ASTRONOMY
In the light of
ISLAM
CONTENTS.
Preface 11
CHAPTER 1: SOME IMPORTANT TERMS
1.1 Geography and our Students 13
Useful Geographic Information 14
Diameter
and radius of Earth 16
Continents
of the World 16
Oceanography 19
Well
known rivers of continents 21
Famous
mountains of continents 22
1.2 Changes in The earth 23
Seasons 24
Refraction 27
The
The
Snow Fall 32
The
soil 33
Atmosphere
of the earth 34
Wind
system and rain 35
World
Distribution of Rain Fall 37
Storms
and their Types 38
1.3 Interior of the earth 38
Movements
of the Earth 41
Theory
of continental drift 41
1.4 Latitudes and longitudes 44
1.5 Coordinate system and their explanation 47
International
Date Line 49
Changes
in lengths of day and night 51
Horizontal
Coordinate System 52
1.6 Some terms and their explanations 52
Time
of Transit 52
Diurnal
Circle 52
Horizon 53
Great
Circle 54
Declination
of the Sun 55
Zones 55
Normal
and abnormal regions 55
1.7 Solar and Lunar Eclipses 56
Solar
Eclipse 56
Lunar
Eclipse: 58
Tides 59
Physical
data about the earth 60
CHAPTER 2: DIRECTIONS
2.1 Directions 61
Cardinal
Points 62
Basic
Directions 62
The
Geographic North 63
The
Magnetic North 63
The
True North 63
The
Grid North 63
Magnetic
Declination 64
2.2 Determination of Directions 64
With
the help of The Pole Star 64
Pole
Star 65
The Great
Bear 65
With
the help of the Sun 66
With the help of shadow 67
With
the help of clock 67
With
the help of magnetic compass 68
Method
of finding the sun’s altitude 69
To
find the latitude of any place 69
2.3
Behavior of the Holy Prophet (peace be
upon him) and Sahabah towards Qibla 69
Sun
Shadow Method to determine the Qibla direction 71
2.4 Time and Calendar 72
Mean
solar day 73
Sidereal
day 74
Apparent
day or apparent solar day 75
Local
Time and Standard Time 77
2.5 Calendar 80
Lunar calendar 80
Hijri calendar 80
Solar
or Gregorian calendar 80
Luni
Solar calendar 82
Solar
Hijri calendar 82
CHAPTER 3: COMPALATION
3.1
Mathematical Method For Finding
Prayer Times and Qibla Direction. 83
Geometry,
Trigonometry and Spherical
Trigonometry. 83
Angle 83
Triangle 84
Trigonometric
ratios 85
Solution
of a triangle 86
Spherical
triangle 86
3.2 Calculations of Prayer Times. 86
Dawn,
Isha and Fajar Times. 87
Maghrib
and Sunset 88
Sharaie
Sunrise 89
Zohar 90
Declination
of the Sun 91
Equatorial
Coordinate System 92
3.3 Celestial Sphere 92
Right
ascension, Vernal and Autumnal
Equinoxes 92
3.4 Method to Find the Time of Transit 93
Examples 94
Basic
Formulae 95
Method
to Find Dawn and Isha Time. 96
Examples 97
Time
of Misle Awwal (Asar e Shafi) and
Misle Sani (Asar e Hanfi) 103
Examples 103
Formula for
Dawn 112
Formula for
3.5 Altitude Correction Factor 114
3.6 Aneroid and Mercurial Barometer 115
3.7 Tables for altitude correction 116
CHAPTER 4: ASTRONOMY
4.1 Introduction, need and Importance
of Astronomy. 122
Light Year 123
4.2 Solar System 123
Life
on planets 124
Motions
of the sun 124
Motion
of planets 125
Motions
of the earth 126
The
sun (The centre of the solar system) 127
4.3 Expanse of the Universe 127
Some
astronomical terms 128
4.4 The Planets 130
Mercury 130
About
Iron 131
Venus 131
The
Earth 131
Mars 132
Jupiter 134
Saturn 135
Uranus 137
Pluto 139
Comets,
meteors and asteroids 140
Some
famous stars 141
4.5 Circles on Celestial Sphere 144
Great
Circle 144
Small
Circle 144
Celestial
Equator 145
Ecliptic 145
Horizon 146
Right
ascension and declination 147
CHAPTER 5: SUBAHE SADIQ
5.1 Subh-e-Sadiq and Subh-e- Kazib 148
Ancient
charts (calendars) for Prayer Times
and
Dawn 150
5.2 Determination of prayer timings 151
Non Muslim Astronomer’s
appreciation 154
Guidance through the Holy
Qur’an 155
Astronomical explanation
of the term Twilight 156
5.3 AI Fajrus
Sadiq' 157
5.4 AI Fajrul
Kadhib' 159
Interplanetary dust within the Zodiacal belt 161
Types of Fajar 164
5.5 Duration between sunset and Total
Darkness or
between Total Darkness and
sunrise 166
5.6 Saying of scholars of ancient past 171
5.7 An Invitation to Think and Ponder 172
5.8 A
misconception regarding the interval
between dawn and sunrise 176
5.9 Time difference due to altitude 176
A
mistake in difference of time in Jantaries 177
An
important point to note 179
5.10 Nautical
Almanac, Astronomical Ephemeris
and Non Muslim Astronomers 180
5.11 Further discussion about dawn and false
dawn 181
CHAPTER 6: PHASES
6.1 The Moon 183
Physical
data of the moon 185
Motions
of The moon 185
Length
of lunar year 186
Longitudinal
motion of the moon 187
Delay
in the moonrise 187
6.2 Phases of the moon 187
Web
Based Resources of Moon Sighting 188
Sharaie
Ruet e Hilal . 189
6.3 Use of modern instruments for the
Sighting of the moon 190
6.4 View of Islam about scientific inventions 191
Eid
and Eid ul Azha are not our festivals but
occasions
of worship 193
6.5 New
moon, conjunction 198
Existence
of the moon 199
Chances
of sighting 201
Opinion
of experienced observers 202
Useful
facts (To be noted) 203
Sighting
of the Moon, a Very Unique Question. 204
6.6 Gregorian calendar and its roots 205
CHAPTER 7: MATHEMATICAL METHOD OF FINDING DIRECTION OF QIBLA
7.1 Formula for direction of Qibla 207
Examples 207
7.2 Another
formula for Qibla 210
Examples 211
7.3
Method to find The North with the
help of the sun. 212
CHAPTER 8: PLACES WHERE
TWILIGHT DOES NOT END
8.1 Regions near the poles of the earth 214
8.2 The Issues 215
The
Abnormal
Areas and Different Conventions in Use. 221
8.3 ISTAFTA
(Questionnaire) 223
Nights
in which twilight does not end 225
Days
when the sun does not set 225
Days
when the sun does not rise 225
Appearance
of twilight in places near poles
during
long nights 226
The
shortest day and the longest night 226
The
longest day and the shortest night 227
The
calendar for prayer times for
8.4 The answer 229
8.5 Tables
235
8.6 A
new method for finding times of prayer in
regions near the poles 240
8.7
An Important Proposal 241
CHAPTER 9: DIRECTION OF QIBLA
9.1 Great circle and Rhumb line for finding
Direction of Qibla 243
9.2 Gnomonic projection 248
9.3 Some Important Information 251
Measurements,
distances, weights, sharaie journey etc 251
BLANK
PREFACE
In this book
an attempt has been made to acquaint the students of formal and religious
institutions with elementary but important knowledge of Geography, Astronomy, and
Calculations of prayer times, to find direction of Qibla and Ruet e Hilal and
teach them these subjects by an easy method. Many books have been consulted.
Data and pictures have been taken from various books. This book is a part of a
series of books in which prayer times have been compiled and composed for
innumerable countries and cities of the world.
The world known personality of Hazrat
Maulana Muhammad Umer Palanpuri (R.A.) is the instigating force behind this
work. He, realizing the necessity that since our delegations will visit all
parts of the world to learn and teach the religion, direction of Qibla and prayer
times will be needed, chose me for the job and guided me through every step. It
is due to his affection, love, guidance, advice, and blessings that books
containing prayer times have been compiled composed and some of them printed.
These prayer timing tables and books were prepared separately for more than 75 countries.
Most of the delegations that travel abroad for religious missions are taking
advantage from them. May Allah (s.w.t.) accept this effort and make it a means
for spreading the religion - Islam.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I have used
abstracts and data from many books. Some of them are as follows:
“Fahamul Falkiat” by Hazrat Maulana
Shabbir Ahmed Kakakhel, “Falkiat e Jadeedah” by Hazrat Maulana Sameeruddin of Britain, Articles by Dr. Kamal Abdali
of America and by Dr. Muhammad Ilyas of Malaysia, an article in Arabic by Dr.
Kamaluddin of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia etc.
In addition, data and text from many
other books have been included according to the needs of the students so that
they may find convenience in understanding this difficult subject. I regard it
my moral responsibility to thank all from the core of my heart as the compilation
of this book was possible as a result of their efforts. May Allah (s.w.t.)
bless them with good reward. (Amin)
I thank Prof.
Syed Shafaat Ali, former Chairman, Department of Mathematics for his assistance
in translating my Book “Tasheel-ul Falkiyat”and Mr Riyaz
Hassan of Edinburgh for proof reading.
By the blessing and grace of Allah
(s.w.t.), I had the honour of teaching and guiding the students of Jamia
Ashrafia, Lahore, Jamia Farooqia, Shah Faisal Colony, Jamia Islamia Allama
Binori Town, Karachi; Jamia Binoria, Site, Karachi; Jamia Imdadul Uloom,
Nazimabad, Karachi and respectable Mufti Shaheban and teachers of various
religious Institutions. Recently I was invited to deliver lectures on these
topics by the Madrasatul Islam of Glasgow, Scotland. I had the honour of
acquainting them with the art of composition and compilation of prayer times
and direction of Qibla. On their advice and demand this book is being
presented.
May Allah (s.w.t.) bless my late
parents and my late elder brothers Abdul Hafeez Qureshi and Abdul Majeed
Qureshi and award a place under His protection. I was able to start work on
this book due to their blessings. I am also thankful to my brothers Gulzar
Muhammad Qureshi, Prof.Anwar Muhammad Qureshi and Izhar Muhammad Qureshi whose
blessings and good wishes assisted to continue this task. May Allah (s.w.t.)
give them great reward.
Abdul Lateef
Karachi, 2, August 2011, 1st
Ramzan 1432
CHAPTER 1
SOME IMPORTANT TERMS
1.1 Geography and our Students
It is my personal experience that the students of our religious
institutions and different colleges and universities of Pakistan are unaware of
the elementary information about Geography. When a cricket team came to tour
This is my personal observation that
students of Pakistani schools and colleges are being, intentionally or
unintentionally, kept in the dark about geographical locations and distances of
other countries from us. Maybe it is a part of our education policy. A subject
Social Studies (consisting of many subjects) have been included in school
curriculum. Students can neither learn Geography from it nor History. Most of
the students do not even know where
Our students do not even know the
geography of our own country. They were amazed when informed that boundaries of
Useful Geographic
Information
فَلِلَّهِ
ٱلۡحَمۡدُ رَبِّ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَرَبِّ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ رَبِّ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ (٣٦)
وَلَهُ ٱلۡكِبۡرِيَآءُ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِۖ وَهُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ
ٱلۡحَكِيمُ (٣٧) {الجاثية 45}
Translation: Then Praise be to Allah Lord of the heavens
and Lord of the earth Lord and Cherisher of all the worlds! (36) To Him be
Glory throughout the heavens and the earth: and He is Exalted in Power, Full of
Wisdom! (37)
Some basic and useful
information about the earth
29% of the earth’s area consists of dry
land and 71% is sea and water i.e. there are three parts of water and one part
of dry land. The study of the earth’s geography is divided in three parts:
i. Lithosphere: In this part we study
the landscape form, shape, high and low parts (mountains, plane areas,
plateaus, topography), surface of the earth, shape of the earth, earthquakes,
volcanoes, motions of the earth, mountain and ocean building, natural
resources, mineral resources, rocks etc. This is called physical geography.
ii. Hydrosphere: In this part, we study
oceans, water reservoirs, rivers, lakes, water resources etc.
iii.
Atmosphere: In this we study atmospheric pressure, wind velocities, wind
directions, temperature, weather conditions, insulation heat of the sun,
clouds, thunder, lightning in clouds, rain,
snow, hail, cyclones, anticyclones etc.
Geology: In this subject we study about
the inner layers of the earth, internal structure, inner natural resources
(petroleum, natural gas), rocks, minerals (Iron, silver, gold, copper,
diamonds, coal etc.). The earth is spherical in shape.
وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ بَعۡدَ ذَٲلِكَ دَحَٮٰهَا (٣٠) {النَّازعَات 79}
Translation: And the earth, moreover; hath
He extended (to a wide expanse): (30)
Maximum
circumference of the earth is at the equator which is 24901.55 miles or
40075.16 km. long. The polar circumference is 24859.82 miles or 40008 km.
The equator
divides the earth in two equal parts. The northern part is called the northern hemisphere and the other the southern hemisphere. The latitude
at all points on the equator is zero degrees. The north and the south latitudes
are measured from the equator.
Diameter and
radius of the earth
Diameter means a well dug through the centre of the earth which reaches
the surface on the other side. The depth up to the centre is called the radius
of the earth. The diameter of the earth at the equator is 7926.41 miles or
12756.32 km. The diameter from the North Pole to the South Pole is 7899.83
miles or 12713.54 km.
The highest and
the lowest places on the earth
Mount Everest (in Nepal) of the Himalayan Range is the highest point on
the earth having a height 8848 meters. The deepest part of the earth is 399 meters
(about 1,309 ft) below the sea level in the
The hottest and
the coolest place on the earth
The hottest place is the place called Al Aziziyah in Libya, Africa. The
temperature there reaches 58o C. The coolest place is Vostok in
ٱلَّذِى
خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَمَا بَيۡنَهُمَا فِى سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ۬ ثُمَّ
ٱسۡتَوَىٰ عَلَى
ٱلۡعَرۡشِۚ
ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنُ فَسۡـَٔلۡ بِهِۦ خَبِيرً۬ا (٥٩) {الفُرقان 25
}
Translation:
He Who created the heavens and the earth and all that is between in six days,
and is firmly established on the Throne (of authority): Allah Most Gracious:
ask thou, then, about Him of any acquainted (with such things). (59)
Continents of the
World
Large masses of lands are called
continents. There are seven continents in the world:
i. Asia ii. Europe iii.
vii. Antarctica
Important countries and cities of continents:
1. Asian Continent.
- The Middle
East (The Arabian Peninsula):
- South Asia:
- South East
Asia:
Central Russia and
.
