Qiblih
In the Bahá’í Faith the Qiblih (Arabic: قبلة) refers to the location that Bahá’ís should face when saying their daily obligatory prayers, and is fixed at the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh, near `Akká, in present day Israel.
The Qiblih was originally identified by the Báb with "the One Whom God will make manifest", a messianic figure predicted by the Báb. Bahá’u’lláh, who claims to be and is widely recognized as being that figure, in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas confirms the Báb's statement and further ordains His final resting-place as the Qiblih. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá describes that spot as the "luminous Shrine", "the place around which circumambulate the Concourse on High".
The concept has come from the previous Abrahamic religions. Jews face Jerusalem, more specifically the site of the former Temple there. Traditionally, most Christian churches were built so that the congregation faced towards Jerusalem, which was the site of the crucifixion of Jesus, during prayer. Muslims face the Ka'aba in Mecca, which they also call the Qibla (another transliteration of Qiblih).
Bahá’ís do not worship the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh or its contents; the Qiblih is simply a focal point for the obligatory prayers. When reciting obligatory prayers the members of the Bahá’í Faith face in the direction of the Qiblih. It is a fixed requirement for the recitation of an obligatory prayer, but for other prayers and devotions one may follow what is written in the Qur'án: "Whichever way ye turn, there is the face of God."
Burial of the dead[edit]
"The dead should be buried with their face turned towards the Qiblih. This also is in accordance with what is practised in Islam. There is also a congregational prayer to be recited. Besides this there is no other ceremony to be performed" (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, July 6, 1935).
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