Public Invited to Participate in National Qibla Direction Verification Movement

The Ministry of Religious Affairs is inviting the Indonesian public to participate in the ‘1,448,000 National Qibla Direction Verification Points Movement: A Million Qibla Directions Day’, to be held on 15-16 July 2026, as part of the Peaceful Muharam programme. Director of Islamic Religious Affairs and Sharia Development, Arsad Hidayat, stated that the activity utilises the phenomenon of the sun being directly above the Kaaba to help the public verify the Qibla direction easily, accurately, and simultaneously across Indonesia. Besides commemorating the Islamic New Year, the programme is expected to serve as a public education tool delivering tangible benefits through strengthening religious literacy and astronomical science. Arsad noted that this astronomical phenomenon, occurring twice a year, is the best opportunity to independently verify the Qibla direction. The activity targets marriage officiants, Islamic religious counsellors, mosque and prayer room administrators, Islamic boarding schools, madrasahs, schools, universities, Islamic community organisations, and the general public. The Ministry aims for at least 1,448,000 participants from across Indonesia and has prepared a submission for a record with the Indonesian World Records Museum. The figure symbolises the Hijri year 1448, which marks the momentum for this national movement. Arsad emphasised that the Qibla direction holds significant value in Muslim life as a symbol of unity, with worshippers facing the same point, the Kaaba. Therefore, education on the Qibla direction must be continuously strengthened through a simple, scientific, and easily applicable approach. The movement aligns with the directive of Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar, who encourages impactful, inclusive, and benefit-based religious services. Meanwhile, Head of the Sub-directorate for Hisab Rukyat and Sharia, Ismail Fahmi, explained that the Qibla verification will utilise the Istiwa A’zam or Rashdul Kiblat phenomenon, when the sun is directly above the Kaaba. At that moment, the shadow of a vertically standing object can indicate the Qibla direction with very high accuracy. The phenomenon will occur on 15 and 16 July 2026, around 4:27 PM Western Indonesian Time or 5:27 PM Central Indonesian Time. The public simply needs to prepare a vertically upright object and observe the direction of its shadow at that time. Ismail stated that the Rashdul Kiblat method is one of the most practical in astronomy as it requires no special tools. People can perform it at home, mosques, prayer rooms, schools, campuses, or open spaces receiving direct sunlight during the observation time. Those wishing to participate can register through the website https://indonesiaberkiblat.kemenag.dev, where they can obtain implementation information and become part of the national movement held simultaneously across Indonesia.