[boiffrona]

,

Accurate Method to deduce the Qibla Direction from the sun (without the use of any instruments)

It is not advisable to determine Qibla using compass specially for Orienting Masajid. The following method which uses the sun is more reliable. It has been observed for centuries and reported in many books by Muslims around the world that two times a year the sun comes overhead above Ka'bah. This is observational fact for centuries, and is used to set the correct Qibla direction in places far from Makkah by Muslims for last so many centuries.
Those two dates and times are:

May 28 at 9:18UT
July 16 at 9:27UT

When you observe the sun at these times (after converting it to your local time, see here), you will be facing the Ka'bah giving you Qibla direction, because if there were a very high minaret over Ka'bah reaching up to the sky, then you will see it just like you are seeing the sun. Now, let us take a few examples.
If you are in Islamabad, Pakistan ( 5 hours time difference from Greenwich), the local time to observe the sun would be 2:18pm on May 28, and 2:27pm on July 16.
Similarly, if you are in Nova Scotia, (-3 hours time difference from Greenwich), the local time to observe the sun would be 6:18am on May 28, and 6:27am on July 16.

If you are at a location that you cannot see the sun on the above mentioned two dates, then you can locate Qibla from the sun when it comes overhead at a point diametrically opposite of Makkah on the globe and look for the following two dates and times:

November 28 at 21:09UT
January 16 at 21:29UT

Face toward the shadow from the sun at these times (after converting it to local time) and you will be facing Ka'bah. If you can see the sun but cannot see the shadow, put your back towards the sun and your face will be towards Qibla.

I guess people having hard time with earth roundness could use these dates to convince stubborn people.

[dselectronics]

,

Accurate Method to deduce the Qibla Direction from the sun (without the use of any instruments)

It is not advisable to determine Qibla using compass specially for Orienting Masajid. The following method which uses the sun is more reliable. It has been observed for centuries and reported in many books by Muslims around the world that two times a year the sun comes overhead above Ka'bah. This is observational fact for centuries, and is used to set the correct Qibla direction in places far from Makkah by Muslims for last so many centuries.
Those two dates and times are:

May 28 at 9:18UT
July 16 at 9:27UT

When you observe the sun at these times (after converting it to your local time, see here), you will be facing the Ka'bah giving you Qibla direction, because if there were a very high minaret over Ka'bah reaching up to the sky, then you will see it just like you are seeing the sun. Now, let us take a few examples.
If you are in Islamabad, Pakistan ( 5 hours time difference from Greenwich), the local time to observe the sun would be 2:18pm on May 28, and 2:27pm on July 16.
Similarly, if you are in Nova Scotia, (-3 hours time difference from Greenwich), the local time to observe the sun would be 6:18am on May 28, and 6:27am on July 16.

If you are at a location that you cannot see the sun on the above mentioned two dates, then you can locate Qibla from the sun when it comes overhead at a point diametrically opposite of Makkah on the globe and look for the following two dates and times:

November 28 at 21:09UT
January 16 at 21:29UT

Face toward the shadow from the sun at these times (after converting it to local time) and you will be facing Ka'bah. If you can see the sun but cannot see the shadow, put your back towards the sun and your face will be towards Qibla.

I guess people having hard time with earth roundness could use these dates to convince stubborn people.

ASWW
This is so interesting and will use it but probably need some simpler explanation or even a drawing /illustration?
Jzk Brother
PS also on such an important topic we need references please.
Would someone else also authenticate the above. Jzk

[traiffhetl]

I m hearing this for the first time. Thanx for sharing.

[VistaULTIMATEdownloadaPro]

I m hearing this for the first time. Thanx for sharing.

Assalamu alaykum

The procedure:

Synchronise your watch using:

http://tycho.usno.navy.mil/what.html

Hang about a hundred gram mass using a thread on July 16 at 9:27UT. Mark a line along the shadow of the thread. This is the qibla direction for your place.


Note: Deen is easy. Such a precise marking is not a must.

[MeatteCen]

Every year I hear this, I somehow miss the dates to observe. inshaaAllah tomorrow I will observe.

[baxodrom]

Procedure is easy : you just look the sun today at 9:27 GMT, and imagine a high minaret is just below the sun : the direction of the sun is thus indicating Makkah.

Sources are :
-AskImam for the religious caution
-Al-Biruni for the scientific caution, amongst others
-Me & people on this thread for the verification I mean this has been tried and tested by many people for decades, so this is some sort of mutawatir confirmation.

Wassalam.

[NumsAmenniams]

this is interesting and useful in some cases...

BUT! masajids are built throughout the year and in many cases they will not be able to wait for the said dates in order to determine the qibla.

also, there is no need to have such accuracy as the deen is not so rigid on this.

[Kimeoffessyr]

The Last Time The Sun Was On Top Of The Ka'abah. UK Time Tomorrow Is 10:27am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pbprzLx9bU

[duncanalisstmp]

The Last Time The Sun Was On Top Of The Ka'abah. UK Time Tomorrow Is 10:27am

are you sure about the time?

found this on wiki...

The two moments in each year when the sun is directly overhead the Kaaba, the direction of shadows in any sunlit place will point directly away from the Qiblah. This happens on May 27 or May 28 at 9:18 GMT and on July 15 or July 16 at 9:27 GMT. Likewise there are two moments in each year when the Sun is directly over the antipodes of the Kaaba. This happens on January 12 or January 13 at 21:29 GMT and on November 28 at 21:09 GMT. Because the Earth is almost a sphere, this is almost the same as saying that the Qiblah from a place is the direction in which a bird would start flying in order to get to the Kaaba by the shortest possible way. The antipodes of the Kaaba is in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, in remote southern French Polynesia, some 35 mi (56 km) northeast of Tematangi atoll and 85 mi (137 km) west-northwest of Moruroa atoll.

[bQXHsKzS]

Yes it's 9:27 GMT which means for UK time it is one hour later in summer time.
The above method is valid for 2-3 days.

[Unoloknovagog]

Thats GMT, Right Now We Use BST. For Example When Its 10:27 BST, Zuhr Adhan In Masjid Haram Begins. 9:27am GMT Time Will Be 3 Hours Behind Makkah Time Whereas Our Clocks Right Now Are Only 2 Hours Behind.