Al-Qiblatayn Mosque: Difference between revisions

Masjid al-Qiblatayn, or Masjid Dhu l-Qiblatayn ("The Mosque of Two Qiblas"), was given this name because of the event of the [[change of qibla]] that occurred in this mosque.<ref name=":0">''Man la yahduruhu al-faqih'', vol. 1, p. 426; ''Akhbar Madinat al-Rasul'', p. 144.</ref> It is also called the Mosque of Banu Salama because it was located in the village of the Banu Salama tribe.<ref name=":1">''Al-Masajid al-athariyya fi Madinat al-Nabawiyyah'', p. 183.</ref>

The [[change of qibla]] took place on the 15th of Sha'ban in the second year after the Hijrah. Before that, Muslims used to pray facing [[Bayt al-Maqdis]] (Jerusalem).<ref>'''Umdat al-Akhbar fi Madinat al-mukhtar'', p. 159.</ref> The command to change the qibla was revealed to the [[Prophet (s)]] during a prayer, and the worshippers performed the first two rak'ahs of the noon (or afternoon) prayer facing Bayt al-Maqdis, and the remaining two rak'ahs facing the [[Ka'ba]].<ref name=":0" />

Masjid Dhu l-Qiblatain is located in the northwestern part of [[Medina]], to the west of [[Mount Sela']]<ref name=":1" /> and the [[Mosques of al-Fath]],<ref>''Wafa' al-wafa bi-akhbar dar al-Mustafa'', p. 195.</ref> and near [[Bi'r Ruma]] (the Well of Ruma).<ref>''Wasf al-Madina al-Munawwara'', p. 17; ''Athar al-Madina al-Munawwara, p. 133.</ref>

Early sources mention Masjid al-Qiblatain as one of the mosques in which the [[Prophet (s)]] prayed,<ref>''Tarikh al-Madina al-munawwara'', p. 68.</ref> and based on this, the construction of the mosque is believed to date back to the Prophetic era.<ref>''Al-Masajid al-athariyyah fi al-Madina al-Nabawiyya'', p. 192.</ref> By the 7th/13th century, the mosque had fallen into ruins, and its stones were removed.<ref name=":2">''Al-Durra al-thamina fi akhbar al-Madina'', p. 127.</ref> However, it was **reconstructed in 893/1488 and 950/1543-44.<ref>''Wafa' al-wafa bi akhbar dar al-Mustafa'', p. 197.</ref> The traveler Abu Salim al-'Ayyashi, in his travelogue dated 1073/1662, described the mosque building as solid and well-built.<ref>''Al-Rihla al-'Ayyashiyya (1661–1663)'', vol. 1, p. 394.</ref>

According to some reports, the mosque was in a state of disrepair by the late 14th/20th century but was subsequently renovated. At that time, mihrabs (prayer niches) were installed in two directions: toward Jerusalem and toward Mecca.<ref>''Al-Madina bayn al-madi wa l-hadir'', p. 74.</ref> However, the mihrab facing Jerusalem was later removed.<ref>''Al-Durr al-thamin fi ma'alim dar al-Rasul al-amin'', p. 236.</ref>

The mosque was completely rebuilt in 1408/1987-88, which gave it its current form.<ref>''Masajid salla fi-ha Rasul Allah'', p. 233.</ref>

The overall layout of the mosque is triangular, but the main building consists of two rectangular floors and overlooks the main road through a balcony. Opposite the mosque lies an old cemetery known as Maqbarat al-Qiblatain.<ref>''Tarikh ma'alim al-Madina al-munawwara qadiman wa hadithan'', p. 408.</ref> The mosque has two minarets and two domes, and its total area is 3,920 square meters, accommodating about 2,000 worshippers.<ref>''Al-Masajid al-athariyya fi Madinat al-Nabawiyya'', pp. 194–196.</ref>