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The Qibla (, "direction"), also transliterated as Qiblah, Qibleh, Kiblah, Kıble or Kibla, is the direction that should be faced when a Muslim prays during ''salat''. It is fixed as the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca. Most mosques contain a wall niche, known as mihrab, that indicates the Qiblah. Most multifaith prayer rooms will also contain a Qibla, although usually less standardized in appearance than one would find within a mosque. Muslims all praying towards the same point is traditionally considered to symbolize the unity of the Ummah, or all Muslims worldwide, under Sharia (Law of God). The Qiblah has importance beyond ''salaat'' and plays a part in various ceremonies. The head of an animal that is slaughtered using ''halal'' methods is usually aligned with the Qiblah. After death, Muslims are usually buried with the body at right angles to the Qibla and the face turned right towards the direction of the Qiblah. Thus, archaeology can indicate an Islamic necropolis if no other signs are present. == History == According to the traditional Muslim view, the Qiblah originally faced the Noble Sanctuary in Jerusalem. This Qiblah was used for over 13 years, from 610 CE until 623 CE. Seventeen months after the Islamic prophet Muhammad's 622 CE arrival in Medina – the date is given as 11 February 624 – the Qiblah became oriented towards the Kaaba in Mecca.〔''In the Lands of the Prophet'', Time-Life, p. 29〕 According to traditional accounts from Muhammad's companions, the change happened very suddenly during the noon prayer in Medina, in a mosque now known as Masjid al-Qiblatayn (Mosque of the Two Qiblahs).〔 Muhammad was leading the prayer when he received revelations from God instructing him to take the Kaaba as the Qiblah (literally, "Turn then Thy face in the direction of the sacred Mosque:").〔〔Sura 2 (Al-Baqara), ayah 144, 〕 According to the traditional accounts contained in the hadith and sira, Muhammad, who had been facing Jerusalem, upon receiving this revelation, immediately turned around to face Mecca, and those praying behind him also did so.〔 Some have claimed that the Qur'an does not identify or allude to Jerusalem as being the first Qiblah and that the practice of facing Jerusalem is only mentioned in traditional biographies of Muhammad and hadith collections. There is also disagreement as to when the practice started and for how long it lasted.〔 Some sources say the Jerusalem Qiblah was used for a period of between sixteen to eighteen months. The Jewish custom of facing Jerusalem for prayer may have influenced the Muslim Qiblah. Others surmise that the use of Jerusalem as the direction of prayer was to either induce the Jews of Medina to convert to Islam or to "win over their hearts."〔 When relations with the Jews soured, Muhammad changed the Qiblah towards Mecca.〔 Another reason given why the Qiblah was changed is that Jews viewed the use of Jerusalem as signalling the Muslims' intention of joining their religion. It was changed to discredit this assumption.〔 Others state that it was changed because Muhammad was angered by that city or its people, and not because of his conflict with the Jews. The Qiblah, for any point of reference on the Earth, is the direction of the Kaaba. Some Muslims from North America determine this direction using a rhumb line, while some Muslims use a great circle. In Muslim religious practice, supplicants must face this direction in prayer. Muslims do not worship the Kaaba or its contents; the Kaaba is simply a focal point for prayer. In ancient times, Muslims travelling abroad used an astrolabe to find the Qiblah. Cheraman Juma Masjid is a mosque in the south Indian state of Kerala. Believed to be built in 7th century CE by Malik Bin Deenar, it is thought to be the oldest mosque in India, and the second oldest mosque in the world to offer Jumu'ah prayers.〔(Cheraman Juma Masjid A Secular Heritage )〕 Constructed during the lifetime of Muhammad, the bodies of some of his original followers are said to be buried there.〔(A mosque from a Hindu king ).〕 Unlike other mosques in Kerala state, which face westwards (towards the Qiblah), this mosque faces eastwards.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Qibla」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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