9 – ISTIQBÂL-I QIBLA
It is to perform namâz towards the Ka'ba; it does not mean to perform
it for the Ka'ba. Formerly the Qibla used to be Quds
(Jerusalem). Seventeen months after the Hegira, at the third rak'at of the
early afternoon or late afternoon prayer of a Tuesday in the middle of Sha'bân,
Muslims were commanded to turn towards Ka'ba. According to Hanafî and Mâlikî
Madhhabs, namâz will be accepted if the opening between the crosswise
directions of the optic nerves includes Ka'ba.
This angle is approximately 45°. Istanbul's Qibla direction is approximately 30°
east of south. The line between a city and the city of Mecca is called the Qibla Line. This line shows the Qibla direction
for that city. The time when the Sun is on this line is called the Time of
Qibla. The angle between this line and the meridian passing through that city
is called the Angle of Qibla. A city's
Qibla direction depends on its longitude and latitude. For finding south in the
northern hemisphere, the direction to the Sun at zawâl is used or the face of a
clock adjusted to the local zawalî time is held horizontally towards the sky
and its hour-hand towards the Sun; bisector of the angle between the hour-hand
and the 12 o'clock direction approximately points to south. The nearer the
declination of the Sun and the equation of time to zero, the more precise is
the result. For example Istanbul's approximate Qibla direction can be found as
follows: Longitude of the blessed city of Mecca (from Greenwich) is, λ'=39°50' or
39.83° and its latitude is
φ'=21°26' or
21.43°. Since Istanbul's longitude is λ=29° and
its latitude is
φ=41°, the
difference between their longitudes is 10°50' or 10.83°, and the difference
between their latitudes is 19°34' or 19.57°. If Istanbul's approximate angle of
Qibla, as measured from the direction of south, is, say, Q, the following
approximate equation, obtained utilizing the geometrical explanation in the
book Ma'rifatnâma, can be written,
sin(39.83° - λ) sin10.83° 0,18795
tan Q =------------------- =------------- =-------------- = 0,56121
sin(φ
- 21.43°) sin 19.57°
0,33490
... Q=29°18’
Note: Since the difference, f, between the longitudes of Istanbul and Mecca mukarrama is less than 60°, Q is almost the same as the result obtained with the following exact formula. If f is greater than 120°, Q can be found using λ'=-140.17° and φ'=-
21.43° instead of 39.83° and 21.43°, respectively
for the place symmetrical to Mecca with respect to the center of the Earth, in
the above approximate equation and then subtracting the result from 180°.
In the figure below S is the point where
the plumb line of the location intersects the celestial sphere. N is the point
of noon (zawal), and AN is the meridian.
The exact formula for Q, derived by spherical
trigonometry, is:
sin (39,83°- λ)
tan Q =----------------------------------------------------
cos (39,83°- λ) . sin φ - 0,3925 .cos φ
where λ and φ are the
longitude and latitude, respectively, of the location for which Q is to be
found. The sign of λ is (+) in
the east, and (-) in the west of Greenwich (London), φ is (+) in
the northern, and (-) in the southern hemisphere. The Q found is the angle
between the two directions from that location, one to the south and the other
to the Qibla (Mecca). We turn Q degrees from the geographical south of the
Earth divided into two regions by a circle composed of two meridians, one
passing through Mecca (λ= 39.83°)
and the other through its symmetrical point (λ'=-140.17°),
to the west in the eastern region of the Qibla and vice versa. The Q found with
this formula should have a (+) sign for the eastern and (-) sign for the
western regions. In case of opposite
results, the angle of Qibla is found by adding (+
180°) or (-180°). For example, for Karachi with λ =67°, φ =25°, the
following keys are pressed on a CASIO calculator:
39.83-67 = cos x 25 sin - 25 cos x 0.3925 = Min 39.83-67 = sin ÷ MR =
INV tan
Hence Q is obtained as -87°
Q for is Istanbul +28°
In the following, some Q values calculated by the exact and
(approximate) formulas are given. The last three values are obtained by the
symmetrical approach:
Munich:50°(47°), London:61°(52°),
Basel:56°(50°), Frankfurt:52°(47°),
Tokyo:113°(130°), New York: 122°(134°),
Kumasi: 115°(125°)
In the figure on the top right hand side of page
116, the point B is the point at which the Qibla direction CS is perpendicular
to a declination circle AB. In the right angled spherical triangle ABS, using
the Napier equations, cos (90°-φ) = sin φ= cot i X
cot Q, and as tan Q x cot Q = 1, sin φ= (1/tan i)
x (1/tan Q). Hence, tan i =1/(sin φ x tan Q).
