Is it possible to face Ka?bah from North American soil?
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Is it possible to face Ka?bah from North American soil?
To answer this question, first we need to understand criteria adopted to determine the Qibla.
One of the criteria to determine Qibla is to follow direction of shortest possible distance from the location of the Mosque to the Ka?bah at Makkah. (A Great Circle Theory, http//moonsighting.com/qibla.html).
Generally non-stop flights, originating from North Aameria and destined to Middle East, travels North-East direction for shortest possible distance by using The Great Circle Theory. So, Qibla is fixed in North-East direction for Mosques in North American region.
This criterion seems flawed. Because the flight originating from North America travels in North-East direction only up to North Pole region and after that it travels South-East direction to reach Middle East. In short, Flight first travels North-East and then South-East. But, how can prayer direction take such a turn? And if it does not, then it will leave Ka?bah way off.
A second criterion is to "think that there is a very high minaret over Ka?bah, so high that it reaches the sky. Everyone would agree that if we can see that minaret, facing to that is the direction of Qibla. Now, Allah (SWT) has provided that imaginary minaret in the form of the Sun being at the top of that minaret. It has been observed for centuries that there are two days in a year (May 28 and on July 16) when Sun comes exactly overhead Ka?bah at the local noon time." (http//moonsighting.com/qibla.html).
This criterion also seems flawed. Because when the Sun forms the minaret by reaching at the top of Ka?bah on particular date and time; still it is not visible from the half the surface of the Earth. So, it is not possible to face Ka?bah from the region where this minaret (Sun) is not visible.
Let us consider practical demonstration of problem.
Pick the Globe and erect one vertical stick (this stick represents column) at Makkah. Now pick second stick (this stick represents eye sight travelling along straight line) and place on the surface, anywhere in the North American region. You will find that there is no possibility for second stick to either intersect or to point towards the first stick erected at Makkah. And this is true for hemisphere of the earth opposite to Makkah.
In other words, it is not possible to face Ka?bah from the half of the surface of the Earth. That raises another question. Why would Allah SWT decree something which is not possible to comply from the half of the surface of the Earth? Or are we missing something here?
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In other words, it is not possible to face Ka?bah from the half of the surface of the Earth. That raises another question. Why would Allah SWT decree something which is not possible to comply from the half of the surface of the Earth? Or are we missing something here?
You may find the following interesting http//mypercept.co.uk/articles/meaning-masjid-al-haram-Quran.html
See the analysis of 2140-151 as it discusses "qiblah" etc.
