Masjid Qiblatain

Masjid Qiblatain

Otherwise known as the Mosque of the two Qiblas. The reason it is known as this is that originally the place of direction of prayer for Muslims was to the Al Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem.  Whilst they were praying at this mosque, revelation was received by the Prophet peace be upon him to change the direction of prayer to Makkah, so they turned their faces to two different places in the same prayer!

“Indeed We see the turning of your face to heaven, so We shall surely turn you to a qiblah which you shall like; turn then your face towards the Sacred Mosque, and wherever you are, turn your face towards it, and those who have been given the Book most surely know that it is the truth from their Lord; and Allah is not at all heedless of what they do.” (2:144)
(2:144)

Ever since that time us Muslims now pray facing towards Makkah, i am sure many people may not know that originally Muslims prayed facing Jerusalem. Recently the mosque was renovated; the old prayer niche facing Jerusalem was removed, and the one facing Makkah was left.

The Qiblatain Mosque is among the three earliest mosques in Islam’s history, along with Quba Mosque and Al-Masjid al-Nabawi.

Whilst the mosque does have some historical importance in Islam, it is not from the Sunnah to visit this mosque specifically.