Qibla

Current Qiblah of Islam - Kaaba Former Qiblah of Islam - Al-Aqsa Mosque For the Shi'a militant group in South Africa, see Qibla (group) . Qiblah ( , also transliterated as Kiblah or Qiblih ) is an Arabic word for the direction that should be faced when a Muslim prays during Salah . Most mosques contain a niche in a wall that indicates the Qiblah. The Qiblah has importance to more than just the salaat , and plays an important part in everyday ceremonies. The head of an animal that is slaughtered using Halal methods is aligned with the Qiblah. After death, Muslims are buried with their faces in the direction of the Qiblah. Thus, archaeology can indicate a Muslim necropolis if no other signs are present.

The current Qiblah of Islam points towards the Kaaba The Qibla ( , "direction"), also transliterated as Qiblah , Qibleh , Kiblah , Kıble or Kibla , is the direction that should be faced when a Muslim prays during salat . It is fixed as the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca . Most mosques contain a wall niche , known as mihrab , that indicates the Qiblah. Most multifaith prayer rooms will also contain a Qibla, although usually less standardized in appearance than one would find within a mosque. Muslims all praying towards the same point is traditionally considered to symbolize the unity of the Ummah , or all Muslims worldwide, under Sharia (Law of God). The Qiblah has importance beyond salaat and plays a part in various ceremonies. The head of an animal that is slaughtered using halal methods is usually aligned with the Qiblah. After death, Muslims are usually buried with the body at right angles to the Qibla and the face turned right towards the direction of the Qiblah. Thus, archaeology can indicate an Islamic necropolis if no other signs are present.

Direction that should be faced when a Muslim prays during salat A pilgrim makes a supplication in the direction of Ka'bah , the Muslim qibla, in the Sacred Mosque of Mecca . A prayer congregation prostrates in the same direction, the qibla. The qibla ( , "direction", transliterations include qiblah , qibleh , kiblah , kıble , kibla , or kiblat ) is the direction used by Muslims in various religious contexts, including the salah or ritual prayer. The qibla is the direction of the building Ka'bah in the Sacred Mosque , Mecca , Saudi Arabia. Muslims believe this to be a sacred site built by the prophets Abraham and Ishmael . According to Islamic belief, this was ordained by God in the Quran , in chapter Al-Baqarah verses 144, 149, and 150, revealed to Muhammad in the second Hijri year . Prior to this revelation, Muhammad and his followers in Medina faced Jerusalem for prayers. Other than for the ritual prayer, it is also the direction for entering the state of ihram for the hajj pilgrimage; where animals are turned into an Islamic slaughter ; for the deceased when buried; the recommended direction to make supplications ; and the direction to avoid when relieving oneself or spitting. Most mosques contain a mihrab or a wall niche which indicates the direction of the qibla. In practice, there are two manners of observing the qibla: ayn al-ka'bah (facing the Ka'bah directly) and jihat al-ka'bah (facing only in the general direction). Most Islamic scholars believe that the more precise ayn al-ka'bah is only required when possible (for example, inside the Sacred Mosque or its surroundings), and otherwise jihat al-ka'bah can be used elsewhere. The most common technical definition used by Muslim astronomers is the direction shown by the great circle —in the Earth's sphere —passing through the Ka'bah and one's location. This direction shows the shortest possible path from one's place to Ka'bah, and allows for the exact calculation ( hisab ) of the qibla using a spherical trigonometric formula which takes the coordinates of one's location and the Ka'bah as inputs. The method is applied to develop mobile applications and websites for Muslims, and to compile qibla tables used in instruments such as the qibla compass . In addition, the qibla can be determined by observing the shadow of a vertical rod twice a year when the sun is directly overhead in Mecca—on 28 May at 12:18 Saudi Arabia Standard Time or 09:18 UTC and on 16 July at 12:27 SAST/09:27 UTC. Before the development of astronomy in the Islamic world, Muslims used traditional methods to determine the qibla; these included following the customs of the companions of the Prophet Muhammad in one's place, using the setting and rising points of celestial objects, the direction of the wind, or using due south—Muhammad's qibla in Medina. Early Islamic astronomy was built on its Indian and Greek counterparts—especially the works of Ptolemy , and soon Muslim astronomers developed methods to calculate the approximate directions of the qibla, starting from the mid-9th century. In the late 9th and the 10th century, Muslim astronomers developed methods to find the exact direction of the qibla which are equivalent to the modern formula. Initially, this "qibla of the astronomers" was used alongside various traditionally determined qiblas, resulting in much diversity in medieval Muslim cities. In addition, the accurate geographic data necessary for the astronomical methods to yield an accurate result were only available in the 18th and 19th centuries, resulting in further diversity of the qibla. Historical mosques with differing qiblas still stand today throughout the Islamic world. The spaceflight of a devout Muslim Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor to the International Space Station on October 2007 generated a discussion with regard to qibla direction in outer space. On Sheikh Muszaphar's request, the Islamic authority of his home country, Malaysia, issued a detailed guidance, suggesting a determination "based on what is possible" for the astronaut, in line with recommendations from other Islamic scholars.

