2.142. Sayaquulu alssufahao mina alnnasima wallahum AAan qiblatihimu allatii kanuuAAalayha qul lillahi almaschriqu waalmaghribuyahdii man yaschao ilasiratinmustaqiimin
2.142. The foolish of the people will say: What hath turned them from the qiblah which they formerly observed? Say: Unto Allah belong the East and the West. He guideth whom He will unto a straight path. (Pickthall)
2.142. Die Schwachköpfe unter den Menschen werden sagen: *Was hat sie von ihrer Gebetsrichtung abgekehrt, auf der sie gewesen waren?" Sag: Allahs ist der Osten und der Westen, Er leitet recht, wen Er will, zu einem richtigen Weg. (Ahmad v. Denffer)
2.142. Die Toren unter den Menschen werden sagen: "Was hat sie von der Gebetsrichtung, die sie (bisher) einhielten, abgebracht?" Sag: Allah gehört der Osten und der Westen. Er leitet, wen Er will, auf einen geraden Weg. (Bubenheim)
2.142. Die Törichten unter den Leuten werden sagen: "Was hat sie veranlasst, ihre Gebetsrichtung zu ändern?" Sprich: "Gott gehört der Osten wie der Westen. Er leitet wen Er will auf den geraden Weg."
(Azhar)
2.142. Die Beschränkten unter den Menschen werden sagen: ‚Was brachte sie von ihrer Gebetsrichtung ab, die sie vorher hatten?‘ Sag: ‚ALLAH gehört der Osten und der Westen. ER leitet recht, wen ER will, auf einen geradlinigen Weg.‘ (Zaidan)
2.142. Die Toren unter den Leuten werden sagen: "Was hat sie von der Gebetsrichtung (qibla), die sie (bisher) eingehalten hatten, abgebracht?" Sag: Allah gehört der Osten und der Westen. Er führt, wen er will, auf einen geraden Weg. (Paret)
2.142. Die Toren unter den Menschen werden sagen: "Was hat sie bewogen, sich von ihrer Qibla abzuwenden, nach der sie sich bisher gerichtet hatten?" Sprich: "Allah gehört der Osten und der Westen; Er leitet, wen Er will, zu einem geraden Weg." (Rasul)
Tafsir von Maududi für die Ayaat 142 bis 142
Of course, the foolish people will say, "What has turned them abruptly away from the giblah towards which they formerly used to turn their faces in prayer?" ( 142 ) Tell them, O Messenger, `'East and West all belong to Allah; He shows the Right Way to anyone He wills." ( 143 ) Thus have We made you a Community of the "Golden Mean" so that you may be witnesses in regard to mankind and the Messenger may be a witness in regard to you. ( 144 )
Desc No: 142 After the Hijrah the Holy Prophet (upon whom be peace) continued to turn his face in the Prayer towards the Temple (at Jerusalem) for about 16 or 17 months; then he was commanded to turn his face towards the Ka'bah (at Makkah). This change of the giblah (direction of Prayer) with its implications has been described in detail in the succeeding verses.
Desc No: 143 Those foolish people who did not have the sense to appreciate the true significance of this change began to raise different kinds of objections in order to create doubts in the minds of the Believers. Being narrow-minded, they thought that Allah was confined to a particular point or direction and the change of giblah meant turning away from Him. This absurd objection has been removed by the declaration that east, west and all other directions belong to Allah. The fact that the giblah lies in a certain direction does not mean that Allah is confined to that direction only. Those people who are blessed with guidance cannot entertain such narrow ideas. (Also refer to E.N.'s 115 and 116).
Desc No: 144 This is the declaration of the leadership of the Muslim Community. "Thus" refers both to the Guidance of Allah which was sent through Muhammad (Allah's peace be upon him) and to the change of the qiblah. It was by following the Guidance that the Muslims achieved those excellences which led to their appointment as the "Community of the Golden Mean," and it was the change of the qiblah from the Temple to the Ka`bah that was an indication that the Israelites had been deposed from the leadership and the Muslims had been appointed to it. Therefore the change of the giblah from the Temple to the Ka`bah was not merely a change of direction as the foolish people took it to be, but it was really the formal declaration of the change of leadership from the Israelites to the followers of Muhammad (Allah's peace be upon him).
The word "ummat wasat" is so comprehensive in meaning that no English word can correctly convey its full sense. It is a righteous and noble community which does not go beyond proper limits, but follows the middle course and deals out justice evenly to the nations of the world as an impartial judge, and bases all its relations with other nations on truth and justice.
The meaning of "We have appointed you as ummat wasat so that you may be witnesses in regard to mankind and the Messenger may be a witness in regard to you" is: On the Judgement Day when all mankind will be called to account together, the Messenger, as Our authorised representative, will give evidence in regard to you to prove that he had imparted to you, by word and by deed, without any reservation, the whole teaching of sound thought, righteous deed and justice given by Us. Then you, being representatives of the Messenger, in your turn, will be required to give evidence to prove that you had done your utmost to impart, by word and deed, to mankind whatever the Messenger had imparted to you just as you had received it from the Messenger.
Thus, a person or group's being appointed by God a witness by itself amounts to its being exalted to the office of leadership and religious guide in the world. Though it is a position of honour, it carries very onerous responsibilities with it. It requires that the Muslim Community should become a living witness of piety, truth and justice before the world just as the Holy Prophet bore witness before it, and its wards and deeds should suffice to demonstrate to the world the meaning of truth, justice and piety. It also implies that it is a great responsibility for which the Muslim Community is accountable. Just as the Holy Prophet was responsible for conveying the Guidance of Allah, so the Muslims are responsible for conveying it to the people of the world. If they fail to prove in the Court of Allah that they have discharged this responsibility to the best of their ability, they will be condemned there. And they along with their evil geniuses and accomplices shall be accountable for all the evils which prevailed during their term of leadership, if they had shown any relaxation in the performance of their obligation as witnesses of the Truth. On the Day of Judgement, Allah will surely ask, "What did you do to prevent it when you saw the epidemic of sin, tyranny and impiety breaking out in the world?" "
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