The Remembrance of the Bearer of Glad Tidings and the Warner صلى الله عليه وسلم - Episode 11: A Spotlight on the Early Invasions and the Turning of Qibla

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: When the prophet settled in Medina, he desired to bring about a spirit of rapport and harmony within his region. He wouldn't resolute to combat before he offers to provide peace and security, especially because he صلى الله عليه وسلم knew that the new state was still weak.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: The prophet attempted to ratify a treaty with the Jews to maintain the peace and security of the Medina and to extinguish the evil grudges and enmity that may hinder him from propagating his Message of Islam.

Sheikh Ali Paqees: Among the clauses of that treaty is that the Jews are one nation and the Muslims are one nation as well. The Jews will profess their religion and the Muslims theirs. The Jews shall be responsible for their expenditure, and the Muslims for theirs.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi:  They shall not fight one another, and if attacked by a third party, both shall be as one against those attackers.

Sheikh Ali Paqees: For the Medina is a sanctuary inviolable for all that join this treaty given that the signatories must fight as one and aid one another if a third party attacked them.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: Was there ever a religion superior to Islam? A religion based upon peace and reconciliation. Here is the prophet offering his hand to the Jews making peace with them and ratify a treaty that provide safety and justice to both parties. He صلى الله عليه وسلم didn't come to flare up a war against them. The prophet of both mercy and epic battles verily he صلى الله عليه وسلم could summon both. By Allah whom there's no god but him, a conversion of one of the Jews is far desired by the prophet than killing them or banishing them from the earth's surface.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: As soon as the companions settled in Medina, Quraysh began to provoke them

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: They gathered an enormous military campaign, plotting against the prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, even though he was no longer amongst them, but in Medina that he escaped to and amongst those who supported him. Quraysh convinced large numbers of Arab tribes to join its army. Meanwhile, Quraysh spared no effort in inflicting harms and evils on the prophet.

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: Quraysh were very angry at the escape of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم along with his devoted companions, and jealous of their finding their safe refuge in Medina. They also initiated contacts with ‘Abdullah bin Uabi bin Salul, the chief of the hypocrites in Medina.

(Quraysh refused to submit to the truth, waxed proud. They could not turn a blind eye on the safety that the prophet and his companions are enjoying in their land of migration amongst those brave lions, the Helpers and truth fighters.)

Sheikh Ali Paqees: Quraysh resolved to a new method to pressure the prophet who escaped their torments and immigrated to the good land of Taiba (Medina) where he found help and strength to support him.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: They contacted the Jews and hypocrites in Medina to harass the prophet and turn against him.

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: The contacts were mainly between the pagans of Quraysh and the chief of hypocrites, 'Abdullah bin Ubai bin Salul, who was about to be the president designate of the tribes of Al-Ansar (the Helpers) before the Prophet immigrated to Medina, but the position was reserved for the prophet.

Sheikh Ali Paqees: They contacted 'Abdullah bin Ubai bin Salul

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: They sent him a strongly-worded ultimatum

Sheikh Ali Paqees: vigorously threatening him

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: "You gave Muhammad refuge in your land"

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: "Either you fight him"

Sheikh Ali Paqees: "Or expel him. Otherwise, we would invade your homeland"

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: "So as to kill your combatants and capture your women"

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: Hence 'Abdullah bin Ubai bin Salul held a meeting with his co-polytheists to fight the prophet under the influences of Quraysh whom they well knew their military abilities and powerful force. Consequently, they decided to fight the prophet and his companions out of fear

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: The prophet heard about the resolution of 'Abdullah bin Ubai and his co-polytheists to fight him صلى الله عليه وسلم. He summoned them. "Indeed you became very afraid of Quraysh threats," he spoke to them.

Sheikh Ali Paqees: "if you submit to their threats, you'd be conspiring against yourself, bringing about unbounded damage far more than that of Quraysh. Do you intend to kill your brothers and sons?"

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: Upon hearing this, they gave up their resolution.

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: When their chief; 'Abdullah bin Ubai bin Salul found his men changed their minds and complied to the prophet's advice, viewing Quraysh's threats as illogical and immoral, he decided to give the idea up as well, and hypocrisy started to pervade the Muslim's community ever since.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: Yet the evil schemes and the vigor enmity were exposed from time to time.

Sheikh Ali Paqees: afterwards; 'Abdullah bin Ubai bin Salul allied with the Jews and secretly plotted against the prophet.

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: Quraysh wasn't satisfied by her former threats; they threatened the Emigrants (Muhajirun) and the Helpers (AL-Ansar) as well.

