What is Qiblah?

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Qiblah (also transliterated as Kiblah or Qiblih) is an Arabic word for the direction that should be faced when Muslims are engaged in private prayer, or in the Friday prayers at the Mosque. Most mosques contain a niche in a wall that indicates the Qiblah.

The Qiblah has importance to more than just the salaat and plays an important part in everyday ceremonies. The head of an animal that is slaughtered using Halal methods is aligned with the Qiblah. After death, Muslims are buried with their heads in the direction of the Qiblah. Thus, archaeology can indicate an Islamic necropolis if no other signs are present.

This is a tradition that goes back to Muhammad’s days in Medina.