Quran Universe
2:148

وَلِكُلّٖ وِجۡهَةٌ هُوَ مُوَلِّيهَاۖ فَٱسۡتَبِقُواْ ٱلۡخَيۡرَٰتِۚ أَيۡنَ مَا تَكُونُواْ يَأۡتِ بِكُمُ ٱللَّهُ جَمِيعًاۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيۡءٖ قَدِيرٞ

Walikullin wijhatun huwa muwalleeha faistabiqoo alkhayrati ayna ma takoonoo yati bikumu Allahu jameeAAan inna Allaha AAala kulli shayin qadeerun

For each [religious following] is a direction toward which it faces. So race to [all that is] good. Wherever you may be, Allah will bring you forth [for judgement] all together. Indeed, Allah is over all things competent.

Word by word
  1. وَلِكُلّٖAnd for everyone
  2. وِجۡهَةٌ(is) a direction
  3. هُوَhe
  4. مُوَلِّيهَاۖturns towards it
  5. فَٱسۡتَبِقُواْso race
  6. ٱلۡخَيۡرَٰتِۚ(to) the good
  7. أَيۡنَWherever
  8. مَاthat
  9. تَكُونُواْyou will be
  10. يَأۡتِwill bring
  11. بِكُمُyou
  12. ٱللَّهُ(by) Allah
  13. جَمِيعًاۚtogether
  14. إِنَّIndeed
  15. ٱللَّهَAllah
  16. عَلَىٰ(is) on
  17. كُلِّevery
  18. شَيۡءٖthing
  19. قَدِيرٞAll-Powerful
Al-Baqarah · 2:148Madinah

Stop arguing about direction. Race to do good.

Everyone faces somewhere; all are gathered

Every people
each faces a waytheir own direction
so
race to goodhasten, compete
because
all brought togetherwherever you are
Where energy goes
win the argumentendless debate
win the racegood deeds first

Ibn 'Abbas said this speaks of the followers of different religions: each has a direction it faces. Allah's answer is not more debate but hasten toward all that is good. Wherever people are scattered, Allah is able to bring them all together.

The argument in the comments has run three days. Nobody is changing their mind. Meanwhile the neighbour needs a lift and the charity box is empty. The verse moves you off the debate floor and onto the race track.

I have to win this argument first.

My time is better spent getting ahead in good than getting ahead in debate.

Try this

Leave one online argument unanswered and do one good deed in that time instead.

Related5:48
Simplified reflection. Read the tafsir for scholarship.draft
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

For every nation there is a direction to which they face (in their prayers). So hasten towards all that is good. Wheresoever you may be, Allah will bring you together (on the Day of Resurrection). Truly, Allah is able to do all things (148)

Every Nation has a Qiblah

Al-'Awfi reported that Ibn 'Abbas said:

وَلِكُلٍّ وِجْهَةٌ هُوَ مُوَلِّيهَا

(For every nation there is a direction to which they face (in their prayers))

"This talks about followers of the various religions. Hence, every nation and tribe has its own Qiblah that they choose, while Allah's appointed Qiblah is what the believers face."

Abul-'Aliyah said, "The Jew has a direction to which he faces (in the prayer). The Christian has a direction to which he faces. Allah has guided you, O (Muslim) Ummah, to a Qiblah which is the true Qiblah." This statement was also related to Mujahid, 'Ata' Ad-Dahhak, Ar-Rabi' bin Anas, As-Suddi, and others.

This last Ayah is similar to what Allah said:

لِكُلٍّ جَعَلْنَا مِنكُمْ شِرْعَةً وَمِنْهَاجًا وَلَوْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ لَجَعَلَكُمْ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً وَلَٰكِن لِّيَبْلُوَكُمْ فِي مَا آتَاكُمْ فَاسْتَبِقُوا الْخَيْرَاتِ إِلَى اللَّهِ مَرْجِعُكُمْ جَمِيعًا

(To each among you, We have prescribed a law and a clear way. If Allah had willed, He would have made you one nation, but that (He) may test you in what He has given you; so compete in good deeds. The return of you (all) is to Allah.)(5:48)

In the Ayah (2:148), Allah said:

 أَيْنَ مَا تَكُونُوا يَأْتِ بِكُمُ اللَّهُ جَمِيعًا إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

(Wheresoever you may be, Allah will bring you together (on the Day of Resurrection). Truly, Allah is able to do all things.) meaning: He is able to gather you from the earth even if your bodies and flesh disintegrated and scattered.