Why did Muslims pray facing Jerusalem first, then the Qibla changed to the Kaaba?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
When the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, arrived in Medina, he faced Jerusalem for sixteen or seventeen months, then Allah Almighty commanded him to face the Kaaba. The wisdom behind this change includes: testing the true believer, and demonstrating that this nation is the best of nations, as Allah chose for it the direction of prayer of Abraham, peace be upon him. Allah Almighty mentioned that the change of the Qiblah was "only that We might know who follows the Messenger from who turns back on his heels." And that the People of the Book envy Muslims for the Qiblah.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/11366
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 11366
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy