Qiblatain Mosque in Madinah to remain open 24 hours for worshippers

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz has issued an order allowing Madinah’s historic Qiblatain Mosque to remain open 24 hours a day, enabling worshippers to offer prayers there at any time.

The Qiblatain Mosque, located five kilometers west of the Prophet’s Mosque, is one of the most visited religious sites in Madinah after Masjid an-Nabawi. It can accommodate nearly 3,000 worshippers at a time.

It was at this very site that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was commanded by Allah to change the direction of prayer from Jerusalem to the Holy Kaaba in Makkah.

Before this divine command, Muslims faced Jerusalem during prayers. Sixteen months after the Prophet’s migration to Madinah, the qiblah was permanently changed toward the Holy Kaaba, and the Prophet (PBUH), followed by his companions, turned in that direction during prayer.

This event remains one of the most significant moments in Islamic history, making the Qiblatain Mosque deeply symbolic for Muslims.

Originally built by Muslims of the Prophet’s time using mud and palm trunks, the mosque was later renovated by Caliph Omar ibn Abdulaziz in 87 AH and continued to undergo restoration until 950 AH. After a period of decline, it was revived by King Abdulaziz Al Saud.