Sheikh Ali Paqees: Quraysh threatened to put them to death in their own homeland.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: Amongst those threats were "do not be conceited even if you had escaped us and resolved to Yathrib (Medina) we'd come to your own homeland and exterminate you all"

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: Indeed it wasn't a void threat for they started their military campaign summoning the tribes to fight the prophet and his companions.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: Those threats had bad influence upon the prophet's companions (may Allah be pleased with them), for even the prophet feared for himself from their threats.

Sheikh Ali Paqees: He صلى الله عليه وسلم spent that night thinking of Quraysh's threats dreading a sudden attack on Medina that shall expose his companions to great dangers. He said to his wife 'Aisha,

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: "I wish a pious man from amongst my Companions could keep a watch for me tonight"

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: Few moments passed before we heard the clanging noise of arms. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: Who is it?

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: he said "Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas

Sheikh Ali Paqees: The prophet said to him: What brings you here?

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: he said: O prophet, I harbored fear (lest any harm should come to), so I came to serve as your sentinel.

Sheikh Ali Paqees: The prophet invoked blessings upon.

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: This state of close vigilance continued ceaselessly until the Words of Allah were revealed saying:

{يَا أَيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ بَلِّغْ مَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِنْ رَبِّكَ وَإِنْ لَمْ تَفْعَلْ فَمَا بَلَّغْتَ رِسَالَتَهُ وَاللَّهُ يَعْصِمُكَ مِنَ النَّاسِ...} [المائدة: 67]

Interpretation of the meaining: "O Messenger, deliver that which has been sent down to thee from thy Lord; for if thou dost not, thou wilt not have delivered His Message. God will protect thee from men..." [Al-Maida: 67].

Here, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم peeped from the dome of his house asking his sentinels to go away, and making it clear that Allah would take the charge of protecting him.

The Arab tribes massed their military army since the Ansar (Helpers) sheltered the Muhajirun (Emigrants) plotting against the prophet, resolved to kill his companions and eradicate the roots of Islam at all prices, but verily Allah is ever on the watch and those who fear Allah shall have the best of ending.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: After the settlement of the prophet in Medina while the danger arouse vigorously against the prophet and the emigrants from the hypocrites and the Jews.

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: At this precarious juncture, Allah the All-High and Mighty gave the Muslims the permission to fight.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: The era of weakness, humiliation and servility is completely over and here come the era of justice, strength and victory.

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: It brough about a weighty turn in the life of Muslims and the prophet as well. Yes! It's the permission to fight the tyrants before there was none but being patient and tolerate. "Family of Yasser, be patient, for your destination is none but the paradise" but now the permission needed to fight was provided to defend themselves; Allah revealed:

{أُذِنَ لِلَّذِينَ يُقَاتَلُونَ بِأَنَّهُمْ ظُلِمُوا وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَى نَصْرِهِمْ لَقَدِيرٌ (39) الَّذِينَ أُخْرِجُوا مِنْ دِيَارِهِمْ بِغَيْرِ حَقٍّ إِلَّا أَنْ يَقُولُوا رَبُّنَا اللَّهُ...(40)} [الحج: 39-40]

Interpretation of the meaning: "Permission (to fight) has been granted to those for they have been wronged. Verily Allah has the power to help them: (39) those who were unjustly expelled from their homes for no other reason than their saying: "Allah is Our Lord." [Al-Haj: 39-40]

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: Allah gave them permission to fight, but didn't obligate them to.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: The prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم needed time to discover the routes, roads and paths of Medina inside out and those that lead to Mecca as well.

Sheikh Ali Paqees: So he started to send his companions on mission and errands, make his army ready to go on patrols and mission around Medina, to impress upon the polytheists and Bedouins as well as whoever in their vicinity, that the Muslims had smashed their old fears, and had been too strong to be attacked with impunity.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: The prophet wanted to bring the commercial main route of Mecca leading to As-Sham (Syria and the countries surround it) under his control

Sheikh Ali Paqees: The prophet sent the first brigade.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: That brigade was sent on their mission on Ramadan, the first year of Immigration.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: At first, the prophet didn't let the Ansar (Helpers) participate in those missions or brigades. It was exclusively the muahjirun (emigrants) responsibility against the polytheists of Mecca.

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: What was the objective of the first brigade? It was intercepting a caravan belonging to Quraysh.

Sheikh Ali Paqees: The brigade was leady by Hamza bin 'Abdul-Muttalib (may Allah be pleased with him), the prophet's uncle, which was sent to Saif Al-Bahr

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: It was the first armed mission ever to be sent by the prophet which comprised 30 emigrants from the prophet's companions.

