What is the method for determining the qibla of the Great Mosque of Sana'a, and what is the authenticity of the hadith mentioned concerning it in the book "Tarikh San'a" by Imam Ahmad ibn Abdullah al-Razi, and is the determination of its qibla by the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, considered one of his miracles?
Al-Tabarani narrated the hadith about the building of the Sanaa mosque and how its qibla was determined. In it, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said to Wabr ibn Yahnas al-Khuzai: "When you build the Sanaa mosque, make its qibla towards the right of a mountain called Dhayn." Al-Haythami graded its chain of narration as good (hasan). It has been confirmed that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, sent several of his companions to Yemen, among them Wabr ibn Yahnas, and commanded him to build a mosque in Bathan's garden, from the rock at the base of Ghumdan, and that its qibla should be towards Mount Dhayn.
Modern studies, including research by Sheikh Al-Zindani, have proven that a straight line passing from the qibla of the Sanaa mosque (determined by al-Masmoorah and al-Manqoorah) through the summit of Mount Dhayn reaches the center of the Holy Kaaba in Mecca. This miraculous aspect is manifested in the Prophet's precise determination of the location and direction, despite the Earth's spherical shape, the long distance, and the unavailability of scientific tools in his era. He never visited Yemen, which indicates that what he said was not within human capacity, but rather divine revelation.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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