Sun to Shine Perpendicularly to Kaaba Today to Reveal Qibla

The sky of Makkah is to witnesses the sun shining perpendicularly to the Kaaba at noon today, Monday, May 27, corresponding to 19 Dhul-Qa’da 1445 AH.

According to the Astronomical Society of Jeddah, the phenomenon occurs at the time of the noon call to Prayer in Masjid al-Haram at 12:18 p.m.

The organization’s announcement mentioned that this is the first vertical alignment of the sun over the Kaaba in 2024.

The sun is at its maximum height at the moment of perpendicularity, i.e. almost 90 degrees, which results in the shadow of the Kaaba disappearing completely, said Majid Al-Zahreh, head of the Jeddah Astronomical Society.

This event occurs due to the position of the Kaaba being located between the equator and the orbit of Cancer.

The phenomenon has long been used to determine the exact direction of the Qibla, especially for residents of countries far from Holy Mecca.

It should be mentioned that determining the direction of the Qibla was traditionally done by the sun or the moon being perpendicular to the Kaaba.

According to astronomical calculations, every year the sun becomes perpendicular to the Kaaba once in the first six months of the year and once in the second six months of the year.

It’s worth mentioning that if a stick or a piece of straight wood is inserted into the ground at Dhuhr time on these occasions, it creates a shadow on the ground that points towards Kaaba in Mecca as the sun appears in the direction of Mecca.