`Ali bin Abu Talhah related that Ibn `Abbas narrated: The first abrogated part in the Qur'an was about the Qiblah. When Allah's Messenger migrated to Al-Madinah, the majority of its people were Jews, and Allah commanded him to face Bayt Al-Maqdis. The Jews were delighted then. Allah's Messenger faced it for ten and some months, but he liked to face the Qiblah of Ibrahim (Ka`bah in Makkah). He used to supplicate to Allah and look up to the sky (awaiting Allah's command). Allah then revealed:

﴿قَدْ نَرَى تَقَلُّبَ وَجْهِكَ فِي السَّمَآءِ﴾

(Verily, We have seen the turning of your (Muhammad's) face towards the heaven), until,

﴿فَوَلُّواْ وُجُوهَكُمْ شَطْرَهُ﴾

(turn your faces (in prayer) in that direction.)

The Jews did not like this ruling and said:

﴿مَا وَلَّـهُمْ عَن قِبْلَتِهِمُ الَّتِى كَانُواْ عَلَيْهَا قُل لّلَّهِ الْمَشْرِقُ وَالْمَغْرِبُ﴾

("What has turned them (Muslims) from their Qiblah (prayer direction) to which they used to face in prayer.'' Say (O Muhammad), "To Allah belong both, east and the west.'') (2:142)

Allah said:

﴿فَأَيْنَمَا تُوَلُّواْ فَثَمَّ وَجْهُ اللَّهِ﴾

(. ..so wherever you turn (yourselves or your faces) there is the Face of Allah) (2:115),

and:

﴿وَمَا جَعَلْنَا الْقِبْلَةَ الَّتِى كُنتَ عَلَيْهَآ إِلاَّ لِنَعْلَمَ مَن يَتَّبِعُ الرَّسُولَ مِمَّن يَنقَلِبُ عَلَى عَقِبَيْهِ﴾

(And We made the Qiblah (prayer direction towards Jerusalem) which you used to face, only to test those who followed the Messenger (Muhammad ) from those who would turn on their heels (i.e., disobey the Messenger).) (2:143)