Mujahid (may Allah have mercy on him) said regarding the interpretation of Allah the Exalted’s statement: “And make your houses a qiblah,” that those people, meaning the Children of Israel, used to pray only in churches, so it was said to them: Due to the fear of Pharaoh, pray in your houses.
Hadith Referenceسنن سعید بن منصور / كتاب التفسير / 1072