For example, on February 2, if the keys are pressed on a Privileg calculator:
E/C 1 ÷ 41 sin÷ 28.21
◦ﻭﻭﻭ→ tan = arc
tan, it is obtained i=70.5°. i=70.5° is constant for Istanbul. In the right
angled spherical triangle ABC, cos(i+H) = tan δ x cot d. In
the triangle ABS, cos i = tan φ x cot d
and, therefore, cot d = cos i / tan φ , and
hence, cos(i+H) = tan δ x cos i ÷
tan φ . Keying in
E/C 16.58
◦ﻭﻭﻭ→ ± tan x 70.5
cos ÷ 41 tan=arccos -70.5=÷15=
◦ﻭﻭﻭ→ , the hour
angle H, that is, the arc CN, is obtained as 1 hour 45 minutes. Kedûsî says in
his annotation to the manual Rub’-e-dâira: “The cursor set (for the date), when
moved to the line of qibla, the complement of the angle indicated by the string
on the arc of altitude is the supplement of the hour angle of Ýstanbul’s Time
of Qibla. When it is divided by 15, the result is the hour angle H.” The
Standard Time of Qibla at which the sun
is on the direction of Qibla of a given location for each day can be calculated
by subtracting from 12:00 hours the time corresponding to the hour angle and
combining the result with the Equation of Time and the difference of longitude
from the Standard Meridian. In the example given above, (The Standard Time of
Qibla) is 10 hr 33 min. The adhânî Time of Qibla is calculated
as 5 hr 6 min by subtracting the time
corresponding to the hour angle and one Temkin from the time of dhuhr-i-adhânî
(the adhânî time for noon prayer). If one turns to the Sun at this time, one
will face the Qibla. If the Qibla is to the east of the south, the Sun is also
in the east, the time is before noon and the H in the time equation will have a
(-) sign. δ =the Sun’s
declination. When δ = φ (Mecca) =
21.43°, the Sun will be exactly at the top of the Ka’ba twice a year. At those
times, anybody turning to the Sun will face the Qibla.
Ahmed Ziyâ Beg found Q=29° for Istanbul by taking somewhat bigger
values for the longitudes and latitudes and using tables of logarithms of
trigonometric functions. The mihrâb of the mosque at the Kandilli quay in
Istanbul was calculated by him in this way at the time of restoration of the
mosque.
By turning approximately thirty-one degrees eastward from the direction
of south found by a compass, Qibla will be faced in Istanbul. For the needle of
a compass points to magnetic poles, which, in fact, are not the poles of the
Earth’s axis. And the locations of magnetic poles change in the course of time.
They complete one rotation around true poles in a period of about six hundred
years. The angle between the magnetic direction and the true polar direction is
called the magnetic deviation. Every
location has a different angle of deviation. There are populated places where
the needle of the compass even deviates 30° from the south to the east (+) or
to the west (-). And a place’s angle of deviation changes yearly. Then, if the
direction of Qibla is found with a
compass, the angle of magnetic deviation has to be added to or subtracted from
the angle of Qibla. Istanbul’s angle of magnetic deviation is approximately
+3°. When we turn eastward for 28° +3°=31° from the south direction found with
the help of a compass, we will face the Qibla in Istanbul.
If the south direction is found with the help of the Pole-Star or with
a clock or by means of the meridian line drawn on the ground, it is not necessary
to add the angle of declination to the angle of Qibla. The direction of Qibla
is found by turning 28° eastward (from south) in Istanbul.