East Asia:
2. European Continent:
·
Spain (Madrid), France
(Paris), Germany (Berlin), Poland, Bulgaria, Rumania, Albania, Britain,
Finland, Russia, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Holland, Italy, Czechoslovakia,
Chechnya, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Turkey (Ankara) etc.
3. African Continent:
·
There are about 48
countries in
4. The north American Continent:
·
5. The south American Continent:
·
6. Australian Continent:
·
What
we study in Geography
In this subject we study, in detail, Physical aspects of the land known
as topography, land forms, atmospheric conditions, Oceanography, Geomorphology,
anthropology, some aspects of Meteorology, Cartography, Statistics,
Agricultural, industrial, Commercial and
Economic Geography, demography, town planning , Land use, map making, Urban and
rural Geography etc.
Oceanography
Oceans of the world
Atlantic Ocean: Europe and Africa are situated on the East of this ocean; North
and the
Pacific Ocean: North and The South
America are on its East side and Australasia and
Indian Ocean: Australasia is located on its east, Africa on the west and the
Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal and South Asian countries (
Arctic Ocean: It is the frozen sea near
northern Europe, the north
Mediterranean Sea: Europe lies on its
north and
Black Sea and Caspian Seas are located
in
Arabian Sea,
Red Sea and Persian Gulf are in the
Depth
of Oceans
Scientific research
has divided the oceans into three main parts according to depth.
i. Bathal
Zone
Its depth is 6560
feet or 2000 meters. There is sufficient sunlight in it. Fish live in this zone
and ships travel in it.
ii.
Abyssal Zone
It lies below the Bethel Zone. Its depth ranges from 2000 meters to 6000
meters. Or from 6560 feet to 19690 feet. The suns rays cannot reach this part,
so it remains dark.
iii.
Hadal Zone
It is below
أَوۡ
كَظُلُمَـٰتٍ۬ فِى بَحۡرٍ۬ لُّجِّىٍّ۬ يَغۡشَٮٰهُ مَوۡجٌ۬ مِّن فَوۡقِهِۦ مَوۡجٌ۬
مِّن فَوۡقِهِۦ سَحَابٌ۬ۚ ظُلُمَـٰتُۢ بَعۡضُہَا فَوۡقَ بَعۡضٍ إِذَآ أَخۡرَجَ
يَدَهُ ۥ لَمۡ يَكَدۡ يَرَٮٰهَاۗ وَمَن لَّمۡ يَجۡعَلِ ٱللَّهُ لَهُ ۥ
نُورً۬ا فَمَا لَهُ ۥ
مِن نُّورٍ (٤٠) {النُّور
24}
Translation: Or (the Unbelievers' state) is like the
depths of darkness in a vast deep ocean overwhelmed with billow topped by
billow, topped by (dark) clouds: depths of darkness one above another: if a man
stretches out his hand, he can hardly see it! For any to whom Allah giveth not
light there is no light! (40)
Deepest
Ocean
The place
Guam in the sea called Mariana in the
Pacific Ocean is believed to be the deepest sea. Its depth is believed to be
11033 meters. Usually the depth of sea is 3730 meters.
Ocean
Currents
Water of oceans appears to be stationary but there are rivers several
miles long and wide flowing in them. These are called ocean currents. There are
two types of ocean currents:
i. Warm ocean
currents ii. Cold ocean currents
If an ocean
current is warm, it heats the nearest shore and causes rain in that region.
Since the rays of the sun fall vertically near the equator all year round, they
heat the ocean water which travels in the form of a current to distant cold
countries. This goes on continuously. When a current flows, it appears that a
huge river is flowing in the ocean. Water travels with large waves. Following
are some of the reasons for ocean currents:
·
Fast moving wind in the
same direction.
·
Difference of salt in ocean
water at different places
·
Earthquakes and volcanoes
in oceans
·
Tides
Ocean
currents have different names. They are named after the places through which
they pass. Near the equator it is called warm equatorial current. The current
in the
Gulf
Stream
When warm water flows from the Gulf of Mexico (America) to Britain and
Europe in the north east direction, it warms the entire region. It travels in
the
وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى مَرَجَ ٱلۡبَحۡرَيۡنِ هَـٰذَا عَذۡبٌ۬ فُرَاتٌ۬
وَهَـٰذَا مِلۡحٌ أُجَاجٌ۬ وَجَعَلَ
بَيۡنَہُمَا بَرۡزَخً۬ا وَحِجۡرً۬ا مَّحۡجُورً۬ا (٥٣)
{الفُرقان25}
Translation: It is He Who has let free the
two bodies of flowing water: one palatable and sweet and the other salt and
bitter; yet has He made a barrier between them, a partition that is forbidden
to be passed. (53)
Well known rivers
of continents
Asia:
In
Iraq:
Rivers Dajla and Farat are in Iraq. The famous city of
Bangladesh:
Rivers Brahamputra and Budiganga flow in Bangladesh. Decca city is situated on
the bank of Budiganga.
Australia:
Rivers Murray and Darling flow in Australia.
Europe: Famous Rivers of Europe are Volga,
Volta,
River
Africa:
The longest river is the world in the river Nile. It flows in
North America: Mississippi river and
Missouri Rivers are famous rivers of U.S.A.
South America: River Amazon in Brazil
is the largest river in the world.
Famous mountains of continents
أَلَمۡ نَجۡعَلِ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ مِهَـٰدً۬ا ( ٦ ) وَٱۡجِبَال أَوۡتَادً۬ا(٧) {النّبَإِ 78}
Translation: Have we not
made the earth as a wide expanse, (6) and the mountains as pegs? (7)
وَٱلۡجِبَالَ
أَرۡسَٮٰهَا (٣٢) {النَّازعَات
79}
Translation: And the mountains hath He firmly fixed― (32)
The highest mountain in the world is the Himalayas in Asia. It has many
branches (
Famous mountains of Europe are
1.2 Changes
in the Earth
Continuous changes are taking place in the earth since it was formed.
Besides motion of the earth, flowing lava, flowing water, storms, hurricanes,
gusts of winds, glaciers, earth quakes, volcanoes, ocean waves, flood etc. are
continuously changing the shape of the earth. Rivers, glaciers and wind move
land from one place to another. The rocks keep expanding and shrinking due to
heat and cold for thousands of years. This process breaks them into pieces
which are spread over wide areas by rain and wind. Men and animals also change
the shape of the earth according to their needs. They plough the land at
places, build large dams at other places; they dig canals and make large
buildings. Since the formation of the earth, different processes are busy in
changing its form.
Seasons: The earth moves round the sun
in its orbit once a year. This annual motion causes changes in seasons. Some
times the sun rises over the tropic of Cancer, and some times over the tropic
of Capricorn. It keeps moving between them all year round. When the sun rises
over the tropic of Cancer, it is summer in the northern hemisphere and when it
rises over the tropic of Capricorn, it is summer in the southern hemisphere.
Solstices and change of declination:
The earth changes its direction of motion twice a year while moving round the
sun. But since it appears to us that the sun is moving round the earth, we can
say that the sun changes its direction twice a year. Firstly it moves from the
equator towards the north. After moving up to 23.5 degrees north, it changes
direction and starts moving towards the south. The point where it changes the
direction of motion to the south is called Summer
Solstice. It occurs on 21st June. Then moving south it crosses
the equator again and keeps moving south up to 23.5 degrees south on 22nd
December and again reverses the direction of motion to the north. This point is
called Winter Solstice.
Vernal and
Autumnal Equinoxes
The point where the sun crosses the equator moving from the south to the
north is called Vernal Equinox. It occurs on 21st March. The point
where the sun crosses the equator moving from the north to the south is called
Autumnal Equinox. It occurs on 21st September.
Seasons
21st June: On 21st
June the sun is in the northern hemisphere over Tropic of Cancer. It is summer
season in the northern hemisphere. It is called Summer Solstice. It is very hot
in June, July. The days are longer than the nights. The inclination of the axis
of the earth towards the sun is shown in the figure on next page.
21st December: On 21st
December the sun is over the Tropic of Capricorn in the southern hemisphere. It
is winter in the northern hemisphere. This is called Winter Solstice. The rays
of the sun fall obliquely on the northern hemisphere. Days are short and nights
are long. The inclination of the axis of the earth towards the sun is shown in
the figure on next page.
21st March: On 21st
March the sun is over the equator again. The rays of the sun fall equally on
both hemispheres. It is spring season in the northern hemisphere. The weather
is pleasant. Fruits start ripening. It is called Vernal equinox. Lengths of
days and nights are equal. The position of the earth’s axis is shown in the
figure below.
21st or 22nd
September: Somewhere on 21st or 22nd September the
sun is again over equator but is moving towards the south. The rays of the sun
fall equally on both hemispheres. It is autumn season in the northern
hemisphere. Summer ends and winter is about to begin. The leaves of trees start
falling. Lengths of days and nights are equal. It is called autumn equinox. The position of the earth’s axis is shown in the
figure 1 below.
Zenith
23.5o North Pole
– 23.5 Horizon
Summer solstice
Equator
Winter
solstice
Fig. 1
Sun
21st
March and 21st September : Sun rays falling on equator
Sun
21st
June : Sun rays falling on Tropic of Cancer
Sun
21st
December: Sub rays falling on Tropic of Capricorn
Fig.2 The seasons result because the tilted earth’s axis keeps a constant
orientation in space as the earth revolves about the sun.
Refraction (allusion of eye) and Sharaie Sunrise and
Sunset
The sun is a disc of light whose average width is equivalent to about 32
minutes of arc as seen from the earth.
Theoretically it rises and sets when its centre reaches at 0° on the
horizon. But practically it does not rise or sets at this altitude. The light
rays reaches to the eyes of the observer due to the refraction of light. The sun
practically rises and sets as well when its centre is at 50º below the horizon
in which 34´ are the horizontal refraction of light and 16΄ due to the
semi-diameter of the sun.
Geographical and astronomical sun rise and sun set is different from the Sharaie
rise and set. When the upper limb (which was visible due to refraction) disappears
and completely goes beneath the horizon the time of Maghrib starts. In like manner when the upper limb appears
due to refraction, according to Sharaia, it is considered as the time of
sunrise
The 
Arabic al-Bahr al-Mayyit also called the
The Causes of Its Depth
Usually we do not understand and recognize, but it is a reality that when
people go astray and knowingly indulge in sinful activities without the fear of
life after death or the doomsday and do not care for the commands of their
Creator Allah subhanaho wa taala (Lord of the entire universe) they deserve a
curse, and sever punishment from the Heavens.
Allah (s.w.t) clearly invited the attention, in the holy Qur’an, of every
one and particularly of those who have wisdom, to ponder and think what has
been written therein. The events of the past nations that are mentioned in the
holy Qur’an are the lessons for the entire humanity.
Prophet
Lut (Alyhis Salam)
The Dead Sea is near the land in which the Prophet Lut (Alayhis Salam)
lived. According to the teachings of Islam the people in this area were
extremely wicked for their acts of homosexuality, robbery and murder. By the
command of Allah (s.w.t), Prophet Lut (AS) preached to his people to repent and
turn to Allah. They arrogantly refused to leave their wicked ways, sinful,
shameful and dirty habits and they
continuously rejected the preaching of Prophet Lut (AS), except for a very few.
Every message that
was brought to them, they flipped it to satisfy their own wicked way of life.
The People of Lut (AS) received many warnings to repent or be punished but they
did not take any notice seriously. They were committing blunder, and were not
ready to listen to the warnings. Finally Allah sent three angels as handsome
young men to be guests of Prophet Lut (AS), when the people heard of this they
rushed to Lut's home. The people demanded that these young men be given to them
as they wanted to perform their wicked acts with them as well. One of the
angels, angel Jibrail (AS), gave Prophet Lut the warning to leave the town with
his band of believers and do not look back. The entire town and its people were
lifted up by angel Jibrail and flipped upside down and were sent smashing down
to earth, causing the ground to cave in. Thus, the lowest land on Earth was
formed because of this punishment. This event is an eye opening incident for
all those who have some wisdom.
Dimentions
The Dead Sea is 67
kilometers (42 mi) long and 18 kilometers (11 mi) wide at its widest point. It
lies in the Jordan Rift Valley, and its main tributary is the
The
Punishment
The town and all the wicked people were thrown in the newly formed cave
and submerged under this extremely salty and dense sea.
Nearly eight times as salty as the ocean, the Dead Sea contains at a
depth of 305 m (1,000 ft) some 27 percent solid substances: sodium chloride,
(common salt) magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, potassium chloride,
magnesium bromide, and many other unknown substances.
Streams:
The
Climate
The Dead Sea's climate offers year-round sunny skies and dry air. It has
less than 50 millimeters (2 in) mean annual rainfall and a summer average
temperature between 32 and 39°C (90 and 102°F). Winter average temperatures
range between 20 and 23°C (68 and 73° F). The region has weakened ultraviolet
radiation, particularly the UVB (erythrogenic rays), and an atmosphere
characterized by a high oxygen content due to the high barometric pressure.
Dead
Sea
Coordinates: 31°20’ N 35°30’ E
Lake type: Endorheic hypersaline
Primary inflows: Jordan River
Primary
outflows: None
Catchment area: 41,650
km2 (16,080 sq mi)
Aurora
Extremely
beautiful and colorful clouds, arches, bands, luminous and attractive forms
near the poles
What
Do We Mean By Aurora?
An aurora is a natural light display in the sky, particularly in the
Polar Regions, caused by the collision of charged particles directed by the
Earth's magnetic field. An aurora is usually observed at night and typically
occurs in the ionosphere. It is also referred to as a polar aurora or,
collectively, as polar lights. These phenomena are commonly visible between 60
and 72 degrees north and south latitudes, which place them in a ring just
within the
In northern latitudes, the effect is known as the aurora borealis (or the
northern lights). They are most visible closer to the poles due to the longer
periods of darkness and the magnetic field. Typically the aurora appears either
as a diffuse glow or as "curtains" that approximately extend in the
east-west direction. At some times, they form "quiet arcs"; at others
("active aurora"), they evolve and change constantly. Each curtain
consists of many parallel rays, each lined up with the local direction of the
magnetic field lines, suggesting that auroras are shaped by Earth's magnetic
field.
