MAKKAH: The sun will be positioned directly above the Holy Kaaba today, causing its shadow to disappear for a brief period in a rare astronomical phenomenon that occurs twice each year.
According to the Jeddah Astronomical Society, the event will take place at 12:26 pm Makkah time, when the sun reaches an angle of 90 degrees directly above the Kaaba. At that moment, the Kaaba’s shadow will vanish as the sun aligns precisely with it on the same vertical line.
In Pakistan, the phenomenon will be observable at 2:26 pm and 44 seconds.
Astronomers say the event provides Muslims around the world with a simple and highly accurate method of determining the direction of Qibla. By facing the sun at the exact time of the phenomenon, worshippers can identify the direction of the Kaaba without the use of a compass or electronic devices.
The alignment occurs twice every year as part of the Earth’s orbit around the sun. Historically, the phenomenon was widely used to determine the Qibla. People would place a stick vertically in the ground and use the direction opposite to its shadow at the designated time to identify the direction of the Kaaba.
Experts describe the event as an important astronomical occurrence that continues to assist Muslims in accurately locating the Qibla across different parts of the world.
