بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ
الرَّحْمَـٰنِ
الرَّحِيمِ
الْمَلِكِ
الْقُدُّوسِ
السَّلَامِ
1446 - ذُو الْحِجَّة
الْمُؤْمِنِ
الْمُهَيْمِنِ
الْعَزِيزِ
الْجَبَّارُ
الْمُتَكَبِّرُ
L
O
A
D
I
N
G
Fajr
04:00 AM
✓
Dhuhr
02:00 PM
✓
Maghrib
09:20 PM
Isha
11:00 PM
Jumu'ah
02:00 PM
Masjid Al-Qiblatain
مسجد القبلتين
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Masjid al-Qiblatain, or the "Mosque of the Two Qiblas," is located in Medina and is historically significant for being the place where the Prophet (PBUH) received the Divine command to change the direction of prayer. While leading a prayer toward Jerusalem, the revelation came to turn toward the Kaaba in Mecca. The Prophet and the congregation turned mid-prayer, marking a pivotal moment in the identity of the Muslim community and its distinct religious orientation. Masjid al-Qiblatain (Mosque of the Two Qiblas) is located in the northwestern part of Medina, about 3 kilometers from the Prophet's Mosque. Its name commemorates the unique event that occurred there in 2 AH (624 CE). The Prophet was leading the Dhuhr prayer with his companions when the revelation came: "Indeed, We have seen the turning of your face to the heaven, and We will surely turn you to a qiblah with which you will be pleased. So turn your face toward al-Masjid al-Haram" (2:144). In the middle of the prayer, the Prophet turned from facing Jerusalem to facing the Kaaba in Mecca, and the companions followed. This event established the Kaaba as the permanent direction of prayer for Muslims, a symbol of the unique identity of the Islamic Ummah. Before this, Muslims prayed facing Jerusalem, as the Prophet did in Mecca and during the early years in Medina. The change of qiblah was a test of faith for many,it distinguished those who truly followed the Prophet from those who were attached to previous traditions. The mosque was built at the site of this event, and it contains two mihrabs (prayer niches) indicating the two directions, though the original qiblah is no longer used. The mosque has been renovated multiple times, and today only one mihrab remains, oriented toward Mecca. For Muslims, Masjid al-Qiblatain is a reminder of the historical development of Islamic practices and the finality of the Prophet's mission. It symbolizes that Islam is not a continuation of previous traditions in their original forms but the final, perfected revelation that both respects the past and establishes its own identity. The event also illustrates the principle of abrogation (naskh) in Islamic law,earlier rulings may be replaced by later ones as the community develops. The mosque is a popular site for pilgrims visiting Medina, who come to pray in this historically significant place and reflect on the moment when the Muslim community was given its distinctive orientation, turning toward the House of Allah established by Ibrahim.
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