Some
shapes and forms of aurora
The auroras assume an endless variety of forms including:
“the filaments diverging towards the zenith, and beautiful curtains,
fans, flames or streamers of various shapes. the aurora arch, a luminous arc
lying across the magnetic meridian, the aurora band, generally boarder and much
more irregular than the arch, filaments and streamers at right angle to the
arch or band, the corona, a luminous circle near the zenith, aurora clouds,
indistinct nebulous masses, which may occur in any part of the heavens. The
aurora glow, a luminous appearance high in the sky”
“…The aurora
borealis shines above Bear Lake Red and green aurora in Fairbanks, Alaska
Northern lights with very rare blue light over Moskosel, Lapland in Sweden” From
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Snow fall and the beautiful forms and designs of
snow flakes
Precipitation results when air rises and is adiabatically cooled below
the dew point so rapidly that not only do clouds form, but rain, hail or snow
produced as well.
As a matter of fact precipitation results when condensation is occurring
rapidly within a cloud. Snow consists of masses of crystals of ice, grown
directly from the water vapour of the air, where air temperature is below
freezing. Individual snow crystals, which can be carefully caught upon a black
surface and examined with a strong magnifying glass, develop in six-sided, flat
crystals, or as prisms. They display infinite variation, shapes and beautiful
designs, in their extremely beautiful symmetrical pattern. Following is a
picture of tiny snow fakes. Countless beautiful designs and formation can be
seen through extraordinary strong magnifying glass, Allah (s.w.t) is the
Creator and see how the beauty of these snow flakes are produced by Him. The following figure shows snowflakes which
are made up of aggregates of tiny hexagonal ace crystal such as these (photo by
Ewing Galloway).
The Soil
Many of us think of the soil as a lifeless, residual layer, which has
somehow accumulated over a long period of time and which merely holds a supply
of ingredients necessary for plant growth.
It is very interesting to note Muslims and particularly the Arab Muslims
were the first who introduced the subject of SOIL SCIENCE. Their work and
research contributions were presented, for the first time, by them in the
Arabic language. Later on their marvelous and novel work was translated in
Russian Language, which was taken by the western scientists for translation in
English language. Now because of their work, we have, in almost all the
countries, a number of Soil Science laboratories.
In soil science we study sand, clay and loam’s texture, tint, size and
the presence of organic and inorganic material – known as Humus. Soil
constitution covers such properties as compactness, stickiness, porosity, and
consistency. Detailed study and its survey provide sufficient information for
the selection of seeds and to decide what to grow, and what are the deficiencies
of ingredients required for a particular plantation.
Atmosphere
of the earth
Although we are not constantly aware of it, Allah s.w.t. blessed us with
the most vital need – wind- without which life is impossible. Air is a tangible
material substance. At sea level, the atmosphere exerts a pressure of about
fifteen pounds per square inch on every solid or liquid surface exposed to it.
Its unique quality is that in an upward direction, both density and pressure of
the air fall off rapidly.
Force of gravity is present every where in the Universe. Due to this
force the heavenly bodies retain their positions and planets revolve around
their parent star in fixed orbits. On the other hand air, oxygen, water vapors,
moderate heat and cold needed for existence of human beings and animals are
available only on the earth up to a limited height. This sphere of air is
called the earth’s atmosphere. When anyone travels in space beyond the earth,
they have to wear special space suits and have to carry oxygen to breath.
The scientists divide the
atmosphere in five parts.
i. Exosphere ii. Thermosphere
iii. Mesosphere iv. Stratosphere
v. Troposphere
These five layers of gas, water vapors
etc. envelopes the earth. It appears that the earth has been wrapped in five
sheets consisting of these layers. The earth and every thing on it are fixed
inside these spheres. It is the greatness of Allah (s.w.t.) that when the earth
travels with high speed around the sun, these five layers travel with it at the
same speed. No matter how fast the earth moves or rotates around its axis,
nothing can leave the earth or fall off due to pressure of these layers and
gravitational pull of the earth. If something escapes the gravitational force
of the earth, it is suspended in space and revolves round the earth. This is
the principle on which artificial satellites and space ships revolve round the
earth without any fuel. They cannot return to the earth without external force.
Wind system and
rain
أَلَمۡ
تَرَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ أَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً۬ فَسَلَكَهُ ۥ
يَنَـٰبِيعَ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ ثُمَّ يُخۡرِجُ بِهِۦ زَرۡعً۬ا مُّخۡتَلِفًا
أَلۡوَٲنُهُ ۥ (٢١) {الزُّمَر 39}
Translation: Seest thou not that Allah
sends down rain from the sky, and leads it through springs in the earth? Then
He causes to grow, therewith produce of various colours: (21)
وَيُنَزِّلُ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً۬ فَيُحۡىِۦ بِهِ
ٱلۡأَرۡضَ بَعۡدَ مَوۡتِهَآۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٲلِكَ لَأَيَـٰتٍ۬ لِّقَوۡمٍ۬
يَعۡقِلُون (٢٤) {الرُّوم 30}
Translation:
and He sends down rain from the sky and with it gives life to the earth after
it is dead: verily in that are Signs for those who are wise. (24)
وَأَنزَلۡنَا
مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءَۢ بِقَدَرٍ۬ فَأَسۡكَنَّـٰهُ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِۖ وَإِنَّا
عَلَىٰ ذَهَابِۭ بِهِۦ لَقَـٰدِرُونَ (١٨) {المؤمنون 23 }
Translation: And we send down water from the sky
according to (due) measure, and we cause it to soak in the soil; and we
certainly are able to drain it off (with ease). (18)
Wind system: It is our observation that
steam rises up from a cup of hot tea. Hot air is light and light things move
up. On the other hand, cold air is heavy and it moves down from the upper
atmosphere. The wind system is due to difference in temperatures. In hot
regions, the air becomes warm. The atmospheric pressure decreases due to
lighter air. On the other hand, in colder regions, the air is heavier and thus
pressure increases. The air comes down from the upper layers.
Let us take
It is a rule that wind always blows from high pressure to low pressure
regions.
In winter when it is very cold in
The winds blow all over the world
under the same system i.e. there will be high pressure on colder areas and low
pressure on warmer areas, the wind blows from high pressure to low pressure
regions.
The sea breeze brings clouds and
causes rain. There are many causes for rain. There are many types of clouds as
well. Regions near the equator are very hot; the air becomes heated and moves
up usually up to 3 or
World
Distribution of rain fall
Equatorial
regions
Rain fall is very heavy, more than 80 inches, in this zone, where high
temperature, and great oceanic expanse, large amount of water vapor unstable
weather conditions persist. Virtually rainfall, in this region, is called
rainfall of convectional type.
Subtropical
Zone
In this zone rainfall is very light .The deserts of North Africa, Arabia
and Iran lie along this zone as well as those of Australia, South Asia -
Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka, South Africa and west coast of South America.
The monsoon winds of
Middle
Latitudes
Precipitation in the
middle latitudes shows clearly the effect of the prevailing westerly winds.
Western continental coasts within the latitude range 35 to 60 degrees appears
as a narrow strip of heavy precipitation.
Rain
shadow deserts
Rain shadow deserts
are developed in the westerly wind belt, in the lee of coastal range. The best
example is the Great Basin Desert of Nevada.
Arctic
region
In Arctic regions,
precipitation is very small in terms of total inches annually. The atmosphere
here is at prevailing low temperature and thus does not hold large quantities
of water vapors from which precipitation can be produced.
Storms
and Their Types
Thunderstorms may be classified into several types, based on the mechanism
or cause of initial lift of the air column that sets off the spontaneous growth
of the storm.
One type is
the thermal, or air mass thunderstorm. The torrential monsoon rains of the
Asiatic and East Indian mountain ranges are largely of this type. For example,
Cheerapunji, a hill station, facing the summer monsoon, air drift in north east
1.3 Interior
of the Earth
Earthquakes
and Volcanoes
Four parts of the earth: Geologists
study the interior of the earth. They say that there are many parts of the
interior. The major ones are
·
Crust
·
Mantle
·
Outer Core
·
Inner core
Crust: The outer most layer of the
earth is called the crust. At the ocean basins its thickness is up to 6 km or 4
miles and in the mountainous regions the thickness is up to 64 km or 40 miles.
It is believed that when the earth cooled, the outer parts solidified like the skin
of a fruit. There is still lava which is very hot and molten, under the crust.
The crust is floating on this molten lava and is attached to it like the skin
of an orange.
The thickness of the crust varies
from 2 to 4 miles or more. It consists of silicon and aluminum (si + al). Life
of Humans and all sorts of agricultural activities are possible on it. As we
move down the earth the temperature increases. There are pockets of lava. The
lava erupts from these magma chambers from places where it finds holes or
cracks to form volcanoes. Fig.4 shows different
layers in the Interior of the earth
Crust
Mantle
inner
Outer core
core
Fig. 4
Inner
Layers of The earth
How were mountains and oceans
formed? The crust of the earth is not smooth. There are oceans and high
mountains on it. Similarly the thickness of the crust is not uniform
everywhere. Under oceans it is about 6 km and near mountains up to 64 km thick.
Scientists give some reasons how these deep and high mountains were formed.
- When the gas and molten material
cooled on the surface of the earth, they became uneven like a dried date.
- There is a layer of silicon and
magnesium (si + ma) under the crust, it is called mantle. This part is
very hot. It is believed that it is like molten wax. Places where molten
lava pushes the earth it raised the crust to become a mountain and in
places where the lava sinks deeper, the crust became ocean.
- The central part of the earth is
called the core. It consists of iron and nickel (fe + ni). This part is
very hot. After 9 years of research on earthquakes and waves, it has been
recently proved that this part is rotating rapidly inside the earth.
- The crust of the earth is broken. It
has cracks on it. There were 15 large continents in the past. These
continents move slowly on molten lava. At some places they collided or
moved away. At such places the molten lava shoots up from these cracks to
form a volcanic eruption. This situation is in the Pacific Ocean. Constant
volcanic activities go on in the Pacific. It appears that there is a wide
fire ring round this ocean. At some places these continents collide and
slide on one another. At such places high mountains are formed. The
Himalayas of Asia, the Andes of South America and Rocky mountains of North
America were formed in this way. This is another reason for the formation
of mountains and oceans in the crust. The Himalayas, the Andes and Rocky
mountains were formed by collision of continents.
Continents: Initially the crust of the
earth was just one huge piece. Later it cracked and was broken into 15 pieces
which scientists call continents. The Holy Quran refers to them as “Rawasi”.
These continents are still in contact with one another. As described earlier,
at places where they move apart, lava erupts and volcanic mountains form there.
In
At places these continents are
moving away and at others they are sliding over each other. These continents
carry the living beings on their backs. If they sink in molten mantle,
everything on the surface of the earth will sink and the entire population of
that continent will be exterminated. The Holy Quran has pointed towards this
and has said:
وَأَلۡقَىٰ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ رَوَٲسِىَ أَن تَمِيدَ بِڪُمۡ (١٥) {
النّحل 16 }
Translation: And He has set up on the
Maybe near the
Day of Judgment these pieces might separate from each other and the hot lava
will come out. The Holy Quran refers to it as:
وَإِذَا ٱلۡبِحَارُ سُجِّرَتۡ (٦) {التّکویر
81 }
Translation: When the oceans boil over with
a swell; (6)
Movements
of the Earth
Slow and sudden movements of the earth:
The rotation of the earth is different from Movements of The earth. Rotation
means the movement of the earth around its axis and movements means abrupt
motion of the earth slowly or suddenly. If the earth moves suddenly, we call it
earthquake. Earthquake is not only felt but it causes wide spread destructions.
This is called sudden movement. Many changes are caused in the earth due to any
type of movement. Scientists so far have not been able to explain the reasons
of sudden movements of the earth. The reason has been told by the Creator of
the Universe that when the people become astray various divine punishments fall
on them.
These
movements cause mountain and ocean building. New fountains, new islands emerge,
volcanoes erupt, and lands slides occur, thousands, sometimes millions of
people lose their lives. An example is the recent earthquake in our country in
which approximately 300,000 people of Balakot, Muzzafarabad etc. lost their
lives.
Theory
of continental drift
وَجَعَلۡنَا
فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ رَوَٲسِىَ أَن تَمِيدَ بِهِمۡ (٣١) { الاٴنبیَاء 21 }
Translation: And we have set
on the
The continents which appear
stationary on the surface of the earth are actually floating on molten lava in
the interior of the earth. It has been proved that they move and change their
positions. Allah (s.w.t.) almighty, referring to their motion has said that we have
inserted mountains as pegs in the earth.
Whenever the molten lava in the
interior of the earth gets an outlet or crack, it erupts from it. This is
volcanic activity. There is no definite opinion about the reasons of
earthquakes. Prediction of the earthquakes is also impossible. No one can
predict where and when an earthquake will occur and what will be its intensity.
One opinion is that besides calcium carbonate, gas, molten lava, minerals and
radioactive particles having high energy are there inside the earth. Perhaps
their energy moves continents resulting in earthquakes. In fact it is due to
our deeds
The Holy Qur'an says
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَظۡلِمُ ٱلنَّاسَ شَيۡـًٔ۬ا وَلَـٰكِنَّ
ٱلنَّاسَ أَنفُسَہُمۡ يَظۡلِمُونَ (٤٤) {یُونس 10}
Translation: Verily
Allah will not deal unjustly with man in aught: it is man that wrongs his own
soul. (44)
The crust of the earth is broken at many places. There are cracks between
them forming large continents. The famous 7 continents are among them. These
continents slowly move on molten lava. At places these continents move apart
forming a gulf. High mountains emerge due to their collisions. Such mountains
are called Newly Folded Mountains.
The Himalayas of Asia, Andes of South America and Rocky Mountains of North
America were formed in this way. Two large continents moving in opposite
directions collide and slide over one another forming high mountain ranges. The
highest peak is in the
The present scientists and geologists believe that when the earth was formed,
all continents were joined together. There was a shallow ocean between them. It
was called
Experts of Geomorphology cut the continents from the map of the world and
made maps of ancient world by joining them to show where these continents were
in remote past and what their shapes were in early history of the world. The
following figure represents the world of that era. In the Holy Qur'an the
Creator of the Universe has clearly stated that the earth was moving so we
inserted pegs on it in the forms of mountains.
The continent that was on the north was called Angara Land and the one in
the south was called Gondwana land.
Fig. 5 – According to
the Wegner’s theory of continental drift all the continents were joined in the (jig-saw fitting) form as shown in the
figure above. Later on they were drifted apart.
Data
regarding major earthquakes..
Date Place No. of Rector Reason
for
casualties
Scale casualties.
60,000
destroyed
Mar, 23, 1893 Ostan
e Ardabi 150,000
100,000
Sep 1290
Nov. 1, 1755
May, 31, 1970
1268 Cillicia,
June 20, 1990
July 24, 1976 Tang
655,000
Aug. 9, 1138
Dec 20, 1920 Ganau, China 2000,000 8.6
Dec 26, 2004 Near Sumatra 153,000 9.0 Tsumani
NWFP
300,000
Balakot Bagh, Mansehra, Muzaffarabad and most parts of
Azad Kashmir were completely destroyed
1.4 Latitudes
and Longitudes
Latitude: Imaginary lines drawn on the
surface of the earth are called latitudes and longitudes. Some are drawn from
left to right and some from top to bottom in such a way that the globe is
divided into squares. The lines that are from left to right i.e. horizontal
lines are called latitudes. The lines from top to bottom are called longitudes.
The figure below shows latitudes. The middle line which divides the world in
two equal parts is called the equator.
Equator: This is the line of zero
degree latitude. It divides the world into two equal parts. The upper part is
called the northern hemisphere and the lower part the Southern hemisphere.
Latitudes are measured from 0o to 90o North and from 0o
to 90o South, thus there are 180 degrees of latitudes.LATITUDES 
Fig. 6 - Lines are parallel to each other from the
Equator to the North and to the South Pole.
Width of latitudes: The distance from latitude
to the next degree latitude is 69.05 miles or 111.13 km. The arc distance from
one pole to the next and back is 24859.82 (approximately 25,000) miles or 40008
km. This circumference is 41.73 miles or 67.16 miles less than the equatorial
circumference.
The
Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn
The
parallel of latitude 23½o north is called tropic of Cancer and the
one at 23½o South is called tropic of Capricorn. The sun travels
between them all the year round. The sun rises daily from a different point due
to its annual motion. Twice a year when the sun is exactly over equator, it
rises exactly from the east. During a year the earth moves about 47o
from the tropic of cancer to the tropic of Capricorn due to its motion round
the sun. The angle 23.44o or roughly 23½o is called the
tilt of the axis.
Longitude: A city or a place cannot be
located by only knowing its latitude. There are many cities on the same
latitude. We need to know the other line, from the north to the south. These
lines from top to bottom like lines on a melon are called longitudes. The
central line is taken as 0o longitude. It divides the globe in two
parts, Eastern hemisphere and The Western hemisphere. The line of 0o
longitude is called
Fig .7 - Meridians or The Longitudes Central meridian
is called
Width of longitudes: The distance from
one degree of longitude to the next is different at different latitudes.
Maximum distance at equator is 69.17 miles or 111.31 km. The total length of 360o
of longitude at equator is 24,901.55 miles or 40,075.16 km. As we move north or
south, the distance from one longitude to the next decreases.
The distances between two longitudes
at different latitudes is given in the following table.
Distance between
two longitudes at different latitudes
|
Latitude |
Width In miles |
Width In km. |
Circumference in miles |
Circumference. in km. |
|
90 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
|
80 |
7.68 |
12.36 |
2766.83 |
4452.79 |
|
70 |
15.37 |
24.74 |
5533.68 |
8905.59 |
|
60 |
23.50 |
37.10 |
8300.52 |
13358.39 |
|
50 |
30.74 |
49.47 |
11067.36 |
17811.18 |
|
40 |
38.42 |
61.84 |
13834.19 |
22263.98 |
|
30 |
46.11 |
74.20 |
16601.03 |
26716.77 |
|
20 |
53.79 |
86.57 |
19367.87 |
31169.57 |
|
10 |
61.48 |
98.94 |
22134.71 |
35622.36 |
|
0 |
69.17 |
111.31 |
24901.55 |
40075.16 |
1.5 Coordinate
System and Their Explanation
It is easy to find the positions of
any place with the help of latitude and longitude. For example, if we want to
find the position of
Zone: The region of the earth between two
longitudes is called a zone.
Gore: The region between two latitudes
is called a gore.
Graticule: The square region between
two latitudes and two longitudes is called a graticule.
Fig.8 –
Positions on the globe
Greenwich: As described earlier,
Note: Since
the times of Arabs till 1844, i.e. for centuries, the 0o longitude
passed through
Present
Greenwich and ancient Khaldaat Islands
The contributions of Arab Muslim
astronomers, mathematicians and experts in geography are known even today all
over the world. The formulae of mathematics and astronomy derived by them are
still in use and are found to be accurate. They believed that
There is a difference of 26o in longitudes of Al Beruni and Al
Idreesi and the present longitudes i.e. longitude of
The Westerners have
been trying to exterminate all signs of Muslims; accordingly they shifted the
place 0o longitude to their own city. (Reference: Research book “Al
Beruni wa Jugrafia e Alam wa Qanoon e Massodi” by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad)
International
Date Line
We have learnt that longitudinal
lines are from top to bottom like the lines on a water melon. The central line
is 0o longitude. It divides the world in the eastern and the western
hemispheres. Longitudes are measured from 0o to 180o east
and 0o to 180o west. 0o longitude is called
The line where 180o east
and 180o west merge is called International Date Line. A new day
begins here and date changes. If there is Thursday on one side, there will be
Friday on the other. Just think that a new day must begin somewhere on the
globe. On the globe of the world if
This line passes through the
Fig. 9 The
International Date Line.
Changes in lengths of day and night
أَلَمۡ تَرَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُولِجُ ٱلَّيۡلَ فِى ٱلنَّهَارِ
وَيُولِجُ ٱلنَّهَارَ فِى ٱلَّيۡلِ
Translation: Seest thou not that Allah merges Night into Day and He merges Day into Night. (29)
خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ
وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ بِٱلۡحَقِّۖ يُكَوِّرُ ٱلَّيۡلَ عَلَى ٱلنَّہَارِ وَيُكَوِّرُ
ٱلنَّهَار
َ عَلَى ٱلَّيۡلِۖ (٥) {الزُّمَر
39}
Translation: He created the heavens and the
earth in true (proportions): He makes the Night overlap the Day, and the Day overlap
the Night. (5)
Our observation is that sometimes days are long and sometimes night. But
on the equator day and night are almost equal all year round. There is hardly a
difference of an hour or half an hour in several months. North and south of the
equator, up to the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, the difference gradually
increases and decreases. But from 48.5o north to the North Pole and
from 48.5o south to the South Pole there is considerable difference
between the lengths of day and night. These regions are called abnormal
regions. In these regions, in summer days are very long and nights are very
short. In the winter season days are very short and night are very long. Near
poles, the sun does not rise for months in winter and it is perpetual night. In
summer the sun does not set for months and it is perpetual day there. At poles
days and nights are of six months durations.
وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلَّيۡلَ وَٱلنَّہَارَ
وَٱلشَّمۡسَ وَٱلۡقَمَرَۖ كُلٌّ۬ فِى
فَلَكٍ۬ يَسۡبَحُونَ (٣٣)
{الاٴنبیَاء
21}
Translation: It is He Who
created the Night and the Day, and the sun and the moon: all (the celestial
bodies) swim along each in its rounded course. (33)
Fig. 10 Duration of
day and night – and winter solstice
لَا ٱلشَّمۡسُ يَنۢبَغِى لَهَآ أَن تُدۡرِكَ ٱلۡقَمَرَ وَلَا
ٱلَّيۡلُ سَابِقُ ٱلنَّہَارِۚ وَكُلٌّ۬ فِى فَلَكٍ۬
يَسۡبَحُونَ (٤٠) {یسٓ 36}
Translation: It is not permitted to the
Sun to catch up the Moon, nor can the Night outstrip the Day: each (just) swims
along in (its own) orbit (according to Law). (40)
Horizontal Coordinate System: The
coordinate system in which the position of a heavenly body is located by height
above horizon or depth below horizon is called Horizontal Coordinate System.
1.6
Some Terms and Their Explanations
Time of Transit: When the sun is at the highest point in the sky
(on the observer’s meridian), it is called Time of Transit. The shadow of every
body is the least in length at this time. This shadow is called real shadow.
Diurnal Circle: The path in
which the sun appears to move daily due to the earth’s rotation is called
diurnal circle. Its part on which the sun moves from rising till setting is
called the day arc and the remaining
part (below the horizon) on which the sun travels at night after setting till
rising is called the night arc.
The parts of the earth from 48.5o
north to the North Pole and from 48.5o south to the South Pole are
called abnormal regions by astronomers. In these regions day arc and night arcs
are not equal but there is a large difference between their lengths.
Horizon: By standing in an open ground, you will see a large circle
where the sky and the earth seem to meet. This is called the “horizon”.
Observations show that the disc of the sun takes about 3 minutes to cross the
horizon at the time of sunset and sunrise.
Zenith: The point on the sky directly over our head is called
zenith. It is at an angular distance of 90o from the horizon.
Nadir: The point on the sky directly below our feet is called
Nadir. It is diametrically opposite zenith.
Angle of Altitude: The angle a heavenly body makes above the
horizon towards zenith is called “angle of altitude” or simply the “altitude of
the body”. The angle between zenith and the body is called the “zenith
distance” of the body.
Angle of depression: The angle
of a body below the horizon is called its angle of depression.
With the help of altitude and angle
of depression we get an idea about the position of the body (star). If the
altitude of a body is 30o we know that it will be 30o
above horizon. If the depression of the sun is 18o we know that it
is 18o below horizon. But by this information alone we cannot locate
the exact position of the body. By altitude we know the height of the body
above the horizon but we do not know in which direction to look for it. Thus we
need direction also. There are four basic directions reckoned from the north.
The north direction is taken as a basis. If a body is exactly toward the north
we say that its direction is 0o, if towards the south its direction
is 180o, the direction of the east is 90o and that of the
west is 2700.
Coordinate
System
To
fix the position of a body (any star) on the sky we need to know its altitude
and its direction i.e. it is necessary to know its angle from the north. For
example if the direction of a star is 230o from the north and its
altitude is 50o, its coordinates will be described as “such and such
star is 230o east of the north and has an altitude of 50o”.
If a star is below the horizon, it will be represented by its angle of
depression.
Great Circle: If we draw a
straight line touching the globe it at one point it is called a tangent. We
cannot draw a straight line on a sphere using a scale. If we want to join two
points on a globe, we have to use a string or a piece of thread. Put the ends
of the strings or threads at the points and taut the string. The arc formed is
part of a circle called “a great circle”. A great circle arc is the least
distance between two points on a sphere. All ships travel on great circles
because it is the minimum distance between two points.
If we draw a circle on a sphere a
radius equal to the radius of the sphere, it will divide the sphere in two
equal parts. Such circles are called great circles. All lines of longitude on
the globe of the earth are great circles. The equator is also a great circle
but other parallel of latitudes are not because they do not divide the sphere
in two equal parts. They are called small circles.
Figure from page 49.
Fig.11
Declination
of the Sun
The celestial
latitude of the sun is called its declination. On 21st March and 21st
September the sun is on the equator, so its declination on these days is zero
degree.
On 21st June the sun is
on the Tropic of Cancer so its declination is + 23.5o north. On 21st
September the sun is on the Tropic of Capricorn so its declination is – 23.5o south.
Zones
On the basis of Temperature
According to
weather conditions the earth is divided in five zones.
- The North Temperature Zone: From the
tropic of Cancer to 66.5o North.
- The South Temperature Zone: From the
tropic of Capricorn to 66.5o South.
- Arctic Zone (very cold and frozen region):
From 66.5o N to the North Pole.
- Antarctic Zone (very cold and frozen
region): From 66.5o S to the South Pole.
Normal
and abnormal regions
Normal regions: The parts of the earth from the equator to 45.5o
north and 45.5o south are called normal regions by astronomers. In
this region the sun rises and sets and white and red twilights also rise and
set all the year round.
Abnormal regions: The parts of
the earth from 45.5o north to the North Pole and from 45.5o
south to the South Pole are called abnormal regions. The conditions in these
areas are different from other areas. In winter the sun rises and sets,
twilight begins and ends but in summer, near the
Twice a year the sun crosses the
equator. In these days the sun rises exactly in the east and sets in the west.
On these days all over the world, day and night are equal. The day is about 12
hours long and so is the night. These days are 21st March and 21st
September.
1.7 Solar
and Lunar Eclipses
Solar Eclipse: If some thing
comes in between our eye and the object which we want to see, the object will
be totally or partially hidden from us. The same situation happens at solar
eclipse. When the moon comes in between the earth and the sun, the sun is
partially or totally hidden. The moon blocks the light of the sun, so the sun
is not visible. This is called solar eclipse.
Remember that the paths of the sun and the moon are different. If they
were not different, the moon would not have been visible to us during the day
along with the sun. You may have observed that sometimes the moon is visible
during day although they are both traveling in their separate orbits. The sun
appears to move round the earth. The path in which it moves is called ecliptic.
The moon is also revolving round the earth. Its orbit is towards the north
south of the ecliptic. The orbit of the moon intersects the orbit of the sun in
two points which are called Nodes. The point where the moon crosses the
ecliptic moving towards the north is called the Ascending Node and the point
where it crosses the ecliptic while traveling south is called the Descending
Node.
Whenever the sun, the moon and the
earth come in a straight line, with the moon at the middle and near a node, the
moon will block the light of the sun causing a solar eclipse. If the moon
covers the entire disc of the sun, it is called total solar eclipse, and if a part of the solar eclipse is covered,
it is called partial solar eclipse.
There is another type of solar eclipse in which the central part of the sun is
covered by the moon and edges of the sun are visible as a bright ring. It is
called annular solar eclipse.
At the time of the new moon (conjunction), the sun, the moon and the
earth are in a straight line with the moon between the earth and the sun. The
shadow of the moon falls on the earth causing a solar eclipse in that area.
