We certainly saw you (Muhammad) often turn your face to the sky, so We shall instruct you to face a qibla that you will like. (Muhammad) during prayer, turn your face towards the Sacred Mosque (in Makkah). Muslims, also, wherever you are, during your prayers, turn your faces towards the Sacred Mosque. The People of the Book certainly know that this command (to change the qibla) is truly from their Lord. God is not unaware of what they do.
ما گردش روى تو را در آسمان [به انتظار وحى‌] مى‌بينيم، و هر آينه تو را به قبله‌اى كه آن را مى‌پسندى بگردانيم پس روى خود را سوى مسجد الحرام- نمازگاه شكوهمند- بگردان، و هر جا كه باشيد رويتان را سوى آن بگردانيد. همانا اهل كتاب مى‌دانند كه اين [گردانيدن قبله‌] حق است از سوى پروردگارشان، و خدا از آنچه مى‌كنند غافل نيست.