Why do muslims face mecca?

Muslims face Mecca in prayer because God commanded it in the Quran, telling believers to turn toward the Sacred Mosque wherever they are. The direction is called the qibla, and its focal point is the Kaaba, the cube-shaped building at the centre of the mosque in Mecca. Muslims do not worship the Kaaba; it simply gives the worldwide community a common orientation. The Quran notes that every nation has a direction it faces, and for Muslims this one was chosen by God as a mark of unity. Seen from above, rows of worshippers across the globe bow toward the same point, so that the prayer joins the believer to God and the qibla joins believers to each other. The article “One Direction, One People, One God” covers the history and meaning of the qibla.