Regarding the words of the Exalted, "We have certainly seen the turning of your face toward the heaven," Al-Kalbi explains: "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to Gabriel: 'I wish that Allah would turn me away from the Qibla of the Jews to another.' Gabriel replied: 'I am only a servant like you, so supplicate to Allah and ask Him.' Then Gabriel ascended, and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ began to keep his gaze fixed upon the heaven, hoping that Gabriel would come to him with what he had asked Allah for. Then Allah revealed to him: 'We have certainly seen the turning of your face toward the heaven.'" [Meaning:] "We will surely turn you to a Qibla that you will be pleased with," meaning: that you love. "So turn your face toward al-Masjid al-Haram," meaning: toward it.
Muhammad said: Someone recited:
'I say to Umm Zinba‘: Turn the chests of the white camels toward the Banu Tamim'
meaning: toward the Banu Tamim.
قَوْله تَعَالَى: ﴿قَدْ نَرَى تَقَلُّبَ وَجهك فِي السَّمَاء﴾ تَفْسِير الْكَلْبِيّ: ((أَن رَسُول اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ لجبريل: وددت أَن اللَّه صرفني عَنْ قبْلَة الْيَهُود إِلَى غَيرهَا. فَقَالَ جِبْرِيل: إِنَّمَا أَنَا عَبْد مثلك، فَادع اللَّه وسَلْهُ ثمَّ ارْتَفع جِبْرِيل، فَجعل رَسُول اللَّهِ ﷺ يُدِيم النّظر إِلَى السَّمَاء رَجَاء أَن يَأْتِيهِ جِبْرِيل بِالَّذِي سَأَلَ اللَّه؛ فَأنْزل اللَّه عَلَيْهِ: ﴿قَدْ نَرَى تَقَلُّبَ وَجْهِكَ فِي السَّمَاءِ﴾))، ﴿فَلَنُوَلِّيَنَّكَ قِبْلَةً ترضاها﴾ أَي: تحبها ﴿فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ الْمَسْجِد الْحَرَام﴾ يَعْنِي: تلقاءه.
قَالَ مُحَمَّد: وَأنْشد بَعضهم:
(أَقُول لأم زِنْبَاعٍ أقيمي … صُدُور العيس شطر بني تَميم)
يَعْنِي: تِلْقَاء بني تَمِيم.
