Naveed Yaseen replied on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 06:26 AM
I just felt that Qibla direction can also be found from Google Earth or similar map tools. Upon some searches I came across couple of sites which let one do it conveniently on map.
http://www.qiblalocator.com
http://www.islamicearth.com
(Note: Do know that the first site, besides line maps, also has a Google Earth kind of satellite picture mode. And the second site IslamicEarth.com is bit tricky to use as it takes four odd clicks to get Qibla direction. First click to put pin, second click on pin to popup baloon, then click 'Qibla', then click 'show Qibla arrow on map').
Both sites give direction by geodesic (or shortest distance) and are pretty close to each other with max around 3-4 degrees difference at farthest distances (but not exactly same, perhaps one isn't accounting equatorial buldge).
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While looking at different mosques for their direction by these tools I came across a pleasant surprize. While many new-age mosques' directions were somewhat erratic (and some very erratic), the historic Badshahi Mosque Lahore is very precisely towards Qibla by mathematical geodesic. Good mathematics compared to their time.
I think it might have been inferred from some knowledge similar to astronomy and navigation. It indicates some valid and precise knowledge of earth's roundness and earth's relationships to celestial bodies. |
