Locating Qibla
As regards the nine methods of locating the Qibla direction, the first is arithmetic. It applies the laws of spherical triangle solution and “half sinus.”
It proves, for instance, that the Qibla direction for an observer in Alexandria, Egypt is 135.5 degrees to the direction of true north clockwise, in Seattle, Washington 17.5 degrees to the direction of true north clockwise, and in Hong Kong 285.1 degrees to the direction of true north clockwise.
The scientific field of Trigonometry which was first invented by the ancient Egyptians and its tables are applied under the second and third methods. These two methods proved the above-mentioned degrees of Qibla direction in Alexandria, Seattle, and Hong Kong.
As for the fourth method, the star sphere is used. During sailing, a navigator needs a quick method to locate the Qibla accurately. This method locates the Kaa`bah by adjusting its latitude to the inclination parallels on the star sphere and the Kaa`bah longitude.
The fifth method uses the star disc. The direction of Kaa`bah is located on the star disc with the same method used on the star sphere.
The latitude of the Kaa`bah is matched with the inclination parallels of the celestial body and longitude of the Kaa`bah from the observer’s site.
The sixth method uses Weris’ cone. The longitude of the Kaa`bah is matched with the base line of gradation on the celestial body inclination.
Kaa`bah as a Reference
The seventh method considers the site of the Kaa`bah a point of reference on some navigational devices.
Some of these devices, like the one that locates sites via satellites, can store points of reference and indicate the direction and distance of these points at any moment.
Thus, the site of Kaa`bah is stored in the device memory as a point of reference. If the direction of the Kaa`bah is needed at any time, the point of reference can be recalled.
Regarding the eighth method, it benefits from the perpendicularity of the sun on the Kaa`bah. When the sun is perpendicular to Makkah, its direction at this very moment is the direction of the Qibla.
The sun is perpendicular to the Kaa`bah twice a year when the sun inclination equals the Kaa`bah latitude and during the sun time. The sun height will be 90 degrees at this very moment for observers in Makkah.
This phenomenon happens on May 28 at seventeen minutes and 52.8 seconds past 12 p.m. local time of Saudi Arabia and Egypt (summer time) and on July 16 at twenty-six minutes and 40.8 seconds past 12 p.m. local time of Saudi Arabia and Egypt (summer time).
On these two days, the sun can be watched by all inhabitants of Africa, Europe, East Asia up to the Philippines and the northwest part of Australia.
Those who see the sun at the above-mentioned moment will be facing the Qibla, God willing. A streetlight, for instance, can be observed at this very moment to locate the direction of Qibla. Thus, each Muslim can be assured of his direction and stick to it the whole year round.
The ninth method is the prayer map drawn by the Islamic Center in the United States of America. It locates the Qibla direction by angles worldwide.
In 2000, the Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar has formed a committee to give a final fatwa (religious opinion) on the correctness of these nine methods that locate the Qibla direction.
This article is from our archive, originally published on an earlier date, and highlighted now for its importance
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