National Qibla Direction Verification Movement Held at 725,000 Locations
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Religious Affairs reported that the national qibla direction verification movement, held alongside the Rashdul Qiblat phenomenon on 15 and 16 July 2026, has been joined at 725,669 locations across various regions.
“We have recorded 725,669 registered locations taking part in the 2026 Indonesia Faces the Qibla National Movement,” said Arsad Hidayat, Director of Islamic Affairs and Sharia Development, in Jakarta on Friday.
The phenomenon of the sun being directly above the Kaaba is an astronomical event that occurs twice each year. At that moment, sunlight is positioned exactly at the zenith point above the Kaaba.
Consequently, the shadow of an object standing perpendicular to the earth’s surface can be used as a reference to determine the qibla direction with a high degree of accuracy. This scientific method serves to verify the direction of the qibla.
This year, the phenomenon can be observed on 15 and 16 July 2026, at precisely 16:27 WIB (Western Indonesia Time) and 17:27 WITA (Central Indonesia Time). Members of the public need only prepare a stick or an object fixed upright in an open space, then observe the direction of the shadow that forms.
A line drawn from the tip of the shadow to the base of the stick indicates the direction of the Kaaba and can be used as a reference to check the accuracy of the qibla direction.
“Alhamdulillah, this Rashdul Qiblat National Movement has been welcomed enthusiastically, with hundreds of thousands of registrants keen to practise this method directly,” he said.
The 2026 Indonesia Faces the Qibla National Movement aims not only to verify qibla directions, but also to improve public literacy in ilmu falak (astronomy), one of the important instruments in religious services.
The movement is also expected to serve as a moment of public education on the importance of ilmu falak, whilst strengthening the accuracy of qibla directions in places of worship and public facilities.