Definition

Noun: 1. The direction of the Kaaba in Mecca: The fixed direction toward the Kaaba (the sacred building at the center of the Great Mosque in Mecca) that Muslims face during their daily prayers (salah). 2. A small terrorist group: (Historical/Proper noun) A small terrorist organization of Muslims formed in South Africa in the 1980s.

Usage

• The primary and most common meaning of qibla refers to the sacred direction in Islam.
• It is a singular noun. The concept is used in religious instruction, architecture (to orient mosques), and daily practice.
• The secondary meaning is a proper noun referring to a specific historical group.

Examples

• Noun (Direction):
  • Before praying, Muslims must determine the qibla.
  • The mosque's mihrab (niche) indicates the qibla.
  • There are mobile apps to help find the qibla when traveling.
• Noun (Group):
  • The Qibla group was inspired by the ideology of Ayatollah Khomeini.

Advanced Usage

• Finding the Qibla: The act of determining this direction is essential for the validity of prayer. Methods include using a compass, the sun's position, or modern technology.
• Qibla Wall: In mosque architecture, the wall facing Mecca is called the wall.

Variants and Related Words

• Qiblah: An alternative spelling for the primary meaning (direction of prayer).
• Mihrab (n): The niche in a mosque's wall that indicates the .
• Salah/Salat (n): The Islamic ritual prayer performed facing the .

Synonyms

• Direction of prayer: The sacred direction. (This is a descriptive phrase, not a single-word synonym.)
• Kaaba direction: Direction toward the Kaaba. (Descriptive phrase.)

Different Meanings

1. Religious/Cultural Meaning: The direction for Muslim prayer. This is the universal and primary meaning.
2. Historical/Geopolitical Meaning: A specific militant organization in 1980s South Africa. This is a proper noun and a secondary, context-specific meaning.

Noun

1. a small terrorist group of Muslims in South Africa formed in the 1980s; was inspired by Ayatollah Khomeini to create an Islamic state in South Africa
2. the direction of the Kaaba toward which Muslims turn for their daily prayers