Sheikh Ali Paqees: Hamza set out till he reached 'Eas nearby Saif Al-Bahr

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: The caravan included Abu Jahl bin Hisham and party of 300 men. When they too reached 'Eas both parties encountered and aligned in preparation of fighting.

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: An ally of both sides, happened to be there and managed to prevent an imminent clash.

Sheikh Ali Paqees: Hamza went back to Medina safe and sound, but the advantage was realized for the Bedouins knew how powerful and armed the prophet and his companions were.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: In the second year of immigration in the month of Safar, the prophet set himself out on his first invasion.

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: He صلى الله عليه وسلم set out at the head of 70 men of his companions, leaving behind Sa‘d bin ‘Ubadah to dispose the affairs in Medina.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: A white flag was assigned to Hamza

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: What was the prophet's objective? He wanted to intercept a caravan belonged to Quraysh in order to recover some of the properties and money that Quraysh exacted from the Muslims before immigration.

Sheikh Ali Paqees: unfortunately the caravan fled before the prophet got to them.

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: On their way back, he contracted a non-aggression pact with ‘Amr bin Ad-Damari, the chief of Bani Damrah

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: The provisions of the pact go as follows: “This is a document from Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah concerning Bani Dhumrah in which he established them safe and secure in their wealth and lives. The Muslims shall support them if attacked by a third party, unless they oppose the religion of Allah. They are also expected to respond positively in case the Prophet sought their help.”

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: The prophet then headed back to his lovable Medina, surrounded by his companions whom willingly wish to sacrifice their lives for him.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: Also among the invasion that the prophet led himself at that time was the Dhil-'Ashirah invasion

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: It occurred exactly in Jumada-al-Ula (Jumada the first) and Jumada-al-Akhirah (Jumada the second)

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: The prophet set out at the head of 150 of his companions. Some said they were 200, all belong to the Emigrants (Muhajirun)

Sheikh Ali Paqees: He set out to intercept another camel caravan of Quraysh

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: When the prophet reached the spot he desired, the caravan had already left. He waited to intercept it on its return, and it was the direct reason for the break out of the battle of Badr.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: In the process of this campaign, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم contracted a non-aggression pact with Bani Mudlaj and their allies Bani Dhumrah.

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: This invasion had a white flag carried by Hamza (may Allah be pleased with him)

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: Meanwhile Abu Salama bin ‘Abd Al-Asad Al-Makhzumi was mandated to rule Madinah in the prophet's absence.

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: They went back to Medina awaiting the return of the caravan from As-Sham to intercept it

Sheikh Ali Paqees: And so the days went on. The prophet kept sending his companions on mission and he himself sometimes set out on invasions;.Hence the Bedouins and Arab tribes around Medina venerated him more by every day.

(The first invasion the prophet went on himself; was Waddan and he returned without clashes.

and so continued the missions and invasions although headstrong cavalrymen they were; they held their selves' reins.)

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: On the second year, in Rajab, the prophet sent a brigade of his companions on a mission

Sheikh Ali Paqees: lead by 'Abdullah bin Jahsh (may Allah be pleased with him)

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: ‘Abdullah was given a letter by the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم but was instructed to read it only after two days.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: He submitted to the prophet's commands, and opened it after two days.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: There was written "when you read my letter; go on to a place called Nakhlah standing between Makkah and At-Ta’if"

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: to intercept a caravan of Quraysh, and collect news from Mecca about Quraysh's intentions.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: When he read the letter, he immediately complied "heard and submitted to" he obediently said, then he disclosed the contents of the letter to his fellows. He also emphasized that he doesn't oblige them to submit to it, but whoever desires martyrdom shall join him and who dislikes death could return back to Medina and no blame lie with him.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: Then he announced "I'm ready to go" and so all followed him obeying the prophet's commands willingly.

Sheikh Ali Paqees: 'Abdullah bin Jahsh set out at the head of a few number of the companions till they reached the valley.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: a caravan belonged to Quraysh passed by loaded with raisins (dried grapes), food stuff and other commodities.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: but a strange queer thing happened. That night was the last night in the month of Rajab which was a sacred month

Sheikh Ali Paqees: It was a sacred month

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: The Muslims held consultations among themselves

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: "What shall we do. It's the last day in Rajab. If we fought them then we would violate the sacred month" 'Abdullah bin Jahsh said to his companions

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: Yet if they let the caravan by for the day, they would enter Mecca, the sacred homeland.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: At last they agreed to engage with them in fighting

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: They did fight them. Consequently, some were killed and others were captured from amongst Quraysh and they came back to the prophet with the caravan.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: When they told the prophet what happened, he got very angry with them "I didn't allow you to kill during the sacred month, to violate the sacred month!" he said صلى الله عليه وسلم

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: The prophet suspended any action as regards the camels and the two captives

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: The polytheists, on their part, exploited this golden opportunity to calumniate the prophet and his religion and in the message he called unto; "See! Muhammad violated the sacred month," they said; although they forgot that in their old days, they had violated the sacred months, the holy homeland, the sacred blood and sacred property moreover.

