When we went to Madinah, we entered the Mosque of the Two Qiblas. We were told, while we were in the mosque, to pray in this direction toward Bayt al-Maqdis, and to pray two more rak'ahs toward the Ka'bah.
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The questioner : The Shaykh's response. When we went to Madinah, we entered the Mosque of the Two Qiblas. We were told, while we were in the mosque, to pray in this direction, meaning toward the qiblah of Bayt al-Maqdis, and to pray two more rak'ahs toward the Ka'bah. What is the validity of this practice? What is the origin of naming the Mosque of the Two Qiblas by this name? And is it the mosque that currently exists?
The Shaykh : This is from the fabrication of the fabricators. For this reason, some scholars said: Some of the fabricators are derived from the word "fabrication" (zawr), not from "visitation" (ziyarah). Not all of them are derived from "fabrication," but some are. They lie to the simple people and say, "This is the place of such-and-such," and "This is the place of such-and-such." Sometimes they say, "This is the place where the Prophet's (peace and blessings be upon him) camel rested when he arrived in Madinah," and so on. These matters require proof first and foremost, before anything else. Then, if it is established, do we take it as a place of visitation?
No. Why? Because the Companions, who are the most noble of creation after the prophets, did not take these as places of visitation. We have not heard of any Companion going to what is called the Mosque of the Two Qiblas to pray in it. And I do not know if this mosque is authentically the one with two qiblas or not. But even if it is established that it had two qiblas, it is not permissible for anyone to pray in it toward Sham. Yes.
The Shaykh : This is from the fabrication of the fabricators. For this reason, some scholars said: Some of the fabricators are derived from the word "fabrication" (zawr), not from "visitation" (ziyarah). Not all of them are derived from "fabrication," but some are. They lie to the simple people and say, "This is the place of such-and-such," and "This is the place of such-and-such." Sometimes they say, "This is the place where the Prophet's (peace and blessings be upon him) camel rested when he arrived in Madinah," and so on. These matters require proof first and foremost, before anything else. Then, if it is established, do we take it as a place of visitation?
No. Why? Because the Companions, who are the most noble of creation after the prophets, did not take these as places of visitation. We have not heard of any Companion going to what is called the Mosque of the Two Qiblas to pray in it. And I do not know if this mosque is authentically the one with two qiblas or not. But even if it is established that it had two qiblas, it is not permissible for anyone to pray in it toward Sham. Yes.