What is the opinion of Al-Shafi'i regarding the necessity of hitting the exact location of the Ka'bah?
Chapter on Facing the Qiblah
Al-Mughni
Book of Prayer
Primary text
Al-Shafi'i holds two opinions: one aligns with the view that seeking the general direction suffices, consistent with the evidence provided by us, namely the Hadith stating, 'What is between the East and the West is the Qibla.' The other opinion holds that hitting the exact self is obligatory, based on the verse 'And wherever you are, turn your face toward it' (Quran 2:144), arguing that just as the one who sees it must face the exact point, the distant person must also strive for the exact point.
Supporting text
The textual evidence supporting the general direction is that if hitting the exact point were obligatory, the prayers of a long, straight row of worshippers, or two distant individuals facing the same Qibla, would be invalid, as the alignment required for the exact point is physically narrow for a straight row.