Imām Ibn al-Jawzī (d. 597/1201) summarized the scholars' opinions in his book "Zād al-Masīr" as follows:

1. It was the *qibla* of Abraham. [Narrated from Ibn *ʿAbbās*]
2. To be different from the Jews. [*Mujāhid*]

Why did the Prophet (ﷺ) prefer the Kaʿbah over Jerusalem?

Imām Ibn al-Jawzī (d. 597/1201) summarized the scholars' opinions in his book "Zād al-Masīr" as follows:

1. It was changed during the *ẓuhr* (noon) prayer on Monday, the middle of Rajab, after seventeen months from the arrival of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in *Madīnah*. [Al-Barāʾ ibn ʿĀzib, Maʿqil ibn Yasār]
2. It was changed on Tuesday, in the middle of *Shaʿbān*, after eighteen months from his arrival in *Madīnah*. [Stated by Qatādah]
3. It was changed in *Jumādā al-Ākhirah*. [Reported by Ibn Salāmah the exegete, from Ibrāhīm al-Harbī]

Imām Ibn al-Jawzī (d. 597/1201) summarized the scholars' opinions in his book "Zād al-Masīr" as follows:

1. The Jews. [Muqātil]
2. Both the Jews and the Christians. [Abū Sulaymān al-Dimashqī]

Who is being referred to "those who were given the Book" in this āyah?

Imām Ibn al-Jawzī (d. 597/1201) summarized the scholars' opinions in his book "Zād al-Masīr" as follows:

1. The command to face it is found in their scriptures. [Abū al-ʿĀliyah]
2. They know that the Sacred Mosque is the *qiblah* of Abraham. [Ibn ʿAbbās]
3. It is found in their scriptures that *Muḥammad* is a truthful messenger from Allah, so the commands he gives must be 
true.

4. They know that some revealed rulings may be replaced by others (*naskh*).

How did they know that facing the Kaʿbah was the truth?