Qibla Numa Download

[Nichele Seibel]

Aqibla (qiblah) compass (sometimes also called qibla/qiblah indicator or qiblanuma) is a modified compass used by Muslims to indicate the direction to face to perform prayers. In Islam, this direction is called qibla, and points towards the city of Mecca and specifically to the Kaaba. While the compass, like any other compass, points north, the direction of prayer is indicated by marks on the perimeter of the dial, corresponding to different cities, or by a second pointer set by the user according to their own location. To determine the proper direction, one has to know with some precision both the longitude and latitude of one's own location and those of Mecca, the city toward which one must face. Once that is determined, the values are applied to a spherical triangle, and the angle from the local meridian to the required direction of Mecca can be determined.

The indicator usually consists of a round brass box with a hinged lid and an inset magnetic compass. A list of important Islamic places with their longitudes, latitudes, is inscribed in Arabic on all sides of the box. The compass has a blued steel needle with an open circle to indicate North. It is surmounted by a brass pyramidal pivot and a glass plate covers all. A brass ring over the rim of the compass carries a degree circle numbered in 'abjad' numerals and the cardinal points are marked. The folding triangular gnomon is supported by a decorative open-work motif. The lid of the box is secured by a hook fastener. The instrument serves the user to determine the correct 'qibla' - the direction to which Muslims turn in prayer to face the Ka'ba in Mecca.Ornate qibla compasses date back at least to the 18th century. Some recent versions use digital readout instead of a magnetic pointer.[1]

al-Ashraf Umar II (d. 1296), sultan of the Sunni Rasulid Yemeni Caliphate, described the use of the compass as a qibla indicator in the 13th century.[3] In a treatise about astrolabes and sundials, al-Ashraf includes several paragraphs on the construction of a compass bowl (ṭāsa). He then uses the compass to determine the north point, the meridian (khaṭṭ niṣf al-nahār), and qibla. This is the first mention of a compass in a medieval Islamic scientific text and its earliest known use as a qibla indicator, although al-Ashraf did not claim to be the first to use it for this purpose.[2][4]

Qibla finder comprising a rectangular wooden panel with two printed roundels, the upper one with a depiction of the Haram al-Sharif in Mecca and a description by the inventor of the instrument, the lower roundel with a depiction of a map of the world signed in a cartouche by Abdulwahab Siddiki, thereunder a series of tables listing the cities and places of the world. The description mentions al-Bārūn al-Mukhtariʽ as the inventor and is dated 1151 AH/1738-9 AD.

This qibla finder map in a wooden frame, dated 1764/65 AD, is modeled after the original series of Qiblafinders, invented and made by Baronyan (Bārūn al-Mukhtariʽ) some 30 years earlier.

Baronyan, the original inventor of these instruments created this genre of qibla indicators for the Ottoman Grand Vizier, Yegen Mehmet Pasha in 1738/39 AD. These prints were first mounted in a circular box form and later in a wooden frame, as is the case in our object.

DATING

At the center of the upper part of the panel there is an Ottoman inscription, where the date is given as 1178 AH, which corresponds to 1764/65 AD which is the last year that Baronyan was in life. A very similar panel was sold in 2002 in Bonhams with the same date of 1178 AH given on top of the frame.

USE OF THE INSTRUMENT

The inscriptions below the topographical image on the lid are in Ottoman Turkish and provide instructions on how the indicator can be used (including the signature of the maker and the date and place of production.) For the full functionality of the object, a pointer, fixed in Mecca and a compass are necessary.

Furthermore, it is interesting to read that this instrument was not only used for finding the direction of Qibla but was also intended as Mihrab as described in the explanation section under the geographical map:

mezkr bir mahallin kıblesin bulub tevecch esnsında bu şerhi muhtev pşde-i kıble-nmnın prmında mteharrikdir evirb kıbleye mukbil edb şerhin balsında Kaʻbe-i şerfenin şekli musavver mihrb mesbesinde olub.Translation: If one finds the Qiblah in a certain place with this instrument than you can turn the device immediately in the open state towards the qibla after determining the qibla and to use the image of the Kaaba as a mihrab.

So it can be imagined that this instrument were taken with the Hajj Karavan and used for finding the direction of Mecca and after that used as an Mihrab where the audience behind could make his prayer together. This could be the reason why there is so few left of these panels.

