: Approximately 16 to 17 months after the Hijra (migration to Medina), a revelation directed the community to turn toward the Kaaba in Mecca. The Masjid al-Qiblatayn in Medina stands today as a monument to this moment, historically featuring two mihrabs (prayer niches) pointing in both directions. The Archaeological Controversy: The "Petra Theory"
According to Islamic tradition and the Quran (Surah Al-Baqara 2:144), the direction of prayer has changed once in history: Early Islamic Qiblas
The history of the (the direction of prayer) in early Islam is a subject that blends religious tradition with modern archaeological debate. While the standard Islamic view describes a single, divinely ordained shift from Jerusalem to Mecca , modern researchers like Dan Gibson have introduced alternative theories based on the physical alignment of ancient mosques. The Traditional Narrative : Approximately 16 to 17 months after the
