Qibla Direction Found To Be Off Course For 40 Per Cent Of Muslims Households In Klang Valley

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About 40 per cent of 5,000 surveyed Muslim households in the Klang Valley were found to be off-course from the right Qibla location due to a variety of reasons, including errors in compass reading when determining the direction for prayer. - NSTP/MOHD ADAM ARININKUALA LUMPUR: About 40 per cent of 5,000 surveyed Muslim households in the Klang Valley were found to be off-course from the right Qibla location due to a variety of reasons, including errors in compass reading when determining the direction for prayer.
It was also discovered that some of the readings were nearly 180 degrees off from where they should have been.
The qibla is the direction of the Kaabah to which Muslims turn to during their daily prayers.
The Selangor Astronomers Association (PAFNS) discovered the issue after surveying more than 20,000 residences and buildings to determine the direction of the Qibla.
Only 5,000 of those were discovered to have the Qibla direction labels indicated by the owner, with 2,000 of them being noticeably incorrect.
The remaining 15,000 still do not have qibla direction labels because the houses were new and the association was called to help determine the direction.
PAFNS secretary general Abdul Latip Ibrahim said only around 5,000 of the 20,000 confirmed homes have signages for the Qibla direction, which were installed by the home owners.
"The Istiwa' A'dzam technique was used in 5,000 homes, however only 3,000 of those homes have the right Qibla direction. The Istiwa' A'dzam technique uses the sun's shadow on May 28 at 5.16pm and July 16 at 5.28pm, when the sun is above the Kaabah.
"Even though the direction indicators were determined using a compass and an online tool, a total of 2,000 additional dwellings were found to have incorrect directions.
"In addition to the Istiwa' A'dzam method, there were direction signages put up by the home owners themselves, using either a physical compass or an app that indicates the Qibla direction," he told Berita Harian.
Abdul Latip said his team encountered several unexpected events when inspecting and verifying the orientation of the Qibla.
He said that some people used the December sunset to estimate their qibla, which resulted in a 46 degree deviation to the left of the right direction.
"There were also residences that are turned away from the direction of the qibla by up to 180 degrees, and examinations revealed that the owner had read the compass incorrectly.
"In addition, it is a common practice in the neighbourhood to exploit the mosque's position. These folks picture the mosque's qibla, even though their home is not in the same location as the mosque due to highways and other obstructions," he said.

The Selangor Astronomers Association (PAFNS) discovered the issue after surveying more than 20,000 residences and buildings to determine the direction of the Qibla. - Courtesy pic
He said that one of the more shocking and unexpected instances was a tenant using the location of the prayer mat left by the landlord as a reference to determine the direction of the Qibla while renting the house.
"We came across a situation where a renter developed his assumptions after noticing the mat that the landlord had left behind.
"It appears the mat was folded backwards, and the tenant then moved 180 degrees in the opposite direction from the qibla," he said.
In addition to the compass and the Istiwa' A'dzam method, Abdul Latip said the community also employs the sunset technique, although it is important to understand the value of the azimuth (angle measurement in the spherical coordinate system) of the sunset.
He said only the sunset in June and July faced the Qibla.
"In other months, it is important to be aware of the sunset's azimuth value to modify the direction of the Qibla. Generally speaking, it should be looking towards the sunset, except for June and July.
"For instance, in December, the Qibla is at an azimuth of 292, while the sun sets at an azimuth of 246, therefore we need to aim 46 degrees to the right to find the Kaabah. - NST

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