For doing this you place your clock (or watch) on a table horizontally and turn
the figure 6 towards south. When the hour-hand is moved to the position over 5,
it points to the Qibla.
It is permissible, even when performing the namâz that is fard,
to deviate from the direction of Qibla if there is
the fear of illness, enemy and thief, or by mistake, otherwise we should turn
towards the Qibla when performing the namâz on a ship or train.
A saferi person travelling on a ship or train must begin the fard namâz
by standing towards the Qibla and put a compass somewhere near the place he
will prostrate. He must turn towards the Qibla as the ship or train changes
direction. Or someone else should make him turn right or left. If his chest
deviates from the Qibla when performing the namâz, his namâz becomes nullified.
For a ship or a train is like one’s own home. It is not like an animal. Since
the fard namâz of those who cannot turn towards the Qibla on buses, on trains,
on ships when the sea is rough will not be acceptable, they can imitate Shâfi’î
Madhhab as long as they travel and perform the late afternoon prayer (asr)
together with the early afternoon prayer (dhuhr) and the night prayer (esha)
together with the evening prayer (maghrib), one right after the other.
Likewise, if a person in Hanafî Madhhab will not be able to turn towards the
Qibla on the way after starting the journey, he must perform the late afternoon
prayer right after performing the early afternoon prayer at the time of the
early afternoon prayer when they halt somewhere for some time during the day,
and perform the evening prayer and the night prayer together at the time of the
night prayer when they halt somewhere during the night, and when intending to
start each of those four prayers he must intend, that is, pass through his
heart the thought: “I am performing it by imitating Shâfi’î Madhhab.” According
to Shâfi’î and Mâlikî Madhhabs, when a travelling person goes to his hometown
or to a place where he intends to stay more than three days excluding the days
when he enters and goes out of the city, or when he stays more than eighteen
days at a place where he went for some business which he thought would take him
less than four days, he becomes muqîm (settled). He will not become safarî
unless he intends to travel to a distance of not less than
---------------------------------
[1] Shihâb-ud-dîn Ahmed bin Muhammad Hiytamî 'rahmatullâhi ta'âlâ 'alaih',
(899 [1494 A.D.] - 974 [1566], Mekka.)
(performs it) first. He does not become sinful for
having postponed his early afternoon prayer until its time is over. Anyone who
imitates Mâlikî or Shâfi’î Madhhab because he has a crowned or filled tooth in
his mouth, must not make qasr (shorten) the fard prayers where he stays more
than three and less than fifteen days. If he does, his fard prayers which he
performs as two rak’ats will not be valid. If he prays four rak’ats, it is
sahîh (acceptable), although it is makrûh, in the Hanafî. Similarly, one’s
namâz is sahîh (valid) according to Mâlikî Madhhab if one’s skin comes in
contact with that of a nâmahram woman or if one’s ablution (wudu’) is broken
during namâz. As is written in the final paragraph of the fourth chapter, this
person cannot combine (perform by jem’) his prayers where he stays as safarî
(traveller) if there is no haraj.
Though it is not permissible to determine the beginning of the
Ramadân-i sherîf beforehand by using calendars or by calculation, it is
permissible to find out about the Qibla by calculation, pole star [compass],
etc. or prayer times by using a calendar prepared by astronomical calculations.
For, though they will not be found out accurately by sole calculation or
instrumental observation and analysis, they will be guessed strongly (with a
sufficiently high level confidence). Finding out the Qibla or prayer times by
strong conviction is permissible.
At places where there is no mihrâb and where the Qibla cannot be found
by such aids as calculation or with the help of the Pole-Star [a compass],
sâlih Muslims who know which direction the Qibla is must be consulted. We
should not ask disbelievers, sinners, or children. Disbelievers and sinners can
be believed in mu’amalât (business
transactions and social dealings), but not in diyânât
[worships]. When there is no sâlih muslim who knows about the Qibla, you need
not look for one. You must search for it yourself and then perform namâz
towards the direction you have decided to be the Qibla. If later you find out
that it was the wrong direction you do not have to perform the namâz again.
