Surah 2:115
"The East and the West (belong) to God, so wherever you turn, there is the face of God. Surely God is embracing, knowing."
Direction of Prayer
Opposing Verses
Surah 2:150 → "From wherever you go forth, turn your face toward the Sacred Mosque. And wherever you are, turn your faces toward it, so that the people will not have any argument against you – except for the evildoers among them; do not fear them, but fear Me – and so that I may complete My blessing on you, and that you may be (rightly) guided,"
Does the Quran state that believers can turn any direction to pray or must turn toward the Sacred Mosque? Some verses state that wherever you turn is the face of God, while others command turning specifically toward the Sacred Mosque.
Location of Allah
Supporting Verses
Surah 2:186 → "When My servants ask you about Me, surely I am near. I respond to the call of the caller when he calls on Me. So let them respond to Me, and believe in Me, so that they may be led aright."
Surah 50:16 → "Certainly We created the human, and We know what his own self whispers within him, (for) We are closer to him than (his) jugular vein."
Surah 57:4 → "He (it is) who created the heavens and the earth in six days. Then He mounted the throne. He knows what penetrates into the earth, and what comes forth from it, and what comes down from the sky, and what goes up into it. He is with you wherever you are. God sees what you do."
Opposing Verses
Surah 11:7 → "He (it is) who created the heavens and the earth in six days – and His throne was upon the water – that He might test you (to see) which of you is best in deed. If indeed you say, ‘Surely you will be raised up after death,’ those who disbelieve will indeed say, ‘This is nothing but clear magic.’"
Surah 32:5 → "He directs the (whole) affair from the sky to the earth; then it will go up to Him in a day, the measure of which is a thousand years of what you count."
Surah 57:4 → "He (it is) who created the heavens and the earth in six days. Then He mounted the throne. He knows what penetrates into the earth, and what comes forth from it, and what comes down from the sky, and what goes up into it. He is with you wherever you are. God sees what you do."
Surah 70:4 → "The angels and the spirit ascend to Him in a day, the measure of which is fifty thousand years."
The Quran contains verses that present differing descriptions of Allah's location. Some passages state that Allah is situated on a throne, with angels and affairs taking thousands of years to ascend to Him. In contrast, other verses describe Allah as being omnipresent and closer to man than his jugular vein.
Number of Easts and Wests
Opposing Verses
Surah 55:17 → "Lord of the two Easts, Lord of the two Wests."
Surah 70:40 → "I swear by the Lord of the Easts and the Wests! Surely We are able indeed"
Does the Quran refer to single, dual, or plural Easts and Wests? Some verses refer to a single East and West, another mentions two Easts and two Wests, and another uses the plural form for Easts and Wests.