(قَد)” Qad” in Arabic language (translated here as certainly) is used for verification.

(نَرَى)) see): Allah (swt) has seen the turning of your face toward the heaven. The verb (see) in the Arabic has come in the present tense. The Messenger (saws) was very polite with Allah (swt), and his passion was bound to the Sacred House of Allah (swt) to be the direction of prayer for him and his nation.  Allah (swt) said, ( قَدْ نَرَىٰ ) (We have certainly seen), and this means that the Prophet (saws) did not ask for that. Turning the face is a sign of inclination, desire and wish, and the Messenger (saws) was content with Allah’s (swt) command and satisfied with Allah’s (swt) guidance, but he had nothing to do with the emotions of the heart. He (saws) said:

“O Allah, this is my division concerning what I control, so do not blame me concerning what You control and I do not.”[1] (He meant the heart).

(فَلَنُوَلِّيَنَّكَ قِبْلَةً تَرْضَاهَا) (We will surely turn you to a Qiblah with which you will be pleased): This is one of the greatest verses that was revealed to Muhammad (saws), as it indicates that Allah (swt) desired to please His beloved Muhammad (saws). Allah (swt) says:

 {وَلَسَوْفَ يُعْطِيكَ رَبُّكَ فَتَرْضَىٰ }

(And your Lord is going to give you, and you will be satisfied)  (Ad-Dhuaa: 5)

(فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ) (So turn your face): turn your entire self during prayer.

(شَطْرَ) (Toward): direction or towards. Linguistically, Shaṭr is the half.

(وَإِنَّ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ لَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ ۗ) (Indeed, those who have been given the Scripture well know that it is the truth from their Lord): Allah (swt) knows their insides, and the command was to face the Sacred Mosque (Al-Masjid Al-Ḥaraam).

The polytheists themselves recognized the sanctity of the Sacred House away from the idols around it. They erected idols, and wanted them to derive sanctity from Allah’s (swt) Sacred House.

 

[1] Sunan Abi Dawud, Book of Nikᾱḥ, Section of Division among wives, no. 2134.