Qiblah القبلة

How to Determine the Direction of al-Qiblah 3

July 16th, 2005

The ancient and recent saying and statements of the scholars testify to that. Examples of these sayings are:

1. In his book, Tabyin al-Haqa’iq, Az-Zayla^iyy copied the saying of Abu
Hanifah which, likewise, Khayrud-Din ar-Ramliyy reported in his book, Al-Fatawa al-Khayriyyah, that the Qiblah of the people of the western countries is toward east; the Qiblah of the people of the eastern countries is toward west; the Qiblah of the people of the southern countries is toward north; and the Qiblah of the people of the northern countries is toward south.

2. Abu Ishaq ash-Shiraziyy ash-Shafi^iyy in his book, Al-Muhaththab, said: “if one was absent from Makkah, he is to endeavor to determine the direction of al-Qiblah because he has a way of knowing it by the sum, moon, mountains, and winds. For this, Allah said:

}وَعَلامَاتٍ وَبِالنَّجْمِ هُمْ يَهْتَدُون{
Which means: {and marks and by the stars they guide themselves.}”

3. An-Nawawiyy said in his book, Al-Majmu^: “Endeavoring to determine the direction of al-Qiblah is only valid through relying on the numerous signs mentioned in many books that guide to al-Qiblah. The weakest of these signs are the winds for their diversity, and the strongest is Polaris (the North Star). Polaris is a small star in the star combination of Ursa Minor (Little Bear) between al-farqadayn (two bright stars of Ursa Minor) and al-jady (Capricorn).”

4. In this, al-Husniyy ash-Shafi^iyy said the same thing as an-Nawawiyy.

5. Ibn ^Abidin al-Hanafiyy, in commenting on the following text of Ad-Durr al-Mukhtar:
“It (al-Qiblah) would be seen and known by the sign which, in the villages and countries, is the maharib of the Companions and their followers; and in the open land and seas, is the stars like Polaris.”
Said: “His saying (like Polaris), is the strongest of the signs”

6. Ibn Qudamah al-Hanbaliyy in his book, Al-Mughni, said: “The most reliable of its (al-Qiblah) signs are the stars.” Then he said: “The most certain is the North Star.”

7. The same was mentioned by al-Buhutiyy al-Handbaliyy in his book Kashshaful-Qina^.

8. Ahmad Ibn Mayyarah al-Malikiyy said about he who is away from Makkah or Madinah: “He has to fetch the direction of al-Qiblah by the stars and what follows its course. Allah said:

)وَبِالنَّجْمِ هُمْ يَهْتَدُونَ(
Which means: “by the stars they guide themselves” And Allah said:

)وَهُوَ الَّذِي جَعَلَ لَكُمُ النُّجُومَ لِتَهْتَدُواْ)

Which means: “It he who makes the stares as beacons for you that you may guide yourselves”

And there is no difference of opinion in that.” This means it is a case of al-’ijma^ (consensus).

Entry Filed under: The Direction of al-Qiblah 3