THE MIDMOST NATION (VERSE NO. 143)

      The essence of Islam is to avoid all extravagances on either side, such as the extreme worldliness of the Jews; or the monastic life of a group of Christians who retire from the material world and devote themselves to asceticism to this effect Qurän notifies:

      ``The new QIBLA, was also a midmost point of reference like the ummat. This is because when the Christians faced towards the birth place of their prophet Jesus (AS), they had to direct themselves towards the East. On the other hand the Jews who mostly lived in Syria, and Babylon, when faced towards Jerusalem, they would have to direct themselves towards the west. But Muslims who were almost all in Medina, directed themselves towards Mecca in a point and direction that was a midmost between the East and the West.''

      Worthy of note: later when Muslims grew in number, and scattered round the world; due to their endeavours for finding the right direction towards KABBA (i.e. FINDING THE QIBLA) they discoverd many scientific laws in Geography and astronomy, and uses of compass, so much so that most of the pioneer scholars and experts in these fields of knowledges, were all Muslims.

      Then Qurän adds in this verse that: ``To make you witness over the nations, and the apostle a WITNESS over yourselves.''

COMMENTS ON: ``SO THAT WE MIGHT KNOW WHO...''

      As for the clause: ``So that we might know who...'' and phrases: ``in order to know! that are found in QURÄN; do not mean that God knew not something and later came to know it. God rather has the knowledge of all things before they come to existence, and when it exitsts, adds nothing to the knowledge of God. This may be taken as an architect who has in his drawing all the details of a building, and he constructs a part of the whole building in order to show what he knows.''

      As for the question that what becomes of those prayers that they performed towards Jerusalem: to answer it the QURÄN says: ``Your prayers were equally efficacious before the new QIBLA was ordered, and God regards every good act''.

      ``And never would Allah make Your faith of no effect, for Allah is full of kindness and the Most Merciful to all people.''

      God's commandments can be taken in similarity some how to the prescriptions of a physician. One day this order is useful to the patient, and next day another prescription. The change of QIBLA should create no anxiety in some other direction. The east and the west belongs to God, and HE regards all the good acts of HIS servants.