For how long did the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, pray facing Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa, and in which direction did he pray in Makkah Al-Mukarramah? And if the change of Qiblah occurred in Madinah, then in which direction did the Muslims pray during the first thirteen years in Makkah?

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, prayed towards Jerusalem for sixteen months after his emigration to Medina. Before the emigration, he used to pray facing the Kaaba, and it was also said that he would place the Kaaba between himself and Jerusalem. The sum of the matter is that in Mecca, he would pray between the two corners (of the Kaaba), so the Kaaba would be in front of him, while he faced the rock of Jerusalem. When he emigrated to Medina, it became impossible to combine the two directions, so he was commanded to face Jerusalem for a little over ten months. He used to supplicate frequently to be directed towards the Kaaba, and his supplication was answered, and he was commanded to turn towards the Ancient House (the Kaaba).