Question
We are in the process of building a masjid. The construction has already begun and walls are already roof high. When we rechecked the qiblah direction, we found it to be +-5 degrees off the correct qiblah.
Will it be necessary to slant the musallahs or will it be fine to keep it in line with the walls. If it is fine to keep the musallahs according to the walls, what it the maximum leeway allowed?
Answer
The ideal situation is to have the Musallahs facing accurately in the direction of the Ka’aba Sharif. However, the Fuqaha have given some sort of concession if the Qibla direction is off by a few degrees by stating that if the Qibla direction is off by 5 degrees or so, there is no need to change the
direction of the Qibla (particularly when the Masjid has reached close to completion and by correcting the direction of the Qibla a large amount of space will be lost.)
Yes, if the Qibla is off by 45 degrees or more then it will be necessary to correct the direction of the Qibla.
Checked and Approved By:
Mufti Muhammed Saeed Motara Saheb D.B.
References
Ahsanul Fataawa pg. 313 Vol. 2
Fataawa Mahmoodiyya pg. 211 & 239 Vol. 18