Al-Qiblatayn Mosque

Al-Qiblatayn Mosque is the mosque where the revelation descended upon Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him (PBUH), to change the Qiblah from Bayt Al-Maqdis (in Jerusalem) to Al-Kaaba Al-Musharrafa, in the middle of the month of Sha’ban during the second year of the Hijrah. It is one of the historical and archaeological mosques in Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah.

The incident of the change of the Qiblah is linked to the visit of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) to Umm Bishr from Banu Salama, to offer her condolences. He was performing the Dhuhr prayer when he received the revelation to turn towards Al-Kaaba Al-Musharrafa. This was confirmed in the Quran, where Allah (SWT) says: "We have certainly seen the turning of your face toward the sky, and We will surely turn you to a Qiblah with which you will be pleased. So turn your face toward the Sacred Mosque, and wherever you [believers] may be, turn your faces toward it." Surah Al-Baqarah (2:144).

The first construction of Al-Qiblatayn Mosque took place during the time of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in the second year of the Hijrah. It was built by the Banu Suwad Bin Ghannam Bin Ka'b, using palm trunks and fronds. The mosque is closely linked to Islamic history, as it is associated with the event of the change of the Qiblah, from which it derives its name—a name it has carried since the time of the Prophet.

The mosque is located on Khalid Bin Al-Walid Road in Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah, approximately four km from the Prophet’s Mosque. It was originally built on an elevated hilltop of Harrat Al-Wabrah and overlooked part of Wadi Al-Aqeeq in Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah. Historically, the mosque was divided into two sections: an inner section containing a mihrab facing Al-Kaaba Al-Musharrafa, and an outer section with a mihrab facing toward Al-Sham (the Levant). Both were constructed using lime and carved stones.

The mosque has undergone several renovations and restorations throughout history, the most notable of which was carried out by Umar Bin Abdulaziz in 706, when he focused on restoring and renewing the mosques in which the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) had prayed. Nearly eight hundred years passed without any restoration until Shahin Al-Jamali renovated it in 1488, after which expansions continued.

The first expansion of Al-Qiblatayn Mosque during the Saudi era took place under the Founding King Abdulaziz Bin Abdulrahman Al Saud in 1931, when he ordered the mosque's reconstruction, the building of a surrounding wall, the erection of a dedicated minaret, and the expansion of its area to 425 m².

The mosque was rebuilt during the reign of King Fahd Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in 1987, and its area reached approximately 3,920 m². It also underwent several repairs and restorations during the reign of King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, in addition to the renewal and care it received during the reign of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

Al-Qiblatayn Mosque underwent development as part of the 'Al-Qiblatayn Cultural Center' project, which is overseen by Al-Madinah Region Development Authority. The project spans an area of 7,500 m² and includes the creation of mosque courtyards, organizing road networks and traffic flow, and the construction of parking spaces. Additionally, the project involves the expansion of the mosque to accommodate 6,260 worshipers.