Latest news with #Qibla
Gulf Insider
15-07-2025
- Science
- Gulf Insider
Sun Aligns Directly Over Kaaba In Rare Celestial Event, Offering Muslims Precise Qibla Direction
In a rare and striking celestial event, the sun aligned directly over the Holy Kaaba in Mecca on Tuesday, allowing Muslims around the world to determine the Qibla — the direction of prayer — with remarkable accuracy. At the moment of alignment, the sun stood precisely above the Kaaba, causing shadows to vanish completely in its immediate vicinity. 'The sky over Mecca witnessed the sun directly aligning with the Kaaba, causing shadows to disappear completely. The Qibla can be precisely determined from any location where the sun can be seen,' the Jeddah Astronomy Society said in a statement. The phenomenon occurs as the sun travels southward from the Tropic of Cancer and crosses Mecca's latitude at approximately 21.4 degrees North. Known as a Solar Zenith, the event typically occurs twice a year, around late May and mid-July, due to the Earth's axial tilt of 23.5 degrees. Majed Abu Zahra, President of the Jeddah Astronomy Society, noted that the zenith coincides with the Dhuhr prayer in Mecca, imbuing the event with both scientific and spiritual significance. For a moment, sunlight descends vertically upon the Kaaba, creating a powerful and symbolic alignment. Beyond its visual impact, the event provides a traditional means for Muslims worldwide to verify the Qibla without the use of modern tools. At the precise time of the solar zenith, those able to see the sun can simply face it to align their prayers toward Mecca with exceptional precision. Astronomers also view the alignment as a valuable opportunity to observe atmospheric refraction near the zenith point, yielding insights into how light behaves at steep angles. Such observations help refine our understanding of solar positioning and atmospheric conditions.
Time of India
15-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Sun directly over Kaaba today: What it means and how to see it
Sunlight directly over the Kaaba eliminates shadows, marking a unique moment for Qibla alignment / Representative Image TL;DR: At 12:27 PM Mecca time today, the sun will be directly above the Kaaba . This causes no shadows around the Kaaba, letting Muslims worldwide check their prayer direction . The event happens twice a year due to Earth's tilt and Mecca's location. Twice a year, the sun lines up perfectly above the Kaaba, casting no shadows. Today is the second and final time this year. At 12:27 PM local time, the sun will be right above the Kaaba, making all shadows disappear. This moment is important because it helps Muslims everywhere check the exact direction to face during prayer, called the Qibla. This event happens because of how the Earth tilts and moves around the sun. As the sun moves south from the Tropic of Cancer, it aligns with Mecca's latitude. When this happens, the sun reaches its highest point in the sky over the city, about 89.5 degrees above the horizon. Vertical objects won't cast shadows during this time. What Is the Solar Zenith Over the Kaaba? The solar zenith is when the sun sits directly overhead at a specific location. For Mecca, this occurs twice a year. It's linked to Earth's 23.5-degree tilt and Mecca's position at 21.4 degrees north latitude. When the sun hits this point, it lines up so perfectly that vertical objects, like the Kaaba and nearby poles, cast no shadows at all. This is not just a neat trick, it's practical. Muslims can use this time to confirm the Qibla direction easily. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Đây có thể là thời điểm tốt nhất để giao dịch vàng trong 5 năm qua IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo When Did This Happen Before? This year, the first solar zenith over the Kaaba was on May 28, 2025. The next one will be on July 16, 2026. So today's event is the last chance this year to see this alignment. How Can You Watch or Use This Event? Today, at 12:27 PM Mecca time (9:27 AM GMT), the sun will be directly above. If you want to check your prayer direction at home, find a sunny outdoor spot. Place a stick or any straight object upright on flat ground. When the sun reaches this point, the stick will cast no shadow. The shadow that does appear just before or after the exact time points exactly away from Mecca. That's how you can find the Qibla from anywhere with sunlight. Why Does This Matter? This event isn't just for astronomers. It's a natural way to confirm prayer direction without needing a compass or phone. It connects Muslims worldwide to Mecca in a simple, direct way. FAQs Q: Why does the sun only align over the Kaaba twice a year? A: Because of Earth's tilt and orbit, the sun passes Mecca's latitude only twice annually, usually late May and mid-July. Q: Can I see this from outside Mecca? A: You won't see the sun directly overhead unless you're in Mecca, but you can use the shadow method anywhere with sunlight. Q: What if it's cloudy? A: You won't be able to see shadows clearly if the sun is blocked by clouds. Try again next year or rely on other methods to find the Qibla.
