Jakarta , Indonesia ( CNN ) -- Indonesian Muslims have been praying in the wrong direction , the country 's highest Islamic authority has said . The Indonesian Ulema Council told the country 's Muslim populace in March to turn west when they offered their daily prayers . Muslims are supposed to face the Kaaba , the religion 's most sacred site in the city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia . At the time , the council said that the direction of Kaaba from Indonesia laid to the west . Turns out , it did n't . Africa did . So , on Friday , the council issued a new edict : face northwest . `` After the first fatwa ( edict ) a few months ago that stated that the praying direction is west , we have announced that the correct direction for praying is indeed northwest , and we have issued a new fatwa ( edict ) to correct it , '' said Ma'ruf Amin , the head of fatwa division in the Indonesian Ulema Council . `` This is important because facing west will mean that people were facing Africa when they pray , '' he said . Amin said the new edict does not mean that mosques in the country will need to be torn down . `` They ( those praying inside ) just need to adjust their praying direction slightly , '' he said . Some residents of the world 's most populous Muslim country took the change in stride . `` I do n't really worry about the praying direction , '' said Riza Irwansyah , an office worker in Jakarta . `` The important thing is I prayed to Allah and I believe He will listen , no matter which way I 'm facing . ''
Earlier edict from Islamic council had Muslims facing west , where Africa lays . New edict corrects direction to northwest . Muslims are supposed to face the Kaaba in Saudi Arabia when they pray .