Al-Qiblatayn Mosque: Difference between revisions

The al-Qiblatain Mosque (Mosque of the Two Qiblas) is one of the old mosques in the city of Medina in Saudi Arabia. Historical sources state that the Prophet was praying in this mosque—located in the neighborhood of the Banu Salama tribe—facing Jerusalem (the first qibla of Muslims) when the command to change the qibla toward the Ka'ba was revealed to him. This mosque is located near a well called [[Bi'r Ruma]].

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>

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