🕌 Masjid al-Qiblatayn (Mosque of the Two Qiblas)
Saudi Arabia
About This Sacred Site
Masjid al-Qiblatayn ('Mosque of the Two Qiblas') in Medina is historically significant as the place where Prophet Muhammad received a divine command during prayer to change the direction of prayer (qibla) from Jerusalem to Mecca in 624 CE. This momentous event, mentioned in the Quran, established the Kaaba in Mecca as the permanent direction of Islamic prayer. The mosque originally had two mihrabs (prayer niches) — one pointing to Jerusalem and one to Mecca — though only the Meccan mihrab remains after renovations. The change of qibla is considered one of the most significant events in early Islam.
Key Facts
- •Where Prophet Muhammad received the command to change the prayer direction from Jerusalem to Mecca
- •The event occurred in 624 CE, about two years after the Hijra
- •Originally had two mihrabs pointing to both Jerusalem and Mecca
- •The change of qibla is referenced in Surah Al-Baqarah of the Quran
- •Extensively renovated in 1987, retaining only the Meccan-facing mihrab
Location
Coordinates: 24.4806, 39.5922
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