Everyone In Mosque Has Been 'Praying In Wrong Direction' For 37 Years, Imam Discovers
BY : JULIA BANIM

Muslims have been praying in the wrong direction.
Worshippers at a Turkish mosque have reportedly been praying in the wrong direction for nearly forty years.

The mistake was discovered by the newly appointed imam at the mosque, which is located in Sugoren, in the west of Turkey. Isa Kaya was appointed back in 2017, and since came to notice a very important error within the structure of the building.

Those who practice the Muslim faith are advised to kneel facing the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca while praying, five times each day.

The Kaaba is a black, cube shaped building located at the Al-Masjid Al-Ḥarām; Islam’s largest mosque.

However, during the construction of this particular mosque back in 1981, the Mihrab – a semicircular niche in the wall to mark the direction of Mecca – had been incorrectly placed. As a result, worshippers had been facing the wrong way by around 33 degrees for the last 37 years.

After hearing the rumours of a potential misalignment, Mr Kaya sought the advice of local muftis, specialist legal experts who are empowered to give rulings on religious matters.

The mufti's office proceeded to confirm how the Mihrab had indeed been put in the wrong position when the mosque was first built.

Mr Kaya has refrained from tearing down the Mihrab immediately, instead implementing a temporary measure whereby the congregation is guided by arrows of white tape on the carpet which point them in the correct direction.

As reported by Hurriyet Daily News, who cited Demiroren News Agency, Mr Kaya said:

We have explained the situation to our congregation and most of them have reacted positively to our solution.

Can
@CanBozkir
Replying to @CulturedMuslim
Mihrab of Muradiye Mosque in Edirne, Turkey. Early 15th c. Ottoman tiles.

13:33 - 15 Oct 2018
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CincyArtMuseum
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@cincyartmuseum
CAM LOVES blue – from the Chihuly in the lobby to this Mihrab (Prayer niche) and tons of art in between. Staff members are joining the @fccincinnati #BlueOut tomorrow in support of #FCCincy! Won't you? #CINvNSH #OurCityOurCup

21:45 - 18 Oct 2018
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According to a 2017 article in Daily Art Magazine, the Mihrab is often an ornate masterpiece:

With time, Mihrabs turned from simple apse-style concavities into highly ornamented sites -little masterpieces of Islamic art […]

The first documented semi-circular Mihrab comes from the Mosque of the Prophet at Medina. What used to be Prophet’s house, which later turned into the congregation place of his followers and thus the first mosque, was reconstructed into a proper representative construction during the caliphate of al-Walid I (705-715 AD).

However, Mihrabs might have been in use even before the revelation of the Prophet, just dedicated to different purposes. They had always been reserved for people of high importance and elevated social status, and the word Mihrab itself stood for an ‘elevated’ place, the most important place in the house.

Mihrabs can be a variety of sizes, but are usually created in the recognisable doorway shape. They are often decorated with beautiful tiles and calligraphy.

Ottoman Records
@ottomanrecord
· 11 Oct 2018
Replying to @ottomanrecord

During the reign of Ottoman Sultan and Caliph Abdulmecid I (1839-1861), the entire site was remodelled with the exception of the Prophet’s Tomb, the three mihrabs, the minbar and the Suleymaniyya minaret. The precinct was enlarged to include an ablution area to the north.

Ottoman Records
@ottomanrecord

The prayer hall to the south in the Ottoman-era was doubled in width and covered with small domes equal in size except for domes covering the mihrab area, Bab al-Salam and the Prophet’s Tomb. The qibla wall was covered with glazed tiles featuring Quranic calligraphy. pic.twitter.com/m6Krflpr89

22:13 - 11 Oct 2018
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Going forward, an architect will be tasked with the important job of redesigning the structure, this time making sure everything is in its right and proper place.

No pressure then…

https://www.unilad.co.uk/life/everyone-in-mosque-has-been-praying-in-wrong-direction-for-37-years-imam-discovers/

Everyone will apparently go to hell.

praying to the wrong god in the wrong direction.

They'll see how wrong they have always been when they see Muhammad standing before the Lord God our Savior Jesus Christ, the Judge of all the earth.

The greatest problem of islam is the quranic doctrine itself. There are so many rules to follow. Islam is more of ideologhy than been a religion. My simple question about direction of praying is that: In which direction do you pray if you’re at the North Pole?

MightySparrow:


praying to the wrong god in the wrong direction.

That means their prayers went to the wrong direction.

OLAADEGBU:

That means their prayers went to the wrong direction.

EXACTLY

oglalasioux:


Everyone will apparently go to hell.

Not if you put on the parachute.