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: But the prophet who was indeed just disapproved that act of his companions. The prophet ordered the two captives to be released and blood money to be given for the killed one.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: People maligned the companions, gossip was spreading that Muhammad's companions have violated the sacred months until at last they were relieved when the Revelation came down giving a decisive answer and stating quite explicitly that the behavior of the polytheists in the whole process was much more heinous and far more serious than the act of the Muslims:

{يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الشَّهْرِ الْحَرَامِ قِتَالٍ فِيهِ قُلْ قِتَالٌ فِيهِ كَبِيرٌ وَصَدٌّ عَنْ سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَكُفْرٌ بِهِ وَالْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ وَإِخْرَاجُ أَهْلِهِ مِنْهُ أَكْبَرُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ وَالْفِتْنَةُ أَكْبَرُ مِنَ الْقَتْلِ...} [البقرة: 217]

Interpretation of the meaining: "They ask you (O Muhammad) concerning warfare in the prohibited month. Say, "Fighting is a heinous offence in this month, but in the sight of Allah it is far worse to hinder people from the Way of Allah and to deny Him and to prevent His worshippers from visiting the holy mosque, and to expel the dwellers of the sacred place from it; and persecution is far worse than bloodshed." [Al-Baqarah: 217]

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: After this event, Quraish began to realize the real danger that Medina could present with. Their economic and caravans were endangered. After this mission, Allah obliged the Muslims to fight the polytheists:

  {وَقَاتِلُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ الَّذِينَ يُقَاتِلُونَكُمْ وَلَا تَعْتَدُوا إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُعْتَدِينَ (190) وَاقْتُلُوهُمْ حَيْثُ ثَقِفْتُمُوهُمْ وَأَخْرِجُوهُمْ مِنْ حَيْثُ أَخْرَجُوكُمْ وَالْفِتْنَةُ أَشَدُّ مِنَ الْقَتْلِ وَلَا تُقَاتِلُوهُمْ عِنْدَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ حَتَّى يُقَاتِلُوكُمْ فِيهِ فَإِنْ قَاتَلُوكُمْ فَاقْتُلُوهُمْ كَذَلِكَ جَزَاءُ الْكَافِرِينَ (191) فَإِنِ انْتَهَوْا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ (192) وَقَاتِلُوهُمْ حَتَّى لَا تَكُونَ فِتْنَةٌ وَيَكُونَ الدِّينُ لِلَّهِ فَإِنِ انْتَهَوْا فَلَا عُدْوَانَ إِلَّا عَلَى الظَّالِمِينَ (193)}   [البقرة: 190-193]

Interpretation of the meaining: "And fight in the way of Allah with those who fight against you but do not commit aggression because Allah does not like aggressors. Fight against them wherever they confront you in combat and drive them out from where they drove you out. Though killing is bad; persecution is worse than killing. Do not fight against them near the Holy Mosque unless they attack you there. (191) and if they attack you first (even in that sacred area), strike them (without any hesitation); this is the due punishment for such disbelievers. If, however, they desist from fighting (you should also do likewise), and know that Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. (192) go on fighting with them till there is no more a state of tribulation and Allah's way is established instead. Then if they desist from it, there should be no more hostility except against those who had been guilty of cruelty and brutality. (193)" [Al-Baqarah: 190-193]

Sheikh Ali Paqees: the prophet offered his prayers facing Bayt Al-Maqdis [Jerusalem] as the previous prophets did

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: The prophet faced Jerusalem for sixteen months

Sheikh Ali Paqees: Yet on account of his deep love of Al-Ka'bah, he would offer his prayers making Al-Ka'bah between his and Jerusalem direction.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: He wished (may my mother and father be sacrificed for him) that he could pray facing the Ka‘bah.

Sheikh Ali Paqees: He liked to face Al-Ka'bah in his prayers. صلى الله عليه وسلم

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: In some versions of the narration, it was that the prophet told Gabriel about his wishes.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: I'm of no position that's more than a slave of Allah, so supplicate to you Lord that he grants you your wishes.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: The prophet turned his face over and over again towards heavens, supplicating his Lord.