The Qibla is not the building of Ka’ba; it is its building plot. That
is, that space from the Earth to ’Arsh is the Qibla. For this reason, a person
who is down in a well, [under the sea], on top of a high mountain [or on a
plane] can perform namâz in that direction. [For being a hadji[1] (pilgrim) a Muslim visits not the building of
---------------------------------
[1] Please see the seventh chapter of the fifth fascicle of Endless bliss for Hajj.
Ka’ba but its building plot. He who visits another
place cannot become a hadji (pilgrim)].
Hadrat Ibni Hajar-i Makkî says in his book Fatâwâ-i-fiqhiyya,
“It is not permissible to change today’s shape of the building of Ka’ba. It is
harâm. Today’s building was constructed by Hajjâj. When the Khalîfa
Hârûn-ur-Rashîd wanted to have it changed in order to put it in the right shape
given by Abdullah Ibni Zubayr, Imâm-i Mâlik, ‘rahmatullâhi ta’âlâ ’alaih’,
prevented him. If from now on anybody changes it, it is wâjib for us to demolish
the changes, provided we will not cause fitna or give damage to the original
building. Otherwise it is not wâjib.”
If one is ill or when there is the danger that one’s possessions may be
stolen or it may cause the ship one is on board to sink or if there is the
danger of a wild animal or of being seen by the enemy or if one will not be
able to mount one’s animal without help in case one gets down from it or if
one’s companions will not wait for one in case one makes one’s animal stand
towards the Qibla, one combines (perform by jem’) two salâts. If jem’ is
impossible, one performs even the fard namâz by standing towards any direction
one can manage, and does not perform it again later. For one has not caused
these excuses oneself, but they have happened willy-nilly. If a person who does
not know the direction of Qibla performs namâz without looking at the mihrâb or
asking someone who knows it or without trying to find out, his namâz will not
be accepted even if he has found the Qibla by chance. But if he finds out after
the namâz that he has found the right direction it will be accepted. If he
finds it out during the namâz it will not be accepted. If he has inquired for
the Qibla but has not performed the namâz in the direction which he has decided
to be right, he has to perform it again even if he understands that he has
performed it towards the right direction by chance. Likewise, a person who
performs namâz though he thinks that he does not have an ablution, that his
clothes are najs, or that it is not prayer time yet, and who finds out later
that his thought has not been correct, performs the namâz again.
In order to know about the Qibla direction, either a straight rod is
erected on the ground receiving the Sunlight or a key or a piece of stone is
tied at the end of a rope and let be suspended there. At the Time of Qibla for
that day written on a sheet of a calendar, the shadow of the rod or the rope
show the direction of Qibla. The place of the Sun show the line of Qibla. (If
one turns to the Sun at that time, one will face the Qibla). The Sun is on the
Qibla side of the shadow.
The love has
infatuated me;
O my Allah, I love Thee!
Thy love is so sweet, really;
O my Allah, I love Thee!
Neither
wealth pleaseth me,
Nor do I worry about property.
Thy love, alone, makes me happy;
O my Allah, I love Thee!
Thou hast
commanded us to pray,
And advised to keep in the right way.
Thine blessings to enjoy in endless way.
O my Allah, I love Thee!
The nafs I
have is so teacherous;
Poor me, with this being so lecherous!
I’ve found the real delight, so gorgeous:
O my Allah, I love Thee!
Doing the
prayers properly,
And also earning the worldly-
Is what I do daily and nightly.
O my Allah, I love
Thee!
Love is not
only words, O Hilmi!
Thy Allah commandeth drudgery;
Let your manners testify to thee;
O my Allah, I love Thee!
Islam’s
enemies are so many,
Attacking the religion insidiously;
How could one ever sit idly!
O my Allah, I love
Thee!
A lover
simply will not sit lazily,
Lest his
darling should be hurt slightly.
Silence the enemy, and then say honestly:
O my Allah, I love
Thee!
Qibla angles for places with
various latitudes and longitudes
