Qibla
/ˈkɪb.lə/noun
The direction Muslims face during prayer, traditionally toward the Kaaba in Mecca.
Did you know?Early Muslims initially prayed toward Jerusalem before the qibla was changed to the Kaaba in Mecca, an event recorded in the Quran.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Semitic
Proto-Semitic
*q-b-l
“A root associated with facing, meeting, receiving, or what lies opposite”
Pre-Islamic Arabic
Arabic
qiblah
“A direction or point toward which one turns”
7th Century
Quranic Arabic
qibla
“The prescribed direction of prayer”
8th–10th Centuries
Classical Arabic
al-qibla
“The direction toward the Kaaba at Mecca”
17th Century
English
kibla
“The direction faced by Muslims in prayer”
Modern English
English
qibla
“The direction of prayer, especially toward the Kaaba”