The qiblanuma is a portable astronomical instrument whose name literally means 'showing the direction to the Ka'ba'. The wooden instrument is round, with a lid, and is decorated with lacquering, a technique known as Edirnekari, in red, pink, black, blue, green, and gilding. The main body includes the compass and pointer. The regions where the instrument can be used are shown on a map and a list of cities is given with their Arabic names.

The upper part of the inside lid shows, on a green background, the minarets of the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, with the Ka'ba in the courtyard. To the left of this are depictions of the sacred sites at the Plain of 'Arafat. To the right and in the foreground are date palms and olive trees, symbols of paradise and blessing. The empty space in the background is filled with illustrations of pomegranates in a bowl, representing plenty. A cartouche framed with leaf motifs extending from among the pomegranates, is decorated with a bouquet of roses on a gold background. The rose bouquet, symbolic of the Prophet Muhammad, was a popular motif in 18th-century Ottoman literature and floral paintings. Fruits in a bowl, symbolising fertility, abundance and immortality, were a typical motif of the period. The inscription in the lower part of the inside lid states that the instrument was made by Barun al-Muhtari in Istanbul in AH 1151 / AD 1738. It also includes instructions on how to use the instrument.

The outside of the lid is decorated in the naturalistic style known as Turkish Baroque-Rococo on a gold background. It features vases filled with roses and flowers surrounded by garlands of acanthus leaves and scrolling tendrils. Six oval medallions placed in this composition feature figureless landscape depictions, which are also found on wall paintings of the same period. The landscape depictions include views of lakes, houses amid trees on the shore, mansions, and villages on the opposite shore, all drawn with the illusion of depth.

Mecca is located in western Saudi Arabia. It is also known as "Makkah" ( مكة). The Holy Ka'aba is located in Makkah. It is also the birthplace of Prophet Muhammed (Peace Be Upon Him). It is the holiest city for Muslims. Muslims go on pilgrimage to Mecca to perform Hajj and Umrah.

Muslims do not pray facing east or west wherever they are. They perform their prayers while facing Kaaba. As such, the Qibla direction depends on your location vis--vis Kaaba in Makkah. It could be East, West, North, South, etc.

These are standard compasses showing the direction of Qibla on the compass. When users align the needle of the compass to a specific number allocated to the city (provided in the booklet along with the compass), the resulting direction of Qibla marked on the compass is the prayer direction. This may not be accurate when used inside buildings.

With advent of mobile devices, the physical compasses are getting replaced by the online compasses available on Android and iPhone/iPad devices. This has given rise to the Online Qibla compasses mobile applications. These compasses will automatically detect the location (when online) and then show the Qibla direction. These compasses also may not be accurate when used inside buildings. HalalTrip mobile App available for both Android and iPhone/iPads has an Online Qibla Compass.

Online Qibla direction compass mobile applications will generally automatically detect the current location (when online) and then show the prayer direction, as is the case with the HalalTrip mobile app. On some apps the user may have to enter the location, then the compass will show the qibla direction (relative to TRUE North and not relative to compass North). HalalTrip.com website also provides an online compass which provides the Qibla direction relative to the TRUE North.

Locating the qibla direction using the google maps is very precise. It uses the great circle to show the qibla direction on a Google Map. Once you enter your location, the direction of qibla will be shown on the google map with a line drawn on the map. Zoom in the map and find the landmark to orient yourself to the qibla direction.

The best way to find the accurate Qibla direction for any location is to use a mobile application which provides both an online compass as well as the ability to locate the qibla using google maps. HalalTrip.com as well as the HalalTrip's mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android let's you easily find the qibla direction for your house or for any location while you travel. The HalalTrip mobile app will instantly find your location and display the qibla direction. On the HalalTrip.com website, the user just needs to enter the location and the qibla direction will be shown.

As such when written in English there are number of variations used to spell the word. The main variation is the use of either "Q" or "K" in the beginning of the word. The second is the addition of letters "t" or "h" at the end. This has given rise to the following variations of spelling:

The Qibla direction in UAE is generally West. The exact direction depends on the location in UAE. For Dubai, it is about 259 degrees from geographic north, for Abu Dhabi the direction is around 260 degrees and for Sharjah it is around 258 degrees.

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