Conjunctions occur once in every lunar month. Naturally a question
arises that why don’t we have a total solar eclipse in every new moon? Why
eclipses are there only 2 or 3 times in a year? The answer is that there are
two conditions for solar eclipse to take place:
- The sun, the moon and the earth come
in a straight line in such a way that the shadow of the moon falls on the
earth. If the shadow of the moon does not fall on the earth but passes
beyond the earth’s edge, then there will be no eclipse.
- The shadow narrows down as the
distance increases. So the moon should be near enough to the earth so that
its shadow reaches the earth. If the shadow ends before it reaches the
earth, then in that part annular eclipse will take place.
Fig. 12 – Total and Annular eclipse
Total
Solar Eclipse
Sun Moon Earth
Partial
Solar eclipse
Sun Moon Earth
Annular
solar eclipse
Lunar Eclipse: When the earth
comes in between the sun and the moon, we get a lunar eclipse. It does not take
place every month. It can take place only when the moon is near one of its
nodes at the time when the earth comes between it and the sun. The moon enters
the shadow of the earth; the sunlight cannot reach that part of the moon. This
is called lunar eclipse. If part of the moon enters the earth’s shadow and the
remaining part is outside, we get a partial lunar eclipse; if the entire moon
enters the shadow a total lunar eclipse takes place. Lunar eclipse can only
take place on 13th or 14th of a lunar month because in
these days the earth is between the sun and the moon. But lunar eclipse cannot
take place at every full moon. It occurs only when at full moon; it is near one
of its nodes.
At the time of full moon the earth suddenly slides in between it and the
sun blocking the light of the sun from falling on the moon. The shadow of the
earth falls on the moon and its brightness disappears. This falling of the
earth’s shadow on the moon is the lunar eclipse.
There are two conditions for lunar eclipse (same as for solar eclipse).
i. The shadow
of the earth reaches the moon.
ii. The sun,
the moon and the earth come in line in such a way that shadow of the earth
falls on the moon, and it does not escape from its edge. If the earth’s shadow
escapes the moon and falls beyond its edge there will be no eclipse.
Since the earth is much bigger than
the moon, its shadow is much longer than the moon’s shadow. So the earth’s
shadow always reaches the moon. From any given place more lunar eclipses are
visible than solar eclipses.
Fig.13 – Partial solar eclipse
No eclipse
Partial Lunar Eclipse
Moon
Sun Earth Moon
Total
Lunar eclipse
Moon’s Orbit
Tides: Due to attractions of the sun and the moon,
the level of sea water increases. This is called high tide. When the level
falls it is called low tide. This rising and falling of sea water level twice a
day is called tides. Both the sun and the moon have gravitational pulls. They
exert attractive force on that part of the earth over which they pass. The dry
part of the earth is solid and is not affected by the pull. Since water is
fluid, the gravitational pull has an appreciable affect on it.
Due
to its large distance from the earth, the sun’s gravitation has very little
effect even on water. The moon is much nearer the earth than the sun, so its
gravity has more effect on water. The water rises several feet in the place
over which the moon passes. This is called “high tide”. When the moon moves
away, the water level falls causing low tide. Since the moon reaches the same
place 48.76 minutes late every day, the high tides also occur 48.76 minutes
late every day. There is another high tide at a place diametrically opposite to
the place over which the moon is passing. The reason is that when the water is
pulled under the moon, due to the reaction of the earth, the water is pushed up
on the other side.
Spring Tides: At the time of new moon and full moon, the earth, the
moon and the sun are in the same straight line. The gravitational pulls of the
sun and the moon add up to cause high tides higher than normal. Such high tides
are called spring tides. At spring tides water level rises by 6 to 8 feet.
Neap tides: On 7th and
21st of a lunar month, the lines joining the sun to the earth and
the moon to the earth are perpendicular to one another. Their gravitational
pulls are subtracted. The high tides on these days are lower than normal high
tides. These are called neap tides.
Physical Data about the earth
Equatorial radius =
6.378 km.
Equatorial Inclination = 23.5o.
Mass = 5.97 x 1024 kg.
Average density =
5.5 gm/cm3.
Rotational period = 0.997 day.
Orbital period =
365.2422 days.
Average distance from the sun = 149.6 million km.
Perihelion do =
147.1 million km.
Aphelion do
= 152.1 million km.
Orbital eccentricity =
0.0167o.
Inclination = 0.0003o.
CHAPTER 2
2.1
Directions
We know from child hood that the
direction from which the Sun rises is called The East and where it sets is
called The West. Precise concept of directions is necessary to recognize stars,
planets and other heavenly bodies.
The concept of determining directions with the help of the Pole star has been known since ancient
times. The direction of the Pole star is the standard direction of the north.
The other three directions the east, the west and the South are fixed with
reference to the north. Later magnetic compass was used to determine the
directions. The property of a magnetic needle to point north south is used.
Since then the concept of directions has made rapid progress.
For more exactness in directions, four more directions were inserted
between the standard directions. They were South East, South West, North East
and
Later more points representing directions were introduced. The complete
circle representing directions was divided in 360 degrees. Zero degree
coincides with the north. Moving clockwise (towards right) the east is at 90
degrees, South at 180o, and the west at 270o. In Arabic
this system of measuring directions in terms of angles is called ‘Assimt’. The
English word azimuth is derived from it. The As-simt or azimuth of the Pole
star is 0o. It remains zero all the time whereas the azimuth of all
other stars, planets, the Moon, the Sun and all other heavenly bodies
continuously keep changing with time.
To fix the
position of a point in the sky, we need to know its azimuth and height above
the horizon. To determine the azimuth we face the North Star and turn right
till we face the required star. The angle we turn around is the azimuth of the
star.
Cardinal
Points or Directions
It is very easy to determine directions. There are several methods for
it. For students of geography it is necessary to know the following facts to
understand a map and to determine the direction of Qibla.
When early Muslims traveled to spread Islam, they needed to know the
direction of Qibla to offer prayers. They prepared accurate maps of the world
and introduced the concepts of latitude and longitude. Today entire world has
been benefiting from their research.
Basic
Directions (Cardinal Points)
There are four basic directions, the east, the west, the north and the
south. If a person faces the setting sun, the west is in his front, the east is
behind him, the north is towards his right and the south towards his left. In
maps the north is upwards, the east to the right, the west to the left and the
south downwards.
NORTH 360 º
WEST 270 º
EAST 90 º
SOUTH
180 º
The
Geographic North
The children play
with the top which rotates around the nail. This is called the axis of the top.
Similarly the earth is rotating around its axis. The upper end of the axis is
called the North Pole and the lower end the South Pole. Both are called the
poles of the earth. The Geographic north of a place is the direction of the
North Pole from that place. The lines passing through a
place and the poles is called the
The
Magnetic North
The direction indicated by the north
end of the needle of a magnetic compass is called its magnetic north. The other
end of the needle points towards the south which is called the magnetic south.
The
True North
The north determined by the pole star
is called the true north. It is the same as the geographic north. The north on
a map determined by longitudinal lines is called the True North.
The
Grid North
Note that the true north and the
magnetic north are not the same. The Magnetic north is in the north of the
Magnetic
Declination
The angular
difference between the true and the magnetic north is called the magnetic
declination. It is different for different places and it varies slightly every
year. It can be calculated with the known annual rate of change.
2.2 Determination of Directions
Following are
some methods of determining the north:
·
With the help of the pole
star.
·
With the help of magnetic
compass.
·
With the help of the Sun.
·
With the help of a clock.
·
With the help of altitude
of the Sun.
·
With the help of longitudes
in maps.
The
directions of the north obtained by different methods are not always the same.
There are two types of north; the true north determined by the pole star (the
grid north found by longitudes) and the magnetic north determined with the help
of a compass.
Fig. 14
True
North
Grid Magnetic
North North
1. Pole
Star
Determination of
the geographic north with the help of pole star is very simple. In clear
weather a constellation of seven stars, called Great Bear or Plough, is visible
in the sky towards the north in the northern hemisphere. Five of the stars form
an arc. Other two stars are called the pointers.
If we extend the line joining the pointers, we observe a bright star which is
the Pole Star. The direction towards the pole star is the true north.
Pointers
Pole Star
Great Bear
Pole star: Pole star occupies a central
position for the earth. Direction of the north and direction of Qibla are
determined with its help. This star is at a distance of 1085 light years from
the earth and its declination (the angular distance from the celestial equator)
is always 90o.
About 5000 years ago the North Star was star Thuban in the constellation
of Draco. About 12000 years from now the bright star Vega in the constellation
of Lyra will be the North Star. 26000 years from now again the present pole
star in Great Bear will be the North Star. The reason of this change is that
the axis of the earth is not fixed but rotates and completes one complete
revolution in 26000 years. To sum up, the north end of the axis of the earth
points towards a star which is the North Star. These days the North Star is the
pole star in the constellation known as the Great Bear.
The Great Bear: It is a constellation
of seven stars which rotates anticlockwise once every day round the North Pole.
If we observe it at different times at night it will sometimes appear to the
left, sometimes to the right, sometimes up and below the pole star but its
distance from the pole does not change.
It is not
difficult to identify it at night. With the help of its two pointer stars, the
pole star can be located easily. Since ancient times, navigators used it, as a
guide during their journey. Pole star itself moves within a small circle but it
is always very close to the centre of the circle. Its motion can be neglected
and can be taken as the north.
On the opposite side of the Great Bear with respect to the pole there is
another constellation of five stars called Cassiopeia. Joining the stars in
order we get two angles. The bisector of the smaller angle points towards the
pole star, as shown in the figure below.
Polestar
Cassiopeia
2. The Sun
Twice a year the Sun rises exactly
at the east and sets exactly at the west. If we observe the points of rising
and setting on 21st March and on 22nd or 23rd
September, we can determine the exact directions of the east and the west. The
true north can then be determined.
3. Shadow
Direction
can be easily determined with the help of a shadow. Draw a circle on level
ground. At the centre of the circle fix a rod vertically. When the shadow of
the rod reaches the circle, before
Rod
Shadow
Before
Bisector North
Shadow
After
4. Clock
- In
the northern hemisphere: Synchronize the clock with local time and put
it horizontally such that its hour needle points towards the sun. The
bisector of the angle formed by the line joining 12 to the centre and the
hour needle towards the sun points towards the south. The other direction
of the bisector represents the north.
- In the southern hemisphere set the
12 of the clock towards the sun. The bisector of the angle formed by the
line joining 12 to the centre and the hour needle points towards the
north. The disadvantage of this method is that it can be used only in day
time and in clear weather.
Picture page
67 top
5. Magnetic Compass
Magnetic compass
is a well known instrument. Its needle points towards the magnetic north and
south. The needle remains parallel to the magnetic poles of the earth. Only the
magnetic north can be determined with its help. To find the geographic north we
need to know the magnetic declination of the place. If magnetic declination is
known, the geographic north can be obtained as explained below:
Example: If the magnetic declination of
a place is 4.8o west, find the magnetic north and draw a line 4.8o
west. It represents the geographic north.
If the magnetic declination is west, then the geographic north is west of
the magnetic north and if the declination is east the geographic north is east
of the magnetic north.
The method of determining the north with the magnetic compass has been in
use since ancient times. This is the easiest and the best method because it can
be used at all times and in all types of weather. Here are two disadvantages.
Firstly it does not give the geographic north directly and secondly the
geographic north cannot be found if magnetic declination is not known.
Picture page 68
Method
of finding the sun’s altitude
If we fix a bamboo vertically on the
ground, it will cast a shadow on the earth. If we draw a line from the end of
the shadow towards the sun, the angle of this line with the shadow represents
the altitude of the sun.
A
Bamboo
Altitude
C B
Shadow
For example
AB is the bamboo with the end B on the ground, BC is the shadow, then the angle
ACB is the altitude of the sun.
To find the latitude of any place: If
we subtract the altitude of the sun on March 21 or September 23 from the 90o
we get the latitude of the place.
2.3 Behavior
of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) and Sahabah towards Qibla
i. It is well known fact that the first
Masjid (mosque) constructed after Baitullah is the Masjid-e- Quba. (Quba is the
name of a famous place near Madinah) This mosque was founded when the Qibla of
the Muslims was Baitul Maqdas. When the verse about the change of Qibla was
revealed, a Sahabah reached the mosque at a time when a prayer was being
offered. On hearing this news, the Prayer Leader (Emam) and all the worshippers
turned towards the Baitullah. This event is quoted in books of Tafseer and Ahadith.
When the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) was informed of this He (P.B.U.H) approved it.
Evidently the direction adopted by the worshippers, in the past during
prayer was not determined by astronomical instruments. Nor, perhaps, was any
magnetic compass or star used. The direction was adopted by intuition (Tahharee).
Even after the prayer no mathematical calculations or other methods were used
to determine the direction of Qibla.
ii. Hazrat Umer Farooq during his tenure of
caliphate instructed all provincial heads of Islamic States to construct
mosques in each locality. Heads of states obeyed the orders but neither Hazrat
Umar nor the personnel of the government used any instrument or mathematical
calculations. The direction of Qibla was determined by intuition.
iii. There is a difference of opinion in
Muslim scholars about the direction of Qibla determined by instruments and
calculations. The reason is that even a small error in determination of
latitude and longitude may result in a considerable error in the direction of
Qibla.
Scholars agree that the directions
of most of the Masajid – (mosques) in the world were
determined by calculations but, it is said, the direction of Qibla of Masjid e
Nabvi was set by Revelation (Wahi). Therefore the direction of Masjide Nabvi is
most exact without any doubt.
Sun-Shadow Method to Determine the Qibla
Direction
For the benefit of Muslim brothers and to facilitate all those
who are interested to find out most accurate Qibla direction in any country of
the world, consult the Tables given in the appendix. Table No.1 is for
For other countries of the world please see the attached Table
2 for 28th May and Table 3 for 16th July respectively.
·
It is very astonishing to
note that every year, according to the astronomical calculations, the sun
reaches exactly at the top of Haram Sharif (centre of Baitulah Sharif) particularly on the 28th
May at 18 past 2 according to Pakistan Standard time (It is the time of (ZAWAL) Nisfun-Nahar at Mecca Mukarramah (known as
Midday).
·
It is the time when one can
find out the QIBLA DIRECTION in any part of
·
On this particular date and
time that is on 28th May at 18 past 2 P.M. erect a pole or a mast or
any straight stick in an open place, ground or in the courtyard.
