TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The sun was positioned directly above the Kaaba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, from May 27 to 29, 2026. This phenomenon was particularly notable this year as it coincided with the peak of the Hajj pilgrimage rituals and the celebration of Eid al-Adha.
"There is a special feature to this year's pilgrimage; at high noon in Mecca, around 12:18 p.m. local time, the sun reached its zenith at a 90-degree angle, positioned directly overhead," Thomas Djamaluddin, a research professor of astronomy and astrophysics at the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), told Tempo on Tuesday, May 26, 2026.
Thomas noted that while the sun aligning directly over the Kaaba at noon is an annual occurrence, its convergence with the Hajj is rare. The timing of the pilgrimage follows the Islamic Hijri calendar, which is dictated by the lunar orbit around the Earth.
Elaborating on this zero shadow day in Mecca, Thomas explained that any region experiencing daylight simultaneously with the holy city would see the sun positioned precisely in the direction of the Qibla. For Muslims worldwide, the Qibla marks the sacred direction faced during prayers and rituals, anchored by the location of the Kaaba.
"The shadow cast by a vertical object when the sun is directly above the Kaaba serves as an exact guide to the Qibla," he said. This celestial alignment, Thomas added, offers a perfect opportunity to calibrate or fine-tune the prayer direction in mosques and musallas.
Calibrating the Qibla Direction: A Step-by-Step Guide
The alignment begins on Eid al-Adha, the 10th of Dhul-Hijjah or May 27, 2026, and the window remains virtually unchanged through May 29. For those three days, measurements can be accurately taken between 4:13 p.m. and 4:23 p.m. WIB, or 5:13 p.m. and 5:23 p.m. WITA.
For western and central Indonesian regions, alternate calibration windows open around mid-July. Meanwhile, for Eastern Indonesia (WIT), the optimal times shift to different hours and dates entirely, falling within January and December.
The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) shared a similar assessment, noting that the precise peak of the sun's alignment over the Kaaba occurs in the late afternoon at 4:18 p.m. WIB or 5:18 p.m. WITA.
The tools required to determine the Qibla include a straight rod, a synchronized timepiece, and a compass or Global Positioning System (GPS). To start, observers should synchronize their clocks with the official BMKG time standard. Next, set up the rod—or use existing vertical indicators like a plumb line, a flagpole, or the edge of a building wall—ensuring it stands perfectly upright.
According to the BMKG, several conditions for an accurate reading include clear, unobstructed skies, a completely flat surface, and an area free from the shadows of nearby objects. Observers can begin tracking the shadow five minutes before the peak time, noting its direction. Finally, draw a straight line from the tip of the shadow back to the base of the vertical tool; this line marks the true direction of the Qibla.
Read: Blue Moon 2026: When and How to See Rare Full Moon in Australia
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