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Malaysians Seize Opportunity to Verify Qibla as Sun Shines Perpendicular to Kaaba

Muslims throughout Malaysia seized the opportunity to verify the accuracy of the Qibla direction in their respective locations as the sun stood Perpendicular to Kaaba on Sunday.

According to Rahyafte(the missionaries and converts website):Federal Territories Mufti Department Islamic affairs assistant officer (astronomy unit) Muhammad Saidul Marjuni said Istiwa’ A’dzam is a phenomenon that occurs twice a year on May 28 (at 5.18pm) and July 16 (at 5.26pm) when the sun is directly above the Kaabah in Makkah, which is the Qibla or the direction that Muslims face when performing prayers.

“The shadow cast by the sun at that time (the time set on both dates) precisely points to the direction of the Qibla.

“We advise Muslims to ensure the accuracy of the Qibla direction in their homes so that we can worship more accurately and perfectly,” he told reporters after demonstrating the method of checking the Qibla direction to visitors at the International Book Fair, at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur, here Sunday.

Muhammad Saidul explained to visitors how the Qibla direction can be determined, based on the direction of the shadow, using some objects that are usually easily available at home such as thread, paper and a stick.

In Penang, the state Mufti Department issued a circular to all mosques to verify the Qibla direction, in conjunction with the Istiwa’ A’dzam phenomenon, following the decision of the state Fatwa Committee.

Senior Mufti assistant (Astronomy), Muhammad Haniff Baderun, said that a total of 33 mosques have conducted a verification, and there are still more than 174 mosques that need to do so, especially mosques built before the 1990s.

In Sabah, the weather was clear in most places Sunday, allowing people in the state to verify the Qibla direction at their respective homes.

Among those who shared their experiences was the Imam of the Ar-Akmar Mosque in Kota Kinabalu, Mohd Muslihin Tamin, 64, who said that he and members of the mosque’s committee informed the mosque’s congregants about the Istiwa’ A’dzam phenomenon since last week.

Deiryll Jonisan, 27, a teacher from Gayang, Tuaran, said that he was excited about Sunday’s phenomenon because it enabled him to verify the Qibla direction which he previously did by just using a smartphone application.

In Sarawak, the scorching weather around Bintulu, which is located in the central region of the state, gave the public the opportunity to witness the phenomenon of Istiwa’ A’dzam at the Bintulu Astronomy Centre.

According to the principal assistant Mufti (astronomy division) at the state Mufti Department, Razalie Hussaini, about 50 people witnessed the phenomenon, including the centre’s officials, Mufti department officials and representatives of mosques and surau around Bintulu.

Meanwhile, unfavourable weather conditions in some states made it difficult to verify the Qibla direction.

In Kelantan, several congregants from Haji Mohamad Nor Mosque, Blok Pasir Puteh, Mengkebang in Kuala Krai were unsuccessful when no shadows were seen in an open area at their mosque due to cloudy weather.

The imam of their mosque, Mohd Solleh Mohamad said that all preparations had been made by his congregation early this morning as they did not want to miss this opportunity to witness Istiwa’ A’dzam phenomenon.

In Johor, cloudy weather meant that shadow used to verify Qibla direction could not be seen clearly.

Johor Astronomy Club member Azfanizam Abdul Aziz, 41 said that although shadow was only slightly visible at exactly 5.18pm it could still be used as a guide to verify Qibla direction by using simple equipment such as a vertical object like a pencil.

 

Source: Bernama

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