Al-Qiblatayn Mosque
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.
| Al-Qiblatayn Mosque | |
|---|---|
| Masjid Dhu l-Qiblatayn, Masjid Banu Salama | |
 | |
| Information | |
| Location | Medina, Saudi Arabia |
| Architecture | |
| Area | 3920 square meters |
| Dome(s) | 2 |
| Rebuilt | 1408/1987-88 |
Name
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.[1] It is also called the Mosque of Banu Salama because it was located in the village of the Banu Salama tribe.[2]
Change of Qibla
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).[3] 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.[1]
Location
Masjid Dhu l-Qiblatain is located in the northwestern part of Medina, to the west of Mount Sela'[2] and the Mosques of al-Fath,[4] and near Bi'r Ruma (the Well of Ruma).[5]
History of the Structure
Early sources mention Masjid al-Qiblatain as one of the mosques in which the Prophet (s) prayed,[6] and based on this, the construction of the mosque is believed to date back to the Prophetic era.[7] By the 7th/13th century, the mosque had fallen into ruins, and its stones were removed.[8] However, it was **reconstructed in 893/1488 and 950/1543-44.[9] The traveler Abu Salim al-'Ayyashi, in his travelogue dated 1073/1662, described the mosque building as solid and well-built.[10]
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.[11] However, the mihrab facing Jerusalem was later removed.[12] The mosque was completely rebuilt in 1408/1987-88, which gave it its current form.[13]
Current Status
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.[14] The mosque has two minarets and two domes, and its total area is 3,920 square meters, accommodating about 2,000 worshippers.[15]
Gallery
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Minbar and mihrab -
Northern entrance -
Map -
Before the latest reconstruction -
The old minaret and entrance -
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Man la yahduruhu al-faqih, vol. 1, p. 426; Akhbar Madinat al-Rasul, p. 144.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Al-Masajid al-athariyya fi Madinat al-Nabawiyyah, p. 183.
- ↑ 'Umdat al-Akhbar fi Madinat al-mukhtar, p. 159.
- ↑ Wafa' al-wafa bi-akhbar dar al-Mustafa, p. 195.
- ↑ Wasf al-Madina al-Munawwara, p. 17; Athar al-Madina al-Munawwara, p. 133.
- ↑ Tarikh al-Madina al-munawwara, p. 68.
- ↑ Al-Masajid al-athariyyah fi al-Madina al-Nabawiyya, p. 192.
- ↑ Al-Durra al-thamina fi akhbar al-Madina, p. 127.
- ↑ Wafa' al-wafa bi akhbar dar al-Mustafa, p. 197.
- ↑ Al-Rihla al-'Ayyashiyya (1661–1663), vol. 1, p. 394.
- ↑ Al-Madina bayn al-madi wa l-hadir, p. 74.
- ↑ Al-Durr al-thamin fi ma'alim dar al-Rasul al-amin, p. 236.
- ↑ Masajid salla fi-ha Rasul Allah, p. 233.
- ↑ Tarikh ma'alim al-Madina al-munawwara qadiman wa hadithan, p. 408.
- ↑ Al-Masajid al-athariyya fi Madinat al-Nabawiyya, pp. 194–196.