Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Dear Sir,
Asalamualekum.

Please answer the following questions:

1. How do you get diection of Qibla for Namaz while travelling in airplane of non-muslim airline who do not give you direction?

2. How do you get Qibla's direction at night with could cover and sun or moon (in dark)?

3. How do you get Qibla's direction if you are in a friend's house who is non-muslim and can not tell you the direction?

Thanks.
Wasalaam.

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Direction of Qibla

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

If one is aware that he would be traveling to a place where it would be difficult for him to determine the direction of the Qibla, or one is in a place where the sun is not visible, or if for any other reason one is unable to accurately determine the direction to the Qibla: it would be best if he could carry a compass or one amongst the many modern devices and gadgets which show the direction of the Qibla at the touch of a button.

It would obviously be in the knowledge of the passenger which direction the plane is headed, and if one studies the maps in the plane magazine, or if one studies the position of the sun from his seat, he could quite easily determine the direction of the Qibla to offer his prayers.

But even after all his striving, the believer is not able to determine accurately the direction of the Qibla to offer his prayers, he must offer his prayers in the direction which he can best determine the Qibla should be. It is expected that Allah Subhanah will accept his striving to find the Qibla and his prayers.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 115: To Allah belong the East and the West; whithersoever ye turn there is the presence of Allah. For Allah is All-Pervading All-Knowing.

Beloved brother in Islam, it is important that one who wishes to pray tries his utmost best with the knowledge and tools provided to him by his Merciful Lord to determine the direction of the Qibla; but if after his best efforts and striving, he is unable to accurately determine the direction of the Qibla, he must use his best judgement and pray in that direction; it is expected he will find His Lord Merciful and Accepting.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan