On Monday, Muslims will witness a celestial phenomenon where the sun aligns directly over the Holy Kaaba, allowing them to easily identify the Qibla by facing the sun. This event, occurring at 12:18 pm local time, will completely eliminate the shadow of Islam’s holiest site.
This occurrence provides a straightforward method for people worldwide to determine the Qibla direction in alignment with the sun’s position. The sun’s alignment with the Kaaba in the Grand Mosque happens twice each year.
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The phenomenon is a result of the Earth’s axial tilt, causing the sun to move up to 23.5 degrees north and south of the celestial equator. During the equinox, it passes directly over locations on the equator before shifting northward toward the Tropic of Cancer and then southward again.
However, caution is advised against directly looking at the sun, even for brief periods, without eye protection.
