Why do Muslims face Mecca during salat?
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Islam
Abu Darweesh Mosque in Amman, Jordan.
Muslims face Mecca during salat because it is the location of the Kaaba, which is considered the most sacred site in Islam. This direction of prayer is known as the qiblah.12
While the Prophet Muhammad initially directed the community to face Jerusalem following his migration to Medina, the qiblah was later changed to Mecca. In mosques, this direction is indicated by a mihrab, an ornate niche built into the wall facing Mecca. Beyond daily prayer, the orientation toward the Kaaba is significant in other religious practices, such as the burial of the dead.123