It is narrated from Hazrat Bara’ (may Allah be pleased with him) that when the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) arrived in Madinah Munawwarah, he (peace be upon him) prayed facing Bayt al-Maqdis for sixteen (or seventeen) months, while he wished that the qiblah be towards the Baytullah. So Allah Almighty revealed this verse:“We have certainly seen the turning of your face towards the sky. So We will surely turn you to a qiblah with which you will be pleased. So turn your face towards Masjid al-Haram.”The first prayer that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) offered facing the Baytullah was the Asr prayer, in which some people participated with the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). One of them went out and passed by a mosque where the worshippers were in the state of ruku‘ facing Bayt al-Maqdis. He said,“I bear witness by the name of Allah that I have prayed with the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) facing the Baytullah.”So those people, while in that state, turned towards the Baytullah.