The sun will be positioned directly above the Ka’bah in Mecca on July 15 and 16, 2026, a celestial event known as Rashdul Qiblat or Istiwa A’dham. According to KH Sirril Wafa, writing in a circular issued on July 14, 2026, this phenomenon occurs when the sun reaches the zenith point of the Ka’bah, providing a precise method for determining the direction of the qibla.
Understanding Rashdul Qiblat
Rashdul Qiblat is a product of the sun’s annual apparent motion, resulting from the Earth’s rotation and the tilt of its axis. As the sun moves between the Tropic of Cancer at 23.5º North and the Tropic of Capricorn at 23.5º South, it passes over locations within these latitudes twice a year. Because Mecca is situated at 21º 25’ North, it aligns with this path. When the sun reaches its upper culmination in Mecca, its declination matches the city’s latitude, placing it directly at the zenith.
During this event, objects positioned perpendicular to the water surface in Mecca will cast no shadow. For those outside of Mecca, shadows cast by such objects at the exact time of Rashdul Qiblat will point directly toward the qibla.
Did You Know?
The sun reaches its zenith over the Tropic of Cancer on June 20 or 21 each year, and over the Tropic of Capricorn on December 21 or 22. It passes directly over the equator twice annually, on March 20 or 21 and September 22 or 23.
Timing and Observation in Indonesia
The event is scheduled for two consecutive days in July 2026. On Wednesday, July 15, Rashdul Qiblat will occur at 16:26:42 WIB (17:26:42 WITA). It will repeat on Thursday, July 16, at 16:26:48 WIB (17:26:48 WITA). These times correspond to 12:26:42 and 12:26:48 Saudi Arabia time, respectively.
Most regions in Indonesia can utilize this event for qibla measurement. However, residents in the provinces of Maluku, North Maluku, West Papua, and Papua will be unable to observe it because the sun will have already set by the time of the event. In parts of Sulawesi and the Nusa Tenggara islands, the sun may be low on the horizon, potentially obscured by clouds, even though the alignment technically occurs.
By using a simple pendulum or a corner of a building as a plumb line, individuals can achieve a high degree of accuracy. The requirement for a calibrated digital clock is a modern necessity to ensure the observation is timed to the second, though rounding to the nearest minute is often sufficient for practical applications.
How to Verify Qibla Direction
To determine the qibla direction during this window, one must use an object that stands perfectly vertical, such as a plumb line or a building corner. Using a calibrated digital device, observers should mark the shadow cast by the object at the designated time. This shadow line will provide an accurate indicator of the local qibla direction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary cause of Rashdul Qiblat?
It is caused by the Earth’s orbit around the sun combined with the tilt of the Earth’s rotational axis, which makes the sun appear to shift between the northern and southern tropics throughout the year.
Why can’t everyone see this event?
The event is visible only where the sun is above the horizon. In eastern parts of Indonesia, such as Papua and Maluku, the sun sets before the alignment occurs at the Ka’bah, making observation impossible in those locations.
What tools are needed to measure the qibla during this time?
Observers need a vertical reference point—such as a hanging pendulum or a straight building edge—and a calibrated clock to identify the exact moment of the sun’s zenith over Mecca.
Will you be checking the orientation of your local qibla during this upcoming solar alignment?
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