Zawya
01-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Kuwait opens bidding for 2 real estate redevelopment projects under PPP framework
The Kuwait Authority for Partnership Projects (KAPP), in cooperation with the Ministry of Finance, has issued Invitation to Bid (ITB) notices for two real estate Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects in Qibla and Sharq areas. The tenders cover: 1. Al Muthanna Complex Real Estate Project – located in Block 12 of the Qibla area, on State-owned Plots No. 16 and 17, totaling 17,183 square metres (sqm) 2. Waterfront Real Estate Project – Phase III – located in the Sharq area, on Plot No. 1, spanning 384,385 sqm (excluding 56,111 sqm designated as Nig'ah Al-Shamlan) The scope includes rehabilitation, renovation, development, major and routine maintenance, management, and operation of the sites under a 15-year usufruct arrangement, in accordance with Law No. 116 of 2014 governing PPPs and its Executive Regulations. The tenders were issued on 29 June 2024 and the deadline for bid submission is 12:00 noon Kuwait time on 28 September 2025. Bidding companies must demonstrate a minimum of 10 years' experience in similar public or private real estate projects and provide documentation for at least two completed contracts, each valued at no less than 15 million Kuwaiti dinars ($49 million). (Writing by Majda Muhsen; additional writing by Nadim Kawach; Editing by Anoop Menon) ( (
Asharq Al-Awsat
27-05-2025
- Science
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Sun to Align Directly with Kaaba on Tuesday in Rare Phenomenon
The holy city of Makkah will witness a precise astronomical phenomenon on Tuesday as the sun passes directly overhead the Holy Kaaba. According to the Noor Astronomy Association in the Qassim Region, this perpendicular solar event will take place during the noon call to prayer in Makkah at 12:18 p.m., resulting in the complete disappearance of the Kaaba's shadow. President of Noor Astronomy Issa Al-Ghafili explained that this event occurs as the sun traverses between the Tropics of Capricorn and Cancer, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Monday. The alignment allows the determination of the Qibla direction from any location worldwide without the need for additional tools. During this moment of perpendicularity, the Qibla's direction is exactly opposite to the shadows cast by mosque minarets, lampposts, and tall towers, he added.
South China Morning Post
11-03-2025
- General
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong could do more to match global momentum during Ramadan
Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share ycuour views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at [email protected] or filling in this Google form . Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification Advertisement This Ramadan is particularly special, as it began on March 1, an alignment with the start of the Gregorian month that only happens roughly every 33 years. Because the official start depends on the sighting of the crescent moon, variations are to be expected across regions. In Hong Kong, for example, many Muslims began their fast on March 2. In recent years, Hong Kong has made notable strides towards becoming more Muslim-friendly. The city has introduced an accreditation system for hotels and key tourist attractions, complementing existing halal certification for restaurants. One milestone was the first halal certification awarded to a Hong Kong fine-dining Chinese restaurant. Meanwhile, Ocean Park, Disneyland and Ngong Ping 360 now offer halal dining options and prayer facilities. The Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre was awarded a gold certification for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) venues by CrescentRating last December. In addition, an increasing number of hotels offer halal meals, prayer mats, Qibla indicators and washrooms designed for ablution. However, my recent experience in Tsim Sha Tsui highlighted a significant oversight: the Qibla indicator in one hotel's bedside drawer was not accurately pointing towards the Kaaba. For devout Muslims, such inaccuracies may result in misdirected prayers and spiritual disquiet. Advertisement Clear signage and dedicated prayer rooms in hotels and shopping centre lobbies could indicate enhanced service and respect. Qibla indicators should be placed in visible areas, rather than tucked away in a drawer.
