Sun Over the Kaaba on 15-16 July: What Time and How to Check the Qibla Direction
The phenomenon of the Sun over the Kaaba, or Rashdul Kiblat, will occur tomorrow and the day after, providing a moment for the public to check the direction of the qibla based on the direction of the sun’s shadow. Quoting the official website of the Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs, the sun will be directly above the Kaaba on Wednesday (15/7) and Thursday (16/7) at 16:27 WIB, 17:27 WITA, or 18:27 WIT. At that time, the shadow of a perfectly vertical object will automatically point towards the qibla.
The phenomenon of the sun directly above the Kaaba is an astronomical event that occurs twice a year. During this event, the sun’s rays are at the zenith point of the Kaaba, so 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 is used to verify the qibla direction.
Here is how to check the qibla direction during the Rashdul Kiblat, Istiwa A’zam, or Sun over the Kaaba event:
Find a location with a flat surface that is exposed to direct sunlight.
Prepare a vertical object, such as a stick and a string with a pendulum.
Ensure the clock used matches the official time from BMKG, RRI, or Telkom.
When the time arrives, observe the direction of the shadow from the vertical object.
Mark the direction of the shadow using tape or a line.
Then, mark the qibla direction.
The straight line facing the sun is the qibla direction at your location.
How to Register for the Gerakan Nasional Indonesia Berkiblat
Through the Gerakan Nasional Indonesia Berkiblat 2026, Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar invites the entire community, mosque and musala caretakers, Religious Affairs Offices (KUA), madrasas, Islamic boarding schools, universities, government agencies, private offices, hotels, community organisations, and households to jointly verify the qibla direction. The Gerakan Nasional Indonesia Berkiblat 2026 not only aims to ensure the accuracy of the qibla direction but also to improve public literacy regarding astronomy as an important instrument in religious services. This movement is also expected to become a moment of public education about the importance of astronomy while strengthening the accuracy of the qibla direction in various places of worship and public facilities.
During the Sun over the Kaaba on 15 and 16 July 2026, participants are asked to conduct simultaneous observations at their respective locations. Here is how to register for the Gerakan Indonesia Berkiblat:
Open the page https://indonesiaberkiblat.kemenag.dev/
Click ‘Access Participant Portal (Login)’, then select ‘Register here’.
Complete the requested data, including name, observation location, province, district/city, full address, email address, and password.
Click ‘Register Now’, then log in using the registered email and password.
After participating in the Rashdul Qiblat observation, upload documentation to Google Drive.
Change the file access setting to ‘Anyone with the link’, then copy the link.
Paste the link into the available column on the Indonesia Berkiblat portal, then click ‘Save & Publish Certificate’.
Once the certificate is available, click ‘Download Certificate’ then select ‘Print/Save PDF’ to save it.
By following these steps, participants can take part in the Gerakan Nasional Indonesia Berkiblat and obtain an e-certificate as proof of participation after the verification process is complete.