The Shiite imam is not only seeking to demonize the Sunnis of Saoudi Arabia (the long standing religious enemies) but also to siphon the money spent by pilgrims in Mecca. Iranians are getting poorer & donations are not what they used to be. So inciting fidels to make theitr devotions in Iran is a good business decision.

Ah, this is an interesting shift...if it takes hold ... I would imagine it will take a long time...but so what? TATA

Meshad in Iran, the new Mecca,and Achmadenejad the new prophet of Islam.

The cleric, Ahmed Alam al-Hadi, told worshipers that Muslim states such as Saudi Arabia and Iraq have been taken over by infidels, urging them to turn instead to the holy city of Mashhad, located in Iran. Genesis 10 1Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah: Shem, Ham, and Japheth; and unto them were sons born after the flood. 2The sons of Japheth: Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras. MESHECH IS MASHHAD. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mashhad THE PEOPLE OF MESHECH WAS IN HISTOTY CALLED - SAKA,MASAKA,MASAGETAE AND MASAGET. THEY FOUNDED THIS CITY AND THE HEADCAPITAL OF RUSSIA. SEEMS AS RUSSIA HAVE SOMETHING TO TAKE BACK FROM IRAN. I ALSO THINK THERE IS A TOWN TO THE NORTHWEST OF MASHHAD, ROOTED IN TURKMENISTAN , WHO GOES BY THE SAME NAME. Arn-Orao.

A fact that the Saudi tribal chieftains who like to impersonate as the "royal family" do not want the Westerners to know is that the "family" does NOT have any intrinsic rights above any other Muslim on the "The God's House" in Mecca. The ONLY "privilege" bestowed on them by ALL Muslims is that the Saudi family is the Custodian of the House, that's all. That in modern term means they hold the janitorial contract and NOTHING more. But millions of Muslims visiting Mecca during the "Major Haj" and millions more during the "Minor Haj", which is the rest of the year, spend billions of dollars in the huge shopping malls surrounding the "God's House". Now THAT is real money! Iran is trying to take away the fake "authority" the Saudi tribesmen have tried to bestow upon themselves as if they were in control of the Muslim's holiest site. This is both big business and even bigger religion. This will server to undermine the power base the Saudi family has illegitimately grabbed due to the lack of serious challenges from other Muslims. Well, the first salvo has been fired and the Saudis have nothing to defend their "un-Islamic" power grab with not even the First Airborn is going to come to their rescue. The ME has move on and these mafia families' shelf life has expired too.

so which way am i supposed to face now believe me i am all confused israil next time you send supplies through to us please send me a compass because i dont know if i am coming or going

they are really worshiping, IF they want to stay alive in iran.

people will continue to face Jerusalem their eternal undivided capital of the Jewish nation and their holy city.

The Shiah Islam do not share the same points of view of the Sunni Islam which it is the original way of Islam. The Shiah are mostly Iranians which do not even are related to Arabs and are not Semites at all. Now they are creating their own holy city to appart them selves of the Semites which they hate. Iranians Hate Arabs. Iranians are the real antisemites and the Shiah are Kfir to Islam.

to be more precise, return to the true model of facing Jerusalem, and while you are at it, return to the true God of Israel instead of Mecca's lunar deity who has 3 daughters.

to create sectarian strife. This news is false and its part of Israel's propaganda: 'Divide and conquer'

In another news, a Reform Rabbi has urged his followers to shun Jerusalem and instead face Netherlands during ritual prayer. Consistent denial of marriage and other rights for Gay jews is sufficient reason to protest and change direction said the Rabbi. Netherland was chosen for being the forerunner in gay rights. Sounds ridiculous?, so does the pathetic attempt to use Makkah, the city of security and sanctity for warmongering. Reform jews might consider such a change, but a muslim will never. Those who fabricate news for personal gain fail to realize that there are certain areas left alone for the fear of God. Direction of prayer is one such.

or fear of you? Which satisfies you more? Just curious

This is sheer propaganda by Zionists. No one has heard of this person. this is no shia leader. Israel is using the policy divide and rule. No TO OCCUPATION.

"If you want to know and follow the true God, follow the One of the Bethlehem stable". So, answering your question, it matters not which direction you face (Rome, Varanasi, Nairobi or other) with your body so long as you direct your heart heavenward (but to do so you MUST leave the cult you are in, which teaches that the Crucifixion--documented extensively by the misruling Romans--didn't happen).

Your words "If you want to know and follow the true God, follow the One of the Bethlehem stable". "but to do so you MUST leave the cult you are in, which teaches that the Crucifixion--documented extensively by the misruling Romans--didn't happen" G_d in a stable and doctrine that teaches crucifixion didn't happen? You can't be serious man, Are you truly Indian? Arguably the most logical and critical thinkers in the world, those are such strange statements you post. Logically, if you want to believe that "G_d" materialized in human flesh and in a human dimension and in a human chronolgy etc etc - you can have faith in that (many do). If you want to have faith that a particular crucifixion holds some sort of supernatural supersignificance I suppose that is also valid since you do this out of faith and of your free will. If you want to believe that those that don't share your specific beliefs are cultists well again that is alright, it is your perogative. But, to propose that other peoples that follow other faiths don't pray "heavenward" just because they orient their bodies in a certain direction or we deny that crucifixion was a popular form of execution used by many groups and also the ancient romans well that is just crazy, research the beliefs of those you call cultist first. That is a logical way, that is an Indian way.