Chapter on the Qiblah (Direction of Prayer)

Narrated by Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Mahbub from al-Abbas from Abdullah ibn al-Mughirah from Isma’il ibn Abbad from Khirash from one of our companions from Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, who said: I said to Him عليه السلام: "May I be your ransom, these opponents of ours say that when the sky is covered or darkened so we cannot recognize the direction of the sky, we and you are the same in exercising ijtihad (independent judgment)." Imam عليه السلام said: "It is not as they say. When that happens, then one must pray in four directions."