·
Exactly at
·
And this line of shadow
(shadow of the pole) will show you the exact QIBLA DIRECTION
·
Please remember, on the
line of shadow - The Qibla direction will be towards the pole.
·
If you failed to mark this
shadow on the 28th May, you can mark the shadow on the next date
that is on 29th May. as the difference will be negligible.
In order to facilitate Muslim Ummah it is requested that its
copies may kindly be forwarded to the daily “NEWS PAPERS” and to the MEDIA and
Journals for maximum circulation.
2.4 Time and Calendars
هُوَ ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ ٱلشَّمۡسَ ضِيَآءً۬ وَٱلۡقَمَرَ نُورً۬ا
وَقَدَّرَهُ ۥ مَنَازِلَ لِتَعۡلَمُواْ عَدَدَ
ٱلسِّنِينَ
وَٱلۡحِسَابَۚ مَا خَلَقَ ٱللَّهُ ذَٲلِكَ إِلَّا بِٱلۡحَقِّۚ يُفَصِّلُ
ٱلۡأَيَـٰتِ لِقَوۡمٍ۬ يَعۡلَمُونَ (٥) {یُونس10}
Translation: It is He who made the sun to
be a shining glory and the moon to be a light (of beauty), and measured out
stages for it: that ye might know the number of years and the count (of time).
No wise did Allah create this but in truth and righteousness. (Thus) doth He
explain His Signs in detail, for those who understand? (5)
The system
with which we keep track of time is called calendar. With its help we keep
track of days, weeks, months and years.
وَجَعَلۡنَا ٱلَّيۡلَ وَٱلنَّہَارَ ءَايَتَيۡنِۖ فَمَحَوۡنَآ ءَايَةَ
ٱلَّيۡلِ وَجَعَلۡنَآ ءَايَةَ ٱلنَّہَارِ مُبۡصِرَةً۬ لِّتَبۡتَغُواْ فَضۡلاً۬
مِّن رَّبِّكُمۡ وَلِتَعۡلَمُواْ عَدَدَ ٱلسِّنِينَ وَٱلۡحِسَابَۚ وَڪُلَّ
شَىۡءٍ۬ فَصَّلۡنَـٰهُ تَفۡصِيلاً۬ (١٢) {بنیٓ اسرآئیل /
الإسرَاء 17 }
Translation: the Night and the Day as two
(of Our) Signs: the Sign of the Night have We obscured, while the Sign of the
day We have made to enlighten you; that ye may seek bounty from your Lord, and
that ye may know the number and count of the years: all things have We
explained in detail. (12).
We use a clock to keep track of hours, days and nights. Day and night is
one unit. The earth is rotating around its axis causing days and nights to follow
each other. The earth makes one complete rotation around it’s axis in 24 hours.
This is called a solar day.
The earth makes one complete revolution around the sun in about 365 days.
Due to the difference in times of transit of the sun, all days are not of equal
lengths. Seasons change and repeat after completion of one revolution. This
larger period of 365 days is called a year.
Generally, in normal regions within
Tropics, the length of a day and a night is 24 hours. Accurate measurements
show that:
- On 1st January a solar day is 24 hours and
29 seconds in length.
- On 1st April 23 hours 59 minutes and 42
seconds.
- On 1st July 24 hours 12 seconds and
On 1st October 23 hours 59 minutes and 41 seconds in length.
Thus the length of
a solar day varies. The change is sometimes positive and sometimes negative.
Thus the time of transit of the sun on 1st February is 12 hours 13
minutes and 32 seconds local time and on 1st November it is 11 hours
44 min and 20 sec. Four times a year the sun transits exactly at
Mean solar day: When we talk about 24
hours, we have a certain period in mind. What is one hour? The average length
of a day for the entire year is taken as 24 hours, called mean solar day. Every hour has 60 minutes and a minute has 60
seconds. Thus there are 86400 seconds in a mean solar day. A mean solar day
begins at
In every day life we follow the time
reckoned with the sun. The time can also be reckoned with the help of the moon
as it varies from a crescent to full moon and back to crescent. As Allah
(s.w.t). Has said:
وَٱلۡقَمَرَ قَدَّرۡنَـٰهُ مَنَازِلَ حَتَّىٰ عَادَ
كَٱلۡعُرۡجُونِ ٱلۡقَدِيمِ (٣٩) {یسٓ 36}
Translation: We
have measured for it mansions (to traverse) till it returns like the old (and
withered) lower part of date-stalk. (39)
The moon
takes the form of crescent 12 times in a year. So a year is divided in 12
months. It stated the concept of month and year. Following this lead a solar
year is also divided in 12 months. Reckoning time with the sun and the moon is
mentioned in the Holy Quran. In Surah Kahaf Allah
(s.w.t). Says:
وَلَبِثُواْ فِى كَهۡفِهِمۡ ثَلَـٰثَ مِاْئَةٍ۬ سِنِينَ
وَٱزۡدَادُواْ تِسۡعً۬ا (٢٥) {الکهف
18}
Translation: d in their Cave three hundred years, and
(some) add nine (more). (25)
It indicates that 300 solar years are equal to 309 lunar years. Islam is
a natural religion (deen e fitrat). It follows the lunar calendar so that
Muslims have no problem. There is vividly clear reason and wisdom behind it.
Fasting and Hajj are easier in lunar time. If a person fasts for 33 years of
his life time then he has fasted on every single day of the year. It is the
greatness of Allah (s.w.t). Who has blessed his followers?
Day: Astronomers call a day and a night
i.e. 24 hours a day. There are three types of days: Sidereal day, apparent day
and mean day.
1.
Sidereal day: It is used for observation of stars. The earth has two types
of motions.
·
Annual motion in which it makes one complete revolution around the
sun in one year which causes changes in seasons.
·
Rotation
about its axis in 24 hours. Day and night change due to this motion.
Due to these
motions, the earth rotating on its axis also moves forward every day. As a
result, if a star is visible today at a place, the next day it will appear at
the same place after 23 hours and 56 minutes. This is called a sidereal day. After 24 hours it will
appear one degree to the west.
Accordingly if a constellation is visible overhead today, after three
months it will have moved 6 hours to the west and will be visible on the
western horizon as a setting constellation.
Part of the
earth facing the sun faces it again after 24 hours. But stars return to their
position after 23 hours and 56 minutes. So their time is different from our
time. There are clocks which complete one day in 23 hours 56 minutes. Their
speed is slower than the speed of our clocks. Such clocks are called Sidereal clocks and are used in
navigation and in astronomical observatories.
Technically the interval between two consecutive transits of a fixed star
across a meridian is a sidereal day. It is the time in which the earth makes
one complete rotation around its axis. It is 3 minutes 56 seconds shorter than
our usual day. The clocks which keep the sidereal time complete a day in 23
hours and 56 minutes and 4 seconds, are called star chronometers. They are used in astronomical calculations.
Nowadays sensitive electronic and computerized clocks are used.
2. Apparent
day or apparent solar day: The interval between two consecutive transits of
the sun across a meridian is called “apparent
day” or “apparent solar day”. If
the earth were not revolving round the sun, the apparent day and sidereal day
would be equal. But the earth is moving round the sun from the west to the east
in an elliptic orbit called the ecliptic.
It completes one revolution in 365 days 5 hours and 46 minutes. Due to it the
earth moves 0.835 degree towards the east each day. Thus we observe the sun to
move by an equal amount. Thus in one rotation of the earth one sidereal day is
complete but an apparent solar day is not because the sun has moved about a degree
to the east on the ecliptic. The earth has to rotate a further angle between
the present meridian and the meridian on which the sun has moved. This arc is
called the solar lag. When the earth covers this angle the sun transits i.e. an
apparent solar day has elapsed. Thus the time taken by the earth to rotate
through the angle (360 + solar lag) is an apparent solar day. Apparent solar
day is always greater than the sidereal day.
The arc lengths traveled by the sun on the ecliptic each day are not
equal so the lengths of apparent solar days are also not equal. Apparent time
is found with the help of solar clocks.
4. Mean solar day: Since the arc lengths traveled by the sun on the
ecliptic each day are not equal the lengths of apparent solar days are also not
the same. To remove this discrepancy the astronomers have assumed a fictitious
sun which travels with uniform velocity in the same time period as the actual
sun. The interval between two consecutive transits of this fictitious sun
across a meridian is called a mean solar
day. It is the time in which the earth rotates
Declination
of the sun
The earth
moves round the sun in the ecliptic, so the sun appears to move round the earth
in the ecliptic. The ecliptic does not coincide with the celestial equator.
They intersect at two points called vernal
equinox and autumnal equinox.
The angle of intersection is 23o 27 ́. Half of the ecliptic is
towards the north of the celestial equator and the other half south of it. Any
point on the ecliptic which is not at equinoxes will be either north of equator
or south of it. The angular distance of the sun from the equator is called the declination of the sun. It can have a
maximum value 23o 27 ́ north (positive) or south (negative). When
the declination of the sun is positive, day is longer than the night and when
negative, night is longer than the day. The value of declination of the sun at
any particular day varies slightly but the rate is very small 0.0503 seconds
per year. It is quite negligible and will become appreciable in centuries.
Local
Time and Standard Time
Standard Time: We use standard time in
every day life. As far as local time is concerned, in our daily life, we
neither need it nor do we care for it. So when local time is mentioned with
standard time we are surprised. Standard time means the time which is used and
is the same throughout the country. When we say that in
Local Time: Local time in the eastern
parts of
It is clear that if at Greenwich (longitude 0o) the time is 12
noon then at 1o E the time will be 12.04 p.m. On the other hand 1o
W the time will be
2.5 Calendars
There are
four types of calendar:
i. Lunar calendar ii. Solar
calendar
iii. Luni-solar
calendar iv. Solar- Hijri calendar
i.
Lunar calendar
As
the name suggests, it depends on the phases of the moon (change in shape from
crescent to full and back) and on rising and setting of the moon. This is the
oldest, most accurate and the simplest calendar. Ancient people counted days
and months with the help of a new moon. A month begins with a new moon. A lunar
month is 29 or 30 days in length. There are 354 or 355 days in a lunar year.
Hijri
calendar: Lunar calendar has been in use since ancient times. At the time
of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him), Arabs used it. But it was the practice
of the locals to alter or change the months without any consideration of the
irregularity or consequences. Sometimes one month was made equal to two months
and sometimes they used to drop one month. In the Holy Quran this wrong
practice is named ‘nasi ‘(Surah Taubah verse 37). Anyway up to Hajatul Widah
(The last Pilgrimage) all months of the year were of the present order. Thus
the present Hijri Calendar was founded at the time of Hajatul Widah (The last
Pilgrimage). Hazrat Umar formally introduced it during his tenure of caliphate.
In this version Muharramul Haram was declared the first month of the year and
the year of migration of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) was declared to be the
beginning of the calendar.
ii. Solar or Gregorian calendar
It is based on the revolution of the earth round the sun. Seasons change
due to the revolution. Care has been taken to ensure that all seasons begin
every year on fixed dates. Sometimes the earth comes closer to the sun and
sometimes moves away from it. In lunar calendar a day begins at the sunset
whereas in solar calendar a day begins at mid night. Since the beginning of a
month does not depend on visibility of the moon, the number of days of each
month in solar calendar are assigned before hand. It is predetermined that
which month will contain how many days. Special attention is paid to months and
seasons so that seasons always begin on the same date each year. For example
every year it will be summer in June and July and winter in November and
December. In this calendar a year has 365 days. Some months are of 30 days,
some have 31 days except February which is of 28 days. After every four years
February has 29 days. This year is called leap
year. January, March, July, August and December have 31 days whereas April,
June, September and November have 30. February has 28 days but in a leap year
it has 29 days..
During the days of
Pope Gregory XIII the calendar became out of phase with the seasons. On the
advice of astronomers he dropped 10 days in October. Thus the date following 15th
October was 25th October. Even today these 10 days are missing in
the calendar of that year (1582). If after every four years a day is not added,
the calendar will again become out of phase with seasons. In comparison the
lunar calendar does not need addition or subtraction of any day. May Allah
(s.w.t). guide us to use it in every day life. It is a conspiracy according to
which propaganda is made that the Muslims cannot celebrate Eid on the same day
and keep fighting on the moon and that lunar calendar is baseless and is not
fit for use.
Reason
for leap year
The earth makes one
complete revolution round the sun in about 365 days and 6 hours. The addition
of 6 hours has compelled the founders of solar calendar to compensate it. Six
hours per year amount to 24 hours in 4 years i.e. a day in 4 years. Thus if a
day is added every fourth year, in the next year (the fifth year) begins in
accordance with seasons.
iii. Luni Solar calendar
This calendar is the
basis for the Jewish calendar. Solar year is 10 or 11 days longer than the
lunar year. Thus after 3 lunar years a difference of one month occurs with the
solar calendar. They added a month in the lunar calendar after every 3 years
and called it “inter calary month”.
Since this calendar uses both types of calendars it is called luni solar
calendar.
iv. Solar Hijri Calendar
This calendar is not practically in use today. Some Muslim astronomers
have introduced its concept. It differs from the solar calendar in the
following aspects:
- The calendar will begin from the year
of migration of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H).
- The names of months will be on
important places or events which were at the time of the Holy Prophet
(peace be upon him). The order will be Hira, Mairaj, Sur, Quba, Badar,
Uhad, Ahzab, Rizwan, Khaiber, Fatah, Hunain, and Tabuk. The present names
of months are unislamic and mythological.
- In the leap year a day will be added
in the last month i.e. Tabuk. The advantage is that being the last day of
the year; it will have no effect on other days.
In the presence of lunar calendar solar calendar is also a need because
in some matters the solar calendar is used, for example in the calculations of
times of prayers and times of sehar and iftar. If these times are calculated
for example for 1st January, then they will remain the same on that
day for all years to come.
CHAPTER 3
Compilataion and Composition of Prayer
Times
3.1 Mathematical Method of Prayer Times and
Qibla Direction
It is necessary to have some basic elementary knowledge of mathematics
for finding the times of prayers and direction of Qibla.
- Spherical trigonometry is used for calculations. Very
elementary knowledge is sufficient as we use computers or scientific
calculators.
- Latitude and longitude of the place (it can be found
with the help of an atlas.)
- The longitude of the particular place according to which
the standard time of the place is kept. (page ) (For example the standard time
of
- Declination of the sun on for all dates of the year.
