Sun to Be Directly Over the Kaaba on July 15, Offering Natural Qibla Alignment
Islamabad: The Sun will be positioned directly above the Holy Kaaba in Makkah on Wednesday, July 15, creating a rare astronomical phenomenon during which the Kaaba’s shadow will disappear for a brief period.
According to the Jeddah Astronomical Society, the event will occur at 12:26:44 p.m. local time in Makkah, when the Sun reaches a 90-degree angle directly above the Kaaba.
The phenomenon allows Muslims around the world, in locations where the Sun is visible at that moment, to determine the Qibla accurately without the use of a compass. In Pakistan, the event will occur at 2:26:44 p.m. (PKT).
Astronomers say this celestial event takes place twice each year and has historically been used to verify the direction of the Qibla. Traditionally, a straight stick is placed vertically in the ground, and the direction opposite to its shadow points toward the Kaaba.
