Qiblatayn

Qiblatayn, meaning "Two Qiblas" in Arabic, refers to a historical event in early Islam and to a mosque in Medina associated with that event. The term describes the period during which the Muslim community’s direction of prayer (the qibla) changed from Jerusalem to the Kaaba in Mecca. According to Islamic tradition, the Prophet Muhammad initially led prayers facing Jerusalem. A revelation from God instructed a change of the qibla toward the Kaaba, and the community then prayed in that new direction. The change is described in Islamic sources and is considered a significant moment in establishing Mecca as the sole qibla for Muslims.

The Mosque of the Two Qiblas (Masjid al-Qiblatayn) in Medina commemorates this incident. It is noted for having two mihrabs, one oriented toward Jerusalem and the other toward Mecca, symbolizing the two qiblas recognized during the transitional period. The site serves as a historical marker for the early Muslim community and the shift in ritual practice.

Significance of the event lies in its affirmation of divine guidance and the establishment of a unified qibla for Muslims worldwide. The change also illustrates how early Islamic practice developed under the Prophet’s leadership and how sacred direction became a central element of daily prayer. In general Islamic scholarship, Qiblatayn is used to reference both the historical turning of the qibla and the mosque that embodies that moment in Medina.