What is the decree about and wisdom behind turning toward the qiblah while saying prayers?

"The Prophet (pbuh) came to the place of waqfa on the day of Arafa. He turned toward the qiblah and said prayers until the sun set."
 - Are there any other hadiths about turning toward the qiblah while saying prayers?
 - What is the decree about and wisdom behind turning toward the qiblah while saying prayers?

Dear Brother / Sister,

“The Prophet (pbuh) came to the place of waqfa on the day of Arafa. He turned toward the qiblah and said prayers until the sun set.” (Ihyau Ulumid-Din, Beirut, nd.,  3/305)

- This hadith was also narrated by Muslim (Hajj,147/1218, saying prayers is not mentioned there; it is only stated that he performed waqfa by turning toward the qiblah) and Nasai (Manasik,196, prayers are mentioned there but qiblah is not mentioned).

Both narrations are sound. (see al-Iraqi, Takhriju Ahadithil-Ihya, - with Ihya-, 3/305)

- When the Prophet went to pray for rain, he turned toward the qiblah.” (Bukhari, Istithqa, 4, 20; Muslim, Istithqa, 2, 4)

- The Prophet said prayers by turning toward the qiblah on the day of Badr.” (Muslim, Jihad, 58/1763)

- We can explain the decree about and wisdom behind turning toward the qiblah while saying prayers as follows: 

1) It is sunnah to turn toward the qiblah while saying prayers. The hadith above mentioned in Muslim is an evidence for it. (see Nawawi, Sharhu Muslim, 12/84)

2) The best assemblies are the ones in which people turn toward the qiblah. (Kashshaful-Qina’, 1/367; Tuhfatul-Muhtaj, 2/105)

3) Turning toward the qiblah is one of the pillars of prayer (salah), which is the index of deeds of worship. Du’a is also a deed of worship. Therefore, the qiblah, toward which we turn in prayer applies to du’a too. However, it is sunnah, not fard, to turn toward the qiblah while saying prayers.

4) Qiblah is the symbol of Allah’s oneness. To turn toward the qiblah means to turn toward Allah, the unique creator and deity. 

To turn toward the qiblah in du’a, which is a sincere deed of worship expressing that there is no god and helper but Allah, complies with that symbolic fact.

5) As it is known, it is not necessary to turn toward the qiblah in du’a but it is more virtuous to do so. One of the reasons for it is that a person to be in khushu (humility/awe) when he says a prayer:

“Bring thy Lord to remembrance in thy (very) soul, with humility and in reverence, without loudness in words, in the mornings and evenings; and be not thou of those who are unheedful.” (al-A'raf, 7/205)

The verse above attracts attention to that fact.

It is necessary to turn toward a direction so that khushu and tadarru (showing respect to Allah, fearing Him and begging Him) will be sincere and one will beg Allah by concentrating. The most appropriate direction is the Kaaba (qiblah).

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