33.6°

Al-Qiblatayn Mosque

An Ancient Landmark Recounting the Story of the Qibla Change

Madinah

Al-Qiblatayn Mosque is located northwest of Madinah, near Wadi al-Aqiq. It is famous for being the site where the Muslims' Qibla (direction of prayer) changed from Jerusalem to the Kaaba. It is characterised by its ancient historical style and by the diverse renovations it has undergone over the ages, as well as by a floor adorned with distinctive national carpets.

Al-Qiblatayn Mosque is situated in the northwestern part of Madinah, on the plateaus of Harrat al-Wabrah near Wadi al-Aqiq. It was built by Banu Sawad bin Ghanam bin Ka'b during the era of the Prophet (PBUH).

It is most likely that the mosque’s initial architecture consisted of stones, mudbricks, palm trunks, and thatched roofs, following the model of the Prophet’s Mosque. This simple style embodied the spirit of early Islamic architecture.

The mosque was given this name because the Prophet (PBUH) was commanded, while performing the Dhuhr prayer there, to face the Kaaba instead of Jerusalem on the 15^th of Sha'ban, 2 AH. Accordingly, the mosque’s name became associated with a historical event that marked a change in the direction Muslims face in prayer.

Some narrations suggest that the transformation occurred during the Dhuhr prayer at the Prophet’s Mosque, and the worshippers at the mosque of Banu Sawad received the news after praying two rak'ahs, after which they turned toward the Kaaba; thus, it became known as Al-Qiblatayn Mosque (The Mosque of the Two Qiblas).

Throughout the ages, this mosque has received continuous care and patronage from Muslim caliphs and rulers. Among its most prominent expansions were the renovation and enlargement carried out by the governor ʿUmar ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz, commissioned by the Umayyad caliph al-Walīd ibn ʿAbd al-Malik. The mosque was also renovated during the Mamluk era, as well as under the Ottoman sultan Süleyman the Magnificent.

The latest of these expansions and renovations took place during the reign of King Fahd bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (may Allah have mercy on him). The foundation plaque of the mosque states: "Under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Fahd bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and during his auspicious reign, the project to rebuild and expand Al-Qiblatayn Mosque in Madinah was completed with Allah’s help and guidance on 30/3/1408 AH, corresponding to 21/10/1987 AD." This renovation introduced a modern architectural dimension to the mosque, befitting its status.

The mosque covers an area of 3,920 square meters and has two main entrances for men and women. As for its floor, it has been furnished with the finest types of national carpets, which—through their traditional designs and archaeological motifs—embody a distinctive style that sets Al-Qiblatayn Mosque apart from others. This has bestowed upon its atmosphere a special spirit that combines authenticity and beauty.