(Table on page ).
- Time of Zawal (Transit time) for all dates of the year (
Table on page )
- Altitude or depression of the sun at the required prayer
time. (E.g. for dawn 18o below horizon.
- Difference between standard
and local times.
Geometry,
Trigonometry and Spherical Trigonometry
Angle: Angle is obtained when two lines
meet at a point forming a V shape. For example needles of a clock. The needles
are called the arms of the clock.
There are three types of angles
Right angle: The two arms of the
needles of a clock at
Acute angle: An angle which is less
than 90o is called an acute angle.
Obtuse angle: An angle whose which is
more than 90o is called an obtuse angle.
Right Acute Obtuse
Angle angle angle
There are 360o
in a complete circle. If it is divided in 4 equal parts each part is equal to
90o or a right angle.
Triangle: It is a figure bounded by
three sides. It has 3 angles. A triangle is represented by the figure ABC. The
three sides are AB, BC and AC and three angles are X, Y and Z. If one angle of
the triangle is a right angle, it is called a right angled triangle. The
horizontal side is called its base, the vertical side the perpendicular and the
side facing the right angle is called the hypotenuse.
A
x
Perpendicular hypotenuse
y z
B C
Base
Triangle
Right angled triangle
The sum of
the three angles of a plane triangle is 180o. So a plane triangle
cannot have more than one right angle and two obtuse angles.
There are
three types of triangles:
i. If all sides of a triangle are equal
it is called equilateral triangle.
ii. If two sides of a triangle are equal.
It is called an isosceles triangle.
iii. If all three sides are unequal, it is
called a scalene triangle.
Trigonometric ratios:
C
θ 90
A B
Let ABC be a
right angled triangle. 
ABC = 90o and
There are six
trigonometric ratios:
Sin θ = 
, cos
θ = 
tan θ = 
, cosec θ = 
sec θ = 
, cot θ = 
These ratios
refer to a triangle formed in a plane which is called a plane triangle.
Solution of a triangle: A triangle has
3 sides and 3 angles. These six quantities are called the elements of a
triangle. If some elements of a triangle are known, the process of finding
other elements is called the solution of the triangle. It is done with the help
of the trigonometric ratios.
Spherical triangle: If instead of in a
plane, a triangle is drawn on the surface of a sphere; its sides are arcs
instead of lines. Such a triangle is called a spherical triangle. In astronomy
all heavenly bodies, the sun, the moon, the stars appear to move on the sky and
move on arcs of circles. Their motions are studied with the help of spherical
trigonometry. A spherical triangle also has same six trigonometric ratios.
3.2 Calculations of Prayer Times
Prayer times are explained in the
books of fiqah. According to them
- the time of Fajar starts from dawn
(subah e sadiq),
- time of Zohar from the time of
transit (zawal),
- time of Maghrib from the sunset and
- time of Isha from the end of red
twilight,
- according to Sahibain (Imam Yousuf
and Imam Humbel) Isha is permissible to offer at the end of the white
twilight
- according to Hanafi Maslak. Time of
Asar begins at Misle-Sani (when the shadow of a body is twice the length
of the body and the length of its minimum shadow)
- According to Sahibain (Imam Yousuf
and Imam Humbl) Asar e Shafi begins at masal e Awwal (when the shadow of a
body is the sum the length of the body and the length of its minimum
shadow).
Prayers should be offered at times determined by these criteria. It is
necessary that prayer times should be calculated with the help of clocks
especially as due to high buildings, the determination of time according to the
above criteria is difficult.
It is necessary to know the altitude and depressions of the sun for
different prayers in order to solve the mathematical calculations.
Dawn
(Subah E Sadiq), Isha and Fajar Times
In his book “Mayarul
Auqat As-Seam wo Salat”, Prof. Abdul Wasey says, “that dawn (subh e sadiq) is that light which is visible before the
sunrise due to reflection and diffraction on the eastern horizon. When the sun
approaches the horizon its rays are reflected from upper atmospheric layers to
reach the earth (according to law of reflection: angle of reflection is equal
to angle of incidence.) and we observe a vertical pillar of light. As the sun
nears the horizon, this light narrows at the top and spreads near the horizon.
As the sun further nears the horizon, dispersed light also merges with it and
brightens it. The white light gradually becomes red and then yellow. After this
the sun starts to rise.”
Evening
twilight (shafaq) is that light which is visible after sun set on the western
horizon. The reasons for it are the same as for dawn. The changes are same but
in the opposite order. i.e. first the light is yellow then it becomes red and
then white. It spreads on the horizon and gradually narrows at the bottom and
becomes vertical. Astronomically both the phenomena are called twilight. The
morning twilight begins and the evening twilight ends when the centre of the
sun is 18o below the horizon.
When the sun is 18o below the horizon before rising it is dawn
(subh-e-sadiq) which indicates the beginning of Fajar time. When the centre of
the sun is 18o below the horizon after setting, the time of Isha
begins. The methods of finding the time for the beginning of the morning
twilight and end of the evening twilight are the same as for finding times of
sun rise and sun set except that the zenith distance of the sun is taken 108o
instead of 91o.
Dawn starts when the centre of the sun is 18o below horizon.
The scholars have adopted 18o below horizon and we will also accept it.
According to this rule when the sun is 18o below the eastern horizon
before rising, it is dawn. On the other hand after setting when it goes 18o
below the western horizon Isha time begins. Thus both for dawn and Isha the
depression of the sun is the same (i.e. 18o) but in Fajar it is
before sun rise and in Isha after sunset.
In mathematical formulae to calculate the times of
dawn and Isha, the zenith distance of the sun is taken 90 + 18 = 108o.
Maghrib
and Sunset
When the sun completely sets, it is the starting time for Maghrib prayer.
What is the zenith distance of the sun at that time? The detailed discussion
for the answer follows.
When we say that the sun is at such and such distance it means that the
centre of the sun is at that distance. If the sun is at a distance of 90o
towards the west, it means that half the sun is below the horizon and half is
visible. Practically we know that the sun sets when it goes completely below
the horizon. The diameter of the sun is 32 minutes so half of the diameter is
16 minutes. So the sun will set when its zenith distance is 90o
16 ́ W.
Sun Horizon
Sun
Astronomical
sun set Real Sunset
If we place a coin in a glass or a
vessel full of water and observe it from the side, the coin appears higher than
its actual position. It happens because the rays of light enter our eyes from a
denser to a rarer medium and are bent. This phenomenon is called refraction.
The atmosphere of the earth also behaves in the same way. As a result the sun
is visible to us even when its centre is below 90o 16 ́. Refraction
of the sun is found to be 34 ́. It means that the sun has still to go 34
minutes further down to set. Thus its zenith distance should become 90o
50 ́ for it to be practically below the horizon. This is sharaie (Islamic)
sunset. Converting to decimals the zenith distance of the sun at sun set and
sunrise must be 90.8333o.
Prof. Abdul Wasey says, “That
according to the astronomers, the sun rises and sets when its centre is on the
horizon. Zenith distances of the sun on both these occasions are 90o.
In the absence of refraction, half the disc of the sun should be visible on
both occasions. But due to refraction it appears 32 ́ higher. The maximum
diameter of the sun is 32.5 ́. When the centre of the sun is on the horizon it
appears 32 ́ higher i.e. the lower limb is 7 ́ above horizon. When the centre
of the sun is 32 ́ below, its centre appears on the horizon. This is
astronomical sunrise or sunset. At this time the zenith distance of the sun is
90o 32́.”
Sharaie Sunrise: Sharaie sunrise occurs when the upper limb of
the sun just touches the eastern horizon. And the entire disc of the sun is
below horizon. Similarly at sharaie sun set upper limb of the sun touches the
western horizon and the entire disc is below it. Thus at both these times the
zenith distance of the sun should be 900 50 ́. The value of
refraction used is the average value. It is safer to take the zenith distance
91o. Sharaie sun rise occurs a little bit earlier than astronomical
sunrise and Sharaie (Islamic) sunset occurs a bit later.
ZOHAR
The time of Zohar begins immediately
after transit. When the sun rises, the shadows are very long. As the altitude
of the sun increases, the lengths of shadows of any pole or mast decrease. When
the sun is at transit, the length of shadow is minimum. This is called real shadow. After it the lengths of
shadows begin to increase again. As soon as the lengths of shadows start
increasing, the time of transit ends. This is the time in which the sun has
traveled half its journey from the east to the west.
To find the time of transit, first
find the difference between the times of sunrise and sunset, divide it by two
and add to the time of sun rise. This will be the time of real shadow. At this
time the sun is on the observer’s meridian. This time is prohibited for prayer.
Zohar time starts after it.
Example: On 13th January,
the sun rises in
The
difference is 12 hours and 2 minutes. Half of it is 6 hours and 1 minute.
Adding it to the time of sun rise we get
Thus transit
time in
We
also need to know, along with other data, the time of transit and the
declination of the sun for the day for which the prayer times are to be found.
They are involved in all calculations leading to determination of prayer times.
Declination
of the Sun
Declination of the sun is its
distance from the celestial equator. Since the sun is on the celestial equator
on 21st March and 21st September, their declination on
these dates is zero. On 21st June the sun is above the tropic of
Cancer and its declination is maximum about 23.5o North or + 23.5o.
On 21st December it is on the tropic of Capricorn and its
declination is minimum 23.5o South or – 23.5o.
Equatorial
Coordinate System
The system
in which right ascension and declination of a heavenly body are used to locate its
position is called the equatorial coordinate system. It is explained below.
3.3 Celestial Sphere
A very large
imaginary sphere whose centre is at the centre of the earth is called the
celestial sphere. It also has the northern and the southern hemispheres. Its
north pole is called the Celestial North
Pole and the South Pole is called the Celestial
South Pole. Its equator is called celestial
equator. The lines parallel to the equator are lines of declination (corresponding to latitudes on the earth). Its
longitudinal lines are called meridians
or time lines because the time for a
heavenly body to reach a given point is determined with their help.
Two coordinate are needed to determine the position of a heavenly body (1) Right ascension and (2) declination.
Right ascension, Vernal and Autumnal
equinoxes:
The celestial
equator intersects the ecliptic at two points called Vernal and autumnal
equinoxes.
Vernal equinox is taken as origin or base. The distance along the
celestial equator measured towards the east from vernal equinox to the meridian
through a body is called its right
ascension. It is measured in terms of time. For example if a body is 150
east from vernal equinox it’s right ascension is 1 hour.
Thus the distance of a heavenly body measured from vernal equinox
measured east wards is its right ascension.
Declination
The distance of a heavenly body from celestial equator measured north or
south along a meridian is called its declination. It is positive for bodies
north of equator and negative in the south.
The right ascension and declination of stars are constant but for the sun
they change. But at a given time the right ascension and declination of the sun
all over the world are the same. For example whatever the declination of the
sun is on 25th July in
Times of transit of the sun and its
declination are given in the table beginning from page .
Tables from
page 99 to 104
3.4 Method to Find Time of Transit (Zawal
Time)
The formulae used in computer or
calculators to calculate the time of transit are
explained below.
Time of transit: In calculating prayer
times, first of all we have to find the time of transit. Other times are
obtained on its basis. First we discuss in some details about the time of
transit.
Half of the time interval between sunset and sunrise is called the time
of transit. Transit is also called upper
culmination. This is the time when the sun reaches observer’s meridian. At
this time the shadow of everybody is the least and it is called real shadow. Zohar time begins after
upper transit. On the other hand half the time between sunset and dawn is
called sharaie transit. It is related only with fasting. The intention (niyat)
of fast must be made before sharaie transit.
(Note): The time of transit of the sun
on a particular day is the same all over the world. The difference is only due
to the difference between local and standard times. Find the difference between
the standard and local times and add or subtract according to the criteria in
the time of transit given in
For example,
The tables on
page …… give the UT for transit for any
day of the year. Time of transit at any place can be found as explained below:
Example 1: Find the time of transit in
Karachi on 1st January.
From the table
on page the time of transit is
Longitude of Karachi = 67o E.
Longitude of
Standard time = 75o E.
Difference =
75 – 67 = 8o = 8 x 4 = 32 minutes.
Formula: Time
of transit = UT + difference
= 12:03 +
0:32 = 12:35.
So the sun
transits in
Example 2: Find the time of transit in
Chiniot on 22nd December.
Time of
transit from the table =
Longitude of
Chiniot = 73o E.
Longitude of
Standard time = 75o E.
Difference =
75 – 73 = 2o = 2 x 4 = 8 minutes.
Formula: Time
of transit = UT + difference
=
I.e. the time
of transit at Chiniot on 22nd December is 6 minutes past 12
Example 3: Find the time of transit at
Tokyo (Japan) on 22nd December.
Time of
transit from table =
Longitude of Tokyo = 139o 45 ́
E. = 139 + 45/60 = 139.75o E.
Longitude of
Standard time of
Difference =
135 – 139.75 = - 4.75o = - 4.75 x 4 = - 19 minutes.
Formula: Time
of transit = UT + difference
= 11:59:29 – 0:19:0 =
I.e. the time
of transit at
- In order to find out prayer times
for, we first have to find the time of transit and then other times are
found according to the following rules:
- Subtract the calculated value of H
for dawn (subah e sadiq) from the time of transit to get the correct time
for dawn. H means hour angle.
- Add the calculated value of H for
Isha to the time of transit to get the correct time of Isha.
- Subtract the calculated value of H
for sunrise from time of transit to get the correct time of sunrise
- Add the calculated value of H for
sunset to time of transit to get the correct time of sunset
- Add the calculated value of H for misle
Awwal to time of transit to get the correct time of Asar e Shafi.
- Add the calculated value of H for
misle Sani to time of transit to get the correct time of Asar e Hanafi.
In these
formulae H is the hour angle of the sun found by formulae given below.
Basic
Formulae
The hour angle H of the sun used in the above rules is determined by the
following formulae. In these formulae X stands for the declination of the sun
on the given date and Y for the latitude of the place.
For dawn
(Subh-e-sadiq) and Isha:
H = 
For sunrise
and sunset:
H = 
For Misle Awwal
a = 1 + tan |
X – Y |; A = 
; G = sin ( tan – 1 A)
H = 
For Misle Sani
a = 2 + tan |
X – Y |; A = ; G = sin ( tan – 1 A)
H =
Method
to Find Dawn and Isha Time
To calculate
the time of prayers of any place we need to know the following:
- Latitude and longitude of the given
place (can be found from any atlas).
