"This is the right time for us, Indonesian Muslims, to check the Qibla direction again," the director of Islamic religious affairs and sharia development at the ministry, Adib, said here on Monday.
The Qibla direction will need to be checked because, on the dates that coincide with Islamic dates, namely on the 26th and 27th of Zulhijah in 1444 Hijriah, there will be an Istiwa A'zam or Rashdul Qibla, he explained.
Adib said Istiwa A'zam is the time when the sun will pass directly over the Kaaba.
Therefore, the Qibla direction will also be in the direction of the sun, marked by the shadows of objects perpendicular to and with their backs to the Qibla direction. This is based on astronomical views.
"The Istiwa A'zam or Rashdul Qibla will occur on Saturday and Sunday, July 15 and 16, 2023, coinciding with 26 and 27 Zulhijah in 1444 Hijriah, at 16:27 p.m. (local time)," he said.
There are several techniques that can be used to verify the Qibla direction, such as using a compass and theodolite, he added.
However, Muslims can also determine it by looking at the direction of the object's shadow.
"In conditions like this, what needs to be considered in the Qibla direction guide is to ensure that the object used as a benchmark must really stand upright or use a pendulum," he said.
"Then, the base surface must also be flat, while the measurement hours must be adjusted to BMKG (Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency), RRI (Radio Republik Indonesia), and Telkom," Adib added.
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Translator: Asep Firmansyah, Katriana
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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