Direction that should be faced when a Muslim prays during salah A pilgrim makes a supplication in the direction of the Kaaba , the Muslim qibla, in the Sacred Mosque of Mecca . Muslim American soldiers in the prostrate position while praying. The qibla ( ) is the direction towards the Kaaba in the Sacred Mosque in Mecca , which is used by Muslims in various religious contexts, particularly the direction of prayer for the salah . In Islam, the Kaaba is believed to be a sacred site built by prophets Ibrahim and Ismail , and that its use as the qibla was ordained by Allah in several verses of the Quran revealed to Muhammad in the second Hijri year . Prior to this revelation, Muhammad and his followers in Medina faced Jerusalem for prayers. Most mosques contain a mihrab (a wall niche) that indicates the direction of the qibla. The qibla is also the direction for entering the ihram (sacred state for the hajj pilgrimage); the direction to which animals are turned during dhabihah (Islamic slaughter); the recommended direction to make dua (supplications); the direction to avoid when relieving oneself or spitting; and the direction to which the deceased are aligned when buried . The qibla may be observed facing the Kaaba accurately ( ayn al-ka'bah ) or facing in the general direction ( jihat al-ka'bah ). Most Islamic scholars consider that jihat al-ka'bah is acceptable if the more precise ayn al-ka'bah cannot be ascertained. The most common technical definition used by Muslim astronomers for a location is the direction on the great circle —in the Earth's Sphere —passing through the location and the Kaaba. This is the direction of the shortest possible path from a place to the Kaaba, and allows the exact calculation ( hisab ) of the qibla using a spherical trigonometric formula that takes the coordinates of a location and of the Kaaba as inputs ( see formula below ). The method is applied to develop mobile applications and websites for Muslims, and to compile qibla tables used in instruments such as the qibla compass . The qibla can also be determined at a location by observing the shadow of a vertical rod on the twice-yearly occasions when the sun is directly overhead in Mecca—on 27 and 28 May at 12:18 Saudi Arabia Standard Time (09:18 UTC), and on 15 and 16 July at 12:27 SAST (09:27 UTC). Before the development of astronomy in the Islamic world, Muslims used traditional methods to determine the qibla. These methods included facing the direction that the companions of Muhammad had used when in the same place; using the setting and rising points of celestial objects; using the direction of the wind; or using due south, which was Muhammad's qibla in Medina. Early Islamic astronomy was built on its Indian and Greek counterparts, especially the works of Ptolemy , and soon Muslim astronomers developed methods to calculate the approximate directions of the qibla, starting from the mid-9th century. In the late 9th and 10th centuries, Muslim astronomers developed methods to find the exact direction of the qibla which are equivalent to the modern formula. Initially, this "qibla of the astronomers" was used alongside various traditionally determined qiblas, resulting in much diversity in medieval Muslim cities. In addition, the accurate geographic data necessary for the astronomical methods to yield an accurate result was not available before the 18th and 19th centuries, resulting in further diversity of the qibla. Historical mosques with differing qiblas still stand today throughout the Islamic world . The spaceflight of a devout Muslim, Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor , to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2007 generated a discussion with regard to the qibla direction from low Earth orbit , prompting the Islamic authority of his home country, Malaysia , to recommend determining the qibla "based on what is possible" for the astronaut.

Direction that Muslims face while praying salah Muslims surrounding and facing the Kaaba for prayer The qibla ( Arabic : قِبْلَة , lit. ' direction ' ) is the direction towards the Kaaba in the Sacred Mosque in Mecca , which is used by Muslims in various religious contexts, particularly the direction of prayer for the salah . In Islam, the Kaaba is believed to be a sacred site built by prophets Abraham and Ishmael , and that its use as the qibla was ordained by God in several verses of the Quran revealed to Muhammad in the second Hijri year . Prior to this revelation, Muhammad and his followers in Medina faced Jerusalem for prayers. Most mosques contain a mihrab (a wall niche) that indicates the direction of the qibla. The qibla is also the direction for entering the ihram (sacred state for the hajj pilgrimage); the direction to which animals are turned during dhabihah (Islamic slaughter); the recommended direction to make du'a (supplications); the direction to avoid when relieving oneself or spitting; and the direction to which the deceased are aligned when buried . The qibla may be observed facing the Kaaba accurately ( ayn al-ka'ba ) or facing in the general direction ( jihat al-ka'ba ). Most Islamic scholars consider that jihat al-ka'ba is acceptable if the more precise ayn al-ka'ba cannot be ascertained. The most common technical definition used by Muslim astronomers for a location is the direction on the great circle —in the Earth's Sphere —passing through the location and the Kaaba. This is the direction of the shortest possible path from a place to the Kaaba, and allows the exact calculation ( hisab ) of the qibla using a spherical trigonometric formula that takes the coordinates of a location and of the Kaaba as inputs ( see formula below ). The method is applied to develop mobile applications and websites for Muslims, and to compile qibla tables used in instruments such as the qibla compass . The qibla can also be determined at a location by observing the shadow of a vertical rod on the twice-yearly occasions when the Sun is directly overhead in Mecca—on 27 and 28 May at 12:18 Saudi Arabia Standard Time (09:18 UTC), and on 15 and 16 July at 12:27 SAST (09:27 UTC). Before the development of astronomy in the Islamic world, Muslims used traditional methods to determine the qibla. These methods included facing the direction that the companions of Muhammad had used when in the same place; using the setting and rising points of celestial objects; using the direction of the wind; or using due south, which was Muhammad's qibla in Medina. Early Islamic astronomy was built on its Indian and Greek counterparts, especially the works of Ptolemy , and soon Muslim astronomers developed methods to calculate the approximate directions of the qibla, starting from the mid-9th century. In the late 9th and 10th centuries, Muslim astronomers developed methods to find the exact direction of the qibla which are equivalent to the modern formula. Initially, this "qibla of the astronomers" was used alongside various traditionally determined qiblas, resulting in much diversity in medieval Muslim cities. In addition, the accurate geographic data necessary for the astronomical methods to yield an accurate result was not available before the 18th and 19th centuries, resulting in further diversity of the qibla. Historical mosques with differing qiblas still stand today throughout the Islamic world . The spaceflight of a devout Muslim, Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor , to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2007 generated a discussion with regard to the qibla direction from low Earth orbit , prompting the Islamic authority of his home country, Malaysia , to recommend determining the qibla "based on what is possible" for the astronaut.