Means of Determining the Direction of the Qiblah in the Desert
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Regarding determining the direction of the qiblah in the desert: We see some people placing the sun on their left. Is this method correct, or are there other means to determine the direction of the qiblah in the desert?The Shaykh: Where are they? Are they here in al-Qasim?The questioner: Which desert, O Shaykh? The Shaykh: If the desert in question is meant in a general sense, then this method is not suitable; because if we assume they are in Sham, how can they place the sun on their left?The questioner: They are in any location, O Shaykh! They place it on their left and pray.
This is a great error. Even here in Najd, for example, the sun is not on the left; the sun is always on the right in the 'Asr prayer. However, in winter it is on the right but close, and in summer it is far, almost directly to your right (100%). But in winter it is not like that, because it moves toward the south.
As for the midday prayer, in summer, at the end of the longest day, it is directly above him at the time of zawal. But in winter, it is on his right. This is in Najd, and it also differs in the south, the north, and the middle regions.
As for the means to determine the qiblah, devices have now appeared, and praise be to Allah, that guide a person. These are devices numbered with specific numbers, and devices based on lines of longitude and latitude, and so on. Among the best things I have seen is a clock called the 'Asr clock, which indicates the times of prayer and the qiblah, but it has a program that a person needs to know in order for it to indicate the qiblah.
This is a great error. Even here in Najd, for example, the sun is not on the left; the sun is always on the right in the 'Asr prayer. However, in winter it is on the right but close, and in summer it is far, almost directly to your right (100%). But in winter it is not like that, because it moves toward the south.
As for the midday prayer, in summer, at the end of the longest day, it is directly above him at the time of zawal. But in winter, it is on his right. This is in Najd, and it also differs in the south, the north, and the middle regions.
As for the means to determine the qiblah, devices have now appeared, and praise be to Allah, that guide a person. These are devices numbered with specific numbers, and devices based on lines of longitude and latitude, and so on. Among the best things I have seen is a clock called the 'Asr clock, which indicates the times of prayer and the qiblah, but it has a program that a person needs to know in order for it to indicate the qiblah.