The correct answer is 18 months. The redirection of the Qibla—the point toward which Muslims turn during prayer—from Bait-ul-Maqdis (Jerusalem) to the Kaaba (Makkah) is one of the most significant events in the second year of the Hijrah. While historical... Read More
The correct answer is 18 months. The redirection of the Qibla—the point toward which Muslims turn during prayer—from Bait-ul-Maqdis (Jerusalem) to the Kaaba (Makkah) is one of the most significant events in the second year of the Hijrah. While historical narrations vary slightly, with some citing 16 or 17 months, the period of 18 months after the migration to Madina is a widely recognized timeline in Islamic historiography, placing the event around the month of Rajab or Sha'ban in 2 AH.
Upon the migration (Hijrah) to Madina, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and the early Muslim community offered their prayers facing North toward Jerusalem. This was consistent with the practice of previous prophets and served as a spiritual link to the monotheistic heritage of the region. For a year and a half, the Masjid Al-Aqsa remained the focal point of Islamic worship. However, during this entire period, the Prophet (PBUH) harbored a deep, silent yearning to face the Kaaba in Makkah, the first house of worship built by Prophet Ibrahim (AS) and his son Ismail (AS).
The transition did not occur through a pre-announced administrative decree but through divine revelation during an actual act of worship. History records that the Prophet (PBUH) was leading the prayer—most accounts suggest it was the Zuhr or Asr prayer—at the house of Bishr ibn al-Bara or in the mosque of Banu Salama. While he was in the middle of the prayer, the following verse from Surah Al-Baqarah was revealed: "We have certainly seen the turning of your face, [O Muhammad], toward the heaven, and We will surely turn you to a qibla with which you will be pleased. So turn your face toward al-Masjid al-Haram..." (2:144).
Upon receiving this command, the Prophet (PBUH) immediately rotated 180 degrees during the prayer itself. The companions, displaying an extraordinary level of obedience and trust, followed his movement without hesitation. This specific mosque later became known as Masjid al-Qiblatayn (The Mosque of the Two Qiblas), a site that still stands in Madina today as a testament to this event.
The change of the Qibla occurred roughly two months before the Battle of Badr. It served as a vital spiritual preparation for the community. In the social context of Madina, this change was a defining moment that established a distinct identity for the Muslim Ummah. It separated them from the practices of other religious groups in the region and centralized their spiritual focus toward the Kaaba, which had been cleansed of idols in the hearts of the believers long before it was physically liberated.
Furthermore, the Quran describes this transition as a "test." It was designed to distinguish those who followed the Messenger (PBUH) with absolute sincerity from those who were hesitant or influenced by the criticism of local detractors. The redirection toward Makkah also reaffirmed the sanctity of the Kaaba as the focal point of the Abrahamic faith, bridging the gap between the ancient tradition of Ibrahim (AS) and the final message of Islam. This 18-month mark, therefore, represents the moment the Islamic community received its own unique orientation, both physically and spiritually.
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