The Prophet had a mosque in Medina with 2 qiblas (prayer niches), 1...
Elon ⚪@hadithworks
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Oct 16, 2026
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The Prophet had a mosque in Medina with 2 qiblas (prayer niches), 1 facing Jerusalem & 1 facing Mecca. The 2 qiblas remained through Umayyad times until al-Mansur’s reign (754-775 CE), when the superfluous qibla was removed to avoid confusion.
Here’s why it had 2… 🧵[1/6]
Here’s why it had 2… 🧵[1/6]
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When the Prophet moved to Medina (in 622 CE), he 1st prayed toward Jerusalem for about 16 months. But one day, the Prophet began praying toward Jerusalem, but then mid-prayer he received revelation to switch toward Mecca, & so he concluded that prayer facing his home town. [2/6]
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A similar story is told about a group of Muslims who received word of the revelation about the change of qibla. Mid-prayer they switched from Jerusalem to Mecca.
Today, Masjid al-Qiblatayn (The 2 Qiblas Mosque) stands where this group reportedly prayed. [3/6]
Today, Masjid al-Qiblatayn (The 2 Qiblas Mosque) stands where this group reportedly prayed. [3/6]
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Perhaps 2 different prayer sessions (1 with the Prophet, 1 without him) switched mid-prayer from Jerusalem to Mecca. More likely, in my view, the story about the group of worshippers switching mid-prayer may have inspired the story about the Prophet doing the same [4/6]
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Alternatively, in both cases, the story about Muslims switching direction mid-prayer is a dramatic invention meant to highlight the Muslims’ willingness & eagerness to adopt Mecca as THE direction of prayer. [5/6]
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Whatever the case, at least 2 early mosques retained physical evidence of the switch from Jerusalem to Mecca, by having two different mihrabs (prayer niches) facing 2 different holy cities. FIN [6/6]
Pictured: niche for Torah scrolls in the Dura Europus synagogue [Wikimedia]
Pictured: niche for Torah scrolls in the Dura Europus synagogue [Wikimedia]