Date and details of the phenomenon of the sun's alignment with the Kaaba on May 28
Muslims and astronomy enthusiasts around the world are turning their attention to Mecca to witness an exceptional astronomical event: the sun will be directly overhead the Kaaba in Engineer Majid Abu Zahra, head of the Jeddah Astronomical Society, explained that this event will occur around the time of the noon prayer (Dhuhr), specifically at 12:17 PM Mecca time. This precise astronomical phenomenon presents a golden and direct opportunity to accurately determine the direction of the Qibla (the direction of prayer towards Mecca) without the need for complex instruments or modern technology.
The scientific explanation for the timing of the sun's alignment with the Kaaba
The phenomenon of the sun being directly overhead the Kaaba is one of the most prominent astronomical events linked to precise geographical calculations. This phenomenon occurs when the sun's declination aligns with the latitude of Mecca, which is approximately 21.4 degrees north. Due to the apparent movement of the sun between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, the sun passes directly over Mecca twice a year: once during its northward journey in late May, and again during its southward journey in July. Astronomical calculations have shown that the sun's altitude on Wednesday, May 27, will reach approximately 89.89 degrees, while on Thursday, May 28, it will reach 89.94 degrees, a difference of only about 0.06 degrees from the exact point of direct alignment. This makes Thursday the closest day to the direct alignment this year.
The historical roots of using astronomy to determine the direction of prayer (Qibla)
From the dawn of Islam, early Muslims recognized the importance of astronomy in performing religious rites, especially prayer, which requires facing the direction of the Sacred Mosque (Masjid al-Haram). Before the invention of the magnetic compass and GPS, Muslim scholars relied on observing the movement of celestial bodies and shadows to determine directions accurately. The phenomenon of the disappearance of shadows at midday in Mecca was one of the most important natural methods historically used to correct the orientation of prayer niches (mihrabs) in ancient mosques throughout the Islamic world. This scientific legacy highlights how Islamic civilization skillfully integrated natural observation with religious needs.
The global and local importance and impact of the phenomenon
Locally, this moment causes the shadows cast by vertical objects in the vicinity of Mecca to almost completely disappear due to the sun's rays striking the Earth's surface perpendicularly. Regionally and internationally, the effect extends to millions of Muslims across different continents. Anyone in Arab countries, or in nearby and moderately distant regions where the sun is visible at the time of this event, can determine the direction of the Qibla with remarkable accuracy. This is done simply by placing a vertical object or marker and observing the direction of its shadow; the exact opposite direction of the shadow indicates the location of the Kaaba.
Observational evidence proves the Earth is spherical
In addition to its religious and historical significance, this phenomenon provides observational evidence that perfectly aligns with the spherical geographic models used in modern astronomy. The occurrence of the sun's perpendicularity depends on latitude and the varying angle at which the sun's rays strike the Earth's surface, resulting in different angles of incidence across different cities at the same moment. This data is used in astronomy education to illustrate concepts of celestial coordinates and the Earth's orbit around the sun, thus confirming the accuracy of astronomical models used to track the movement of celestial bodies and calculate time with remarkable precision.
