Masjid al-Qiblatain is a mosque in Medina that is historically important for Muslims as the place where the Islamic prophet Muhammad (PBUH), leading the prayer, is said to have been commanded to change the direction of prayer (qibla) from Jerusalem to Mecca. Thus it uniquely contained two prayer niches (mihrabs). Recently the mosque was renovated; the old prayer niche facing Jerusalem was removed, and the one facing Mecca was left. The Qiblatain Mosque is among the three earliest mosques in Islam's history, along with Quba Mosque and Al-Masjid al-Nabawi.
History
The name of the mosque goes back to the beginning of Islam when the
companions of Muhammad (PBUH) named it after an event that took place. Muhammad
(PBUH) was leading the prayer when he received a revelation from Allah
instructing him to take the Kaaba as the Qiblah. According to
traditional accounts, Muhammad (PBUH), who had been facing Jerusalem during the
prayer, upon receiving this revelation, immediately turned around to
face Mecca, and those praying behind him also did so. After this, the
mosque in which this incident occurred came to be known as Masjid
al-Qiblatain (i.e. 'Mosque of the Two Qiblas'). Many pilgrims who go to
Mecca for hajj often visit Medina where some end up visiting the notable
Qiblatain because of its historic significance.[1]
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