Translation of the meanings Ayah 142 Surah Al-Baqarah - English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center - The Noble Qur'an Encyclopedia

Ayah: 142

۞ سَيَقُولُ ٱلسُّفَهَآءُ مِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَا وَلَّىٰهُمۡ عَن قِبۡلَتِهِمُ ٱلَّتِي كَانُواْ عَلَيۡهَاۚ قُل لِّلَّهِ ٱلۡمَشۡرِقُ وَٱلۡمَغۡرِبُۚ يَهۡدِي مَن يَشَآءُ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطٖ مُّسۡتَقِيمٖ

The foolish among the people will say: “What has turned them away from their prayer direction they used to face^[61]?” Say: “To Allah belong the east and west: He guides whom He wills to a straight path.”

[61] Prior to the command (in verse 144) that the Prophet (ﷺ) and his followers turn toward the Ka‘bah in Makkah for prayer, they had been facing Jerusalem to the north. Further details are mentioned in succeeding verses.