The prayer hall
Masjid al-Qiblatayn
A calm hall facing Makkah, where visitors pray and reflect on the change of qibla.
Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)
Madinah, Saudi Arabia
Masjid al-Qiblatayn
The "Mosque of the Two Qiblas", where — according to Islamic tradition — the command came during prayer to turn the qibla from Jerusalem to the Ka'bah in Makkah.
Favourite places
Twin minarets and domes
Exterior
The white minarets and domes of the modern building, best photographed from the street in morning light.
Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)Wadi al-Aqiq
West of the mosque
The historic valley of Madinah, praised in hadith as a blessed valley. Parts of it are now landscaped with walkways.
Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)
Local food
Ajwa dates
Madinah, Saudi Arabia
Madinah's most famous dates: small, dark and soft, with a gentle sweetness. Ajwa is grown in and around Madinah and is linked with the Prophet ﷺ in well-known hadith, so pilgrims buy it as a blessed gift to take home. Madinah's date shops also sell Sukkari, Safawi, Mabroom, Anbara and many other varieties.Read more
Kabsa
Madinah, Saudi Arabia
The national rice dish of Saudi Arabia: long-grain rice cooked with tomato, dried lime and a warm spice mix, topped with chicken or lamb, raisins and nuts.
Where to eat
Central Area restaurants (Markaziya)
Streets around the Prophet's Mosque
Hotel buffets, food courts and simple restaurants serving Saudi, Turkish, South Asian, Indonesian and Middle Eastern food for pilgrims from every country. Busiest straight after each prayer.
Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)Quba Road eateries
Along Quba Road, between the centre and Quba Mosque
Local restaurants, bakeries and juice shops along the road to Quba — good for mandi, kabsa, mutabbaq and fresh juice.
Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)
Where to stay
Central Area — north side
Madinah, Saudi Arabia
Large hotels a few minutes' walk from the Prophet's Mosque and its northern gates. The most convenient for Muslim pilgrims who want to pray all five prayers at the mosque.
Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)Outside the centre (King Abdullah Road and beyond)
Madinah, Saudi Arabia
Newer hotels and apartments further out, quieter and roomier, with a car or taxi ride to the centre. A practical choice for families with a car, and for non-Muslim visitors.
Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)
Culture
The mosque is a reminder of a turning point in the life of the Muslim community. Dress modestly: men in long trousers and sleeved tops; women in loose clothing covering arms and legs, with a headscarf (an abaya is customary). Take your shoes off before the prayer halls, keep your voice low, and do not walk directly in front of someone who is praying. Photography of people at prayer is discouraged.
History
In the early years in Madinah, Muslims prayed facing Al-Masjid al-Aqsa in Jerusalem. In the second year after the Hijrah (around 624 CE), the verses of Surah al-Baqarah (2:144) were revealed commanding the believers to turn towards the Masjid al-Haram in Makkah. Tradition holds that the Prophet ﷺ and his companions were praying in this mosque of the Banu Salamah when the command came, and turned to face Makkah in the middle of the prayer.
For that reason the mosque long had two prayer niches, one facing each direction. It was rebuilt and enlarged in the late 20th century in a clean white style with twin minarets and domes, and today has a single mihrab facing Makkah.
Tour plans
Qiblatayn and the Trench
Half dayStep 1: Masjid al-Qiblatayn
Pray two rak'ahs and learn the story of the change of qibla.
Step 2: The Seven Mosques
Continue a short drive east to the site of the Battle of the Trench.
Step 3: Back to the centre
Return for Dhuhr at the Prophet's Mosque.
Map
Travel information
Best time to visit
Early morning or after Asr, outside the midday heat. November–February is the most comfortable season.
How to get there
The mosque is in the north-west of the city, about 5–6 km from the Prophet's Mosque. Take a taxi, a ride-hailing app or a ziyarah tour, which usually combines it with the Seven Mosques.
Getting around
There is parking beside the mosque; the visit itself is on foot.
Travel tips
- Combine it with the Seven Mosques area nearby in one trip.
- Ziyarah buses arrive in waves; if one has just arrived, wait a few minutes for the crowd to thin.
- Shops, cafés and many services close briefly for each of the five daily prayers — usually for 20–30 minutes. Plan errands around them, and check the day's prayer times on a phone app.
