fard Salah,

-         There is a recorded incident when a group of Muslims travelling at night in the desert, when the sky was cloudy, they could decide the direction of the Qibla.  They eventually prayed facing the wrong direction, which they found out in the morning.  They did not repeat the Salah, and when they told Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him, he did not tell them to.

-         In our present day travelling, a Muslim may spend long hours in a plan, or bus or train, which keeps changing direction.  Then in railway stations and airports, it is difficult to find out the proper directions, let alone the direction of the Qibla. 

If one does not pray when possible and to the direction the train or plane is travelling, one might not pray whole day or longer.  Going by what this Ayah says, I feel that it is better to pray at the times of Salah, when possible, Qasr (Short) and Jama (joining prayers together), facing the direction he is travelling, than not praying whole day then might also find it difficult to make it up.  We should also remember when death will come to us.

I feel that this is a license and licenses are to make things easier and worship easier for the believers.