Sheikh Ali Paqees: In consequent, Allah revealed to his prophet:

{قَدْ نَرَى تَقَلُّبَ وَجْهِكَ فِي السَّمَاءِ فَلَنُوَلِّيَنَّكَ قِبْلَةً تَرْضَاهَا فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ وَحَيْثُ مَا كُنْتُمْ فَوَلُّوا وُجُوهَكُمْ شَطْرَهُ وَإِنَّ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ لَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ الْحَقُّ مِنْ رَبِّهِمْ وَمَا اللَّهُ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا يَعْمَلُونَ}  [البقرة: 144]

Interpretation of the meaining: "We have seen you (O Muhammad), turning your face over and over again towards Heaven. Now, therefore, we turn you towards the giblah that you like best: so turn your face towards the Holy mosque. Henceforth, wheresoever you may be, turn your face at prayer towards it. The people who were given the Book know it well that the commandment (about the change of Qiblah) is in fact from their Lord, and is based on the Truth, but Allah is not unaware of what they are doing (in spite of this) (144)" [Al-Baqarah:144]

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: Sixteen months after the prophet's immigration, from Sha'ban of the second year precisely, Allah abrogate the old Qiblah (direction of prayer). Truly all power of decisions rests solely with Allah, and command it to be changed.

Sheikh Ali Paqees: The prophet turned his face in prayers to the Holy Mosque; and he liked it much.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: The command was revealed to the prophet at the prayer of Al-'Asr. His companions obediently turned themselves in the same direction he turned himself towards even without the prophet ordering them to. They followed him and turned towards Al-ka'bah.

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: This was a great and critical event even to the Muslims. But they firmly believed in Allah and faithfully obeyed their Lord and believed his messenger.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: On the contrary, the polytheists, the deniers said

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: They were very optimistic "He had turned his face back to our Qiblah (direction of prayer), soon he'll convert back to our religion," they said.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: and the hypocrites said, "If the first Qiblah (direction of the prayer) was valid then he left it, and if the second direction is the valid one, then the first was void throughout their previous prayers" God forbid

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: as to the Jews, they said: "How dare he turn from the Qiblah (direction of prayers) of all the prophets before him to that of Al-Ka'bah"

{سَيَقُولُ السُّفَهَاءُ مِنَ النَّاسِ مَا وَلَّاهُمْ عَنْ قِبْلَتِهِمُ الَّتِي كَانُوا عَلَيْهَا قُلْ لِلَّهِ الْمَشْرِقُ وَالْمَغْرِبُ يَهْدِي مَنْ يَشَاءُ إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ (142) وَكَذَلِكَ جَعَلْنَاكُمْ أُمَّةً وَسَطًا لِتَكُونُوا شُهَدَاءَ عَلَى النَّاسِ وَيَكُونَ الرَّسُولُ عَلَيْكُمْ شَهِيدًا وَمَا جَعَلْنَا الْقِبْلَةَ الَّتِي كُنْتَ عَلَيْهَا إِلَّا لِنَعْلَمَ مَنْ يَتَّبِعُ الرَّسُولَ مِمَّنْ يَنْقَلِبُ عَلَى عَقِبَيْهِ وَإِنْ كَانَتْ لَكَبِيرَةً إِلَّا عَلَى الَّذِينَ هَدَى اللَّهُ وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيُضِيعَ إِيمَانَكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بِالنَّاسِ لَرَءُوفٌ رَحِيمٌ (143)} [البقرة: 142-143]

Interpretation of the meaining: "THE WEAK-MINDED among people will say, "What has turned them away from the direction of prayer which they have hitherto observed?" Say: "God's is the east and the west; He guides whom He wills onto a straight way." (142) And thus have We willed you to be a community of the middle way, so that [with your lives] you might bear witness to the truth before all mankind, and that the Apostle might bear witness to it before you. And it is only to the end that We might make a clear distinction between those who follow the Apostle and those who turn about on their heels that We have appointed [for this community] the direction of prayer which thou [O Prophet] hast formerly observed: for this was indeed a hard test for all but those whom God has guided aright. But God will surely not lose sight of your faith-for, behold, God is most compassionate towards man, a dispenser of grace. (143)" [Al-Baqarah: 142-143]

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: In the second year of the prophet's immigration صلى الله عليه وسلم, during the month of Sha'ban, Allah ordained the believers to fast.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: At first; fasting was desirable, then Allah made it obligatory to his Messenger and the believers. Allah says:

{يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ}  [البقرة: 183]

 "O you who believe! fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may guard (against evil)."