Al-Qiblatayn Mosque
The Qiblatain Mosque (Mosque of the Two Qiblas) is one of the ancient 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 Kaaba was revealed to him. This mosque is located near a well called Bir Rumah.
Name
Masjid al-Qiblatain, or *Masjid Dhu al-Qiblatain* ("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 (PBUH)] 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 \[Kaaba].[1]
Location
Masjid Dhu al-Qiblatain is located in the northwestern part of **Medina**, to the west of **Mount Sala'**[2] and the **Mosques of Fath** (*Masajid al-Fath*),[4] and near **Bir Rumah** (the Well of Rumah).[5]
History of the Structure
Early sources mention Masjid al-Qiblatain as one of the mosques in which the **Prophet (PBUH)** prayed,[6] and based on this, the construction of the mosque is believed to date back to the **Prophetic era**.[7] By the **7th century AH**, the mosque had fallen into ruins, and its stones were removed.[8] However, it was **reconstructed in 893 and 950 AH**.[9] The traveler **Abu Salim al-‘Ayyashi**, in his travelogue dated 1073 AH / 1662 CE, 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 century AH** 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 AH**, 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]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Man La Yahduruhu al-Faqih, vol. 1, p. 426; \[[1](https://wikihaj.com/index.php?title=پرونده%3Aاخبار_المدینه_ابن_زباله.pdf&page=144) *Akhbar Madinat al-Rasul (PBUH)*, p. 144]
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 \[[2](https://wikihaj.com/index.php?title=پرونده%3Aالمساجد_الاثریه.pdf&page=184) *Al-Masajid al-Athariyyah fi Madinat al-Nabawiyyah*, p. 183]
- ↑ \[[3](https://wikihaj.com/index.php?title=پرونده%3Aعمده_الاخبار_فی_مدینه_المختار.pdf&page=159) *Umdat al-Akhbar fi Madinat al-Mukhtar*, p. 159]
- ↑ \[[4](https://wikihaj.com/index.php?title=پرونده%3Aوفاء_الوفاء_سمهودی_ج۳.pdf&page=195) *Wafa’ al-Wafa bi Akhbar Dar al-Mustafa*, p. 195]
- ↑ \[[5](https://wikihaj.com/index.php?title=پرونده%3Aوصف_المدینه_المنوره.pdf&page=17) *Wasf al-Madina al-Munawwara*, p. 17]; \[[6](https://wikihaj.com/index.php?title=پرونده%3Aآثار_مدینه_المنوره.pdf&page=133) *Athar Madina al-Munawwara*, p. 133]
- ↑ \[[7](https://wikihaj.com/index.php?title=پرونده%3Aتاریخ_مدینه_ابن_شبه.pdf&page=68) *Tarikh al-Madina al-Munawwara*, p. 68]
- ↑ \[[8](https://wikihaj.com/index.php?title=پرونده%3Aالمساجد_الاثریه.pdf&page=192) *Al-Masajid al-Athariyyah fi al-Madina al-Nabawiyya*, p. 192]
- ↑ *Al-Durra al-Thamina fi Akhbar al-Madina*, p. 127.
- ↑ \[[9](https://wikihaj.com/index.php?title=پرونده%3Aوفاء_الوفاء_سمهودی_ج۳.pdf&page=197) *Wafa' al-Wafa bi Akhbar Dar al-Mustafa*, p. 197]
- ↑ *Al-Rihla al-‘Ayyashiyya* (1661–1663), vol. 1, p. 394.
- ↑ \[[10](https://wikihaj.com/index.php?title=پرونده%3Aالمدینه_بین_الماضی_و_الحاضر.pdf&page=74) *Al-Madina Bayn al-Madi wa al-Hadir*, p. 74]
- ↑ \[[11](https://wikihaj.com/index.php?title=%D9%BE%D8%B1%D9%88%D9%86%D8%AF%D9%87%3A%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D8%B1_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AB%D9%85%DB%8C%D9%86_%D9%81%DB%8C_%D9%85%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85_%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D8%B3%D9%88%D9%84_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%85%DB%8C%D9%86.pdf&page=236) *Al-Durr al-Thamin fi Ma‘alim Dar al-Rasul al-Amin*, p. 236]
- ↑ \[[12](https://wikihaj.com/index.php?title=پرونده%3Aمساجد_صلی_فیها_رسول_الله.pdf&page=233) *Masajid Salla Fiha Rasul Allah*, p. 233]
- ↑ \[[13](https://wikihaj.com/index.php?title=پرونده%3Aتاریخ_معالم_المدینه_المنوره_قدیما_و_حدیثا.pdf&page=408) *Tarikh Ma‘alim al-Madina al-Munawwara Qadiman wa Hadithan*, p. 408]
- ↑ \[[14](https://wikihaj.com/index.php?title=پرونده%3Aالمساجد_الاثریه.pdf&page=194) *Al-Masajid al-Athariyyah fi Madinat al-Nabawiyyah*, pp. 194–196]