- The longitude corresponding to the
standard time of the place (table on page ) e.g. standard time of
- Declination of the sun on the given date. (table on page )
- Transit time for the given date
(table on page )
- Altitude or depression of the sun for
the given time (e.g. for dawn 180 below horizon,
- for sunset and sunrise zenith distance
90.833o )
- The difference between standard and
local time.
Example 1: Find the time for dawn and
Isha prayer for Karachi on 1st January.
Longitude of Karachi = 67o E.
Latitude of
Longitude of
Standard time of
Declination
of the sun on 1st January = X = – 23.12o.
Time of
transit on 1st January 12.05554 = 12:03.
Difference
between local and standard time = 75 – 67
= 8o
= 8 x 4 = 32 minutes.
Transit time
of
= 12:03 +
0:32 = 12 : 35.
Formula for
dawn and Isha
H =
= 
Find and
substitute the values of sin and cos from calculator
H = 
Perform
multiplication
H = 
Perform
addition
H = 
. Perform
division
H = 
. Take cos inverse
H = 
= 6.661262
hours
= 6 hours 39 minute.
Time of dawn
= transit time – H =
= 5:55.
Thus the end
of time for Sehar and beginning of time for Fajar prayer in
Time for Isha
= transit time + H
= 12:35 +
6:39 = 19:14.
The Isha time
begins at 7:14 pm in
Example 2: Find the time of dawn and
Isha for Harper (Hazara) on 1st January.
Longitude of
Haripur = 73o E.
Latitude of
Haripur = Y = 34o N.
Longitude of
Standard time of
Declination
of the sun on 1st January = X = – 23.12o.
Time of
transit on 1st January 12 : 03 = 12.05554.
Difference
between local and standard time = 75 – 73
= 2o
= 2 x 4 = 8 minutes.
Transit time
at Haripur on 1st January = UT + 8 min
= 12:03 +
0:08 = 12 : 11.
Formula for
dawn and Isha
H =
= 
Find and
substitute the values of sin and cos from calculator
H = 
Perform
multiplication
H = 
Perform
addition
H = 
. Perform
division
H = 
. Take cos inverse
H = 
= 6.4491348
hours
= 6 hours 26 minute 56 seconds = 6:27.
Time of dawn
= transit time – H =
= 5:44.
Thus the end
of time for Sehar and beginning of time for Fajar prayer in Haripur on 1st
January is
Time for Isha
= transit time + H
= 12:11 +
6:27 = 18:38.
The Isha time
begins at
Example 3: Find the time for dawn and
Isha prayer for Peshawar on 26th October.
Longitude of
Latitude of
Longitude of
Standard time of
Declination
of the sun on 26 October = X = – 12.713o.
Time of
transit on 26 October 11.73 = 11: 44.
Difference
between local and standard time = 75 – 71.67
= 3.33o
= 3.33 x 4 = 13 minutes.
Transit time
at
= 11:44 +
0:13 = 11 : 57.
Formula for
dawn and Isha
H =
= 
Find and
substitute the values of sin and cos from calculator
H = 
Perform
multiplication
H = 
Perform
addition
H = 
. Perform
division
H = 
. Take cos inverse
H = 
= 6.882403
hours
= 6 hours 53 minute.
Time of dawn
= transit time – H =
= 5:04.
Thus the end
of time for sehar and beginning of time for Fajar prayer in
Time for Isha
= transit time + H
= 11:57 +
6:53 = 18:50.
The Isha time
begins at
Example 4: Find the time of sunrise and
sunset at Karachi on 1st January.
Longitude of Karachi = 67o E.
Latitude of
Longitude of
Standard time of
Declination
of the sun on 1st January = X = - 23.12o.
Time of
transit on 1st January 12.05554 = 12:03..
Difference
between local and standard time = 75 – 67
= 8o
= 8 x 4 = 32 minutes.
Transit time
at
= 12:03 +
0:32 = 12 : 35.
Formula for
sunrise and sunset
H =
= 
Find and
substitute the values of sin and cos from calculator
H = 
Perform
multiplication
H = 
Perform
addition
H = 
. Perform
division
H = 
. Take cos inverse
H = 
= 5.3030626
hours
= 5 hours 18 minute.
Time of
sunrise = transit time – H =
= 7:17.
Thus the sun
rises in
Time for
sunset = transit time + H
= 12:35 +
5:18 = 17:53.
The sun sets
at
Time of Misle Awwal (Asar E Shafi) and Misle Sani
(Asar E Hanafi)
If a rod (AB) is fixed vertically, at the time of transit it’s shadow is
minimum called real shadow (BC).
Suppose the
length of a rod is 6 feet and length of its real shadow is 1 ft. When the
length shadow 6 + 1 =7 ft. long, it is misle Awwal i.e. Asar e Shafi begins
(BD). When the length of shadow becomes 2 x 6 + 1 = 13
Misle Awwal means the length of the shadow of the body and the real
shadow. According to Imam Shafi Zohar time ends and Asar time begins at this
instant. Misle Sani is the time when the length of the shadow is the sum of the
real shadow and twice the length of the body. According to Hanafi Maslak Zohar
time ends and Asar begins. According to Quiz Abu Yousuf Zohar time ends at misle
Awwal and Asar begins at misle Sani.
A
B C
D E
Example 5: Find the time for Asar e
Shafi at Karachi on 1st January
Transit time
for
Latitude of
Declination
of the sun on 1st January = X =
– 23.12o.
Formula: a =
1 + tan | X – Y |; A = ; G = sin ( tan – 1 A)
H =
a = 1 + tan |
24.9 – (– 23.12)| = 1 + tan 48.02
= 1 + 1.11139 = 2.11139.
A = 1/a =
1/(2.11139) = 0.4736216.
G = sin( tan
– 1 0.4736216) = sin( 25.343248) = 0.428042.
H = 
H = 
H = 
H = 
H = 
= H = 
= 
=
Time of Asar
e Shafi = Transit time + H
=
Example 6: Find the time for Asar e
Hanafi for Karachi on 1st January
Transit time
of
Latitude of
Declination
of the sun on 1st January = X = –
23.12o.
Formula : a = 2 + tan | X – Y |; A = ;
G = sin ( tan
– 1 A)
H =
a = 2 + tan |
24.9 – (– 23.12)| = 2 + tan 48.02
= 2 + 1.11139 = 3.11139.
A = 1/a =
1/3.11139 = 0.3213996..
G = sin( tan
– 1 0.3213996) = sin( 17.817393)
= 0.3059843.
H =
H = 
H = 
H = 
H = 
= H = 
= 
=
Time of Asar
e Hanafi = Transit time + H
= 12:35 + 3:42 = 16:17.
Thus the time
for Asar e Hanafi in
Example 7: Find the time of dawn for Glasgow on 1st
January.
Longitude of
Latitude of
Longitude of Standard time
= 0o .
Declination of the sun on 1st
January = X = – 23.12o.
Time of transit on 1st
January 12 : 03 = 12.05554.
Difference
between local and standard time = 0 – (– 4.25) = 4.25o = 4.25 x 4 =
17 minutes.
Transit time
at
= 12:03 +
0:17 = 12 : 20.
Formula for
dawn
H =
= 
Find and
substitute the values of sin and cos from calculator
H = 
Perform
multiplication
H = 
Perform
addition
H = 
. Perform
division
H = 
. Take cos inverse
H = 
= 5.88208 hours
=
Time of dawn
= transit time – H =
= 6:27.
Thus the end
of time for Sehar and beginning of time for Fajar prayer in
Example 8: Find the time of sunrise and
sunset at Moscow
on 1st March.
Longitude of
Latitude of
Longitude of
Standard time = 45o E.
Declination
of the sun on 1st March = X = – 7.278o.
Time of
transit on 1st March 12.05554 = 12:12.
Difference
between local and standard time = 45 – 37.6
= 7.4o
= 7.4 x 4 = 30 minutes.
Transit time
at
= 12:12 +
0:30 = 12 : 42.
Formula for
sunrise and sunset
H=
= 
Find and
substitute the values of sin and cos from calculator
H = 
Perform
multiplication
H = 
Perform
addition
H = 
. Perform
division
H = 
. Take cos inverse
H = 
= 5.3763276
hours
= 5 hours 23 minute.
Time of
sunrise = transit time – H =
= 7:19.
Thus the sun
rises in
Time for
sunset = transit time + H
= 12:42 +
5:23 = 18:05.
The sun sets
at
Example 9: Find the time of beginning
of Fajar prayer for Johannesburg on 1st May.
Longitude of
Latitude of
Declination
of the sun on 1st May = X = 11.950o.
Time of
transit on 1st May = 11.9501
=
Difference
between local and standard time = 2 minutes.
Transit time
at
= 11:57 +
0:02 = 11 : 59.
Formula for
dawn
H =
= 
Find and
substitute the values of sin and cos from calculator
H = 
Perform
multiplication
H = 
Perform
addition
H = 
. Perform
division
H = 
. Take cos inverse
H = 
= 6.9568449
hours
=
Time of dawn
= transit time – H =
= 5:02.
Thus the end
of time for Sehar and beginning of time for Fajar prayer in
Example 10: Find the time of beginning
of Fajar prayer for Beijing on 1st September.
Longitude of
Latitude of
Beijing = Y = 39o 54’ N.=
39.9.
Declination
of the sun on 1st September = X = 7.979o.
Time of
transit on 1st September =
Difference
between local and standard time = 14 minutes.
Transit time
at
= 12:00 +
0:14 = 12 : 14.
Formula for
dawn
H =
= 
Find and
substitute the values of sin and cos from calculator
H = 
Perform
multiplication
H = 
Perform
addition
H = 
. Perform
division
H = 
. Take cos inverse
H = 
= 7.167082
hours
=
Time of dawn
= transit time – H =
= 5:04.
Thus the end
of time for Sehar and beginning of time for Fajar prayer in
Example 11: Find the time of beginning
of Fajar Prayer and times for sunrise
and sunset for New York on 1st November.
Longitude of
Latitude of
Longitude of
Standard time = 75o .
Declination
of the sun on 1st November.= X = – 14.682o.
Time of
transit on 1st November.
Difference
between local and standard time = 75 – (74)
= 1o
= 1 x 4 = 4 minutes.
Transit time
at
= 11:44 +
0:04 = 11 : 48.
Formula for dawn
H =
= 
Find and
substitute the values of sin and cos from calculator
H = 
Perform
multiplication
H = 
Perform
addition
H = 
. Perform
division
H = 
. Take cos inverse
H = 
= 6.75357 hours
=
Time of dawn
= transit time – H =
= 5:03.
Thus the end
of time for Sehar and beginning of time for Fajar prayer in New York on 1st
November. is
Formula for sunrise and sunset
H =
= 
Find and
substitute the values of sin and cos from calculator
H = 
Perform
multiplication
H = 
Perform
addition
H = 
. Perform
division
H = 
. Take cos inverse
H = 
= 5.206218
hours
= 5 hours 13 minute.
Time of
sunrise = transit time – H =
= 6:35.
Thus the sun
rises in
Time for
sunset = transit time + H
= 11:48 +
5:13 = 17:01
The sun sets
at 5:01 pm in
3.5
Altitude Correction Factor
Astronomers
and other experts who are mainly concerned with the tabulation of prayer
timings are of the opinion that any FLAT surface with
* Sufficiently
extended unobstructed area of any height
* Clearly
visible horizon will be considered for the
calculation of sun-rise or sun-set, as a normal area, as if it is a FLAT COASTAL PLANE.
Abdul Majeed Khan, a weather expert and Meteorologist of Pakistan
Meteorological Department considers it as a debatable issue as he added the
correction factor for all the places and towns of
On the contrary, the observations reveal that any Plateau shaped unobstructed
flat surface, of any altitude does not need any correction factor to apply
particularly for the calculations of sun-rise and sun-set timings. It seems
strange but it is a reality.
In other words it can be concluded that:
*…..any obstructed surface
of any height,
*…..or any place located
on a conical shaped hill top
*… .Or an escarpment having
a steep slope, certainly needs some difference of time correction to apply –
same is the case with journey by a plane or space ship.
It may be
remembered that the difference in time is not uniform everywhere. It differs from
Latitude to Latitude and at every latitude from date to date. So computed
tables (Shown below) are composed in such a way that right from Zero degree Equator
to 60 degrees, correction of time for various altitudes have been shown from
1000 to 11000 feet., and also from 30,000 to 40,000 feet for 1st and 15th of each month of a solar calendar.
The two dates are enough to depict the picture for the entire month.
Tables are
computed for every 5th degree of Latitude up to 60th
parallel these tables show the difference of time at various altitudes from
1000 to 11000 feet and 30,000 to 40000 feet with a few exceptions.
During our journey by a jet plane, which usually flies between 30000 to
40000 ft. above mean sea level, we need to know the difference of time of
sun-rise and sun-set for our prayers, Iftar and Maghrib, as, due to the difference
of Horizon, the time at this height will be different from the ground.
During our journey, we do not calculate the height of the plane from the
ground but from the above mean sea level, particularly for finding the timings
of sunrise & sunset. This we need due to the difference of horizon. Only at
the time of landing and take off the pilot needs to know the height of the
plane from the run way (to which we call ground) or local surface.
But in the sky, during the flight, we need to know the height of the
plane from the sea level and certainly not from the ground above which it is
flying. To facilitate the air passengers and the compilers of prayer time
tables, the following tables of time difference will prove helpful. It is vital
to check the difference in time with reference to altitude, latitude and date
everywhere.
3.6 Aneroid or Mercurial Barometer
Aneroid or mercurial barometer is used to find out the (air) atmospheric
pressure and the height. At any place a barometer by registering the pressure
of the atmosphere indicates the height of that place from the sea level.
Generally heights up to 20,000 feet can be measured. As the height increases
the pressure of the atmosphere decreases and thus if the pressure decreases it
is clear that height has increased. As a general rule it can be said that
pressure decreases by
(2) Murree is
about 7000 ft high from sea level. If you want to calculate the timings of
sunrise and sun-set of Hill Tops of this hilly station, obviously you need to
have a point of reference as to wherefrom you will calculate its height.
Do you think that one should find out the height from the ground level of
Islamabad or Rawalpindi which is the nearest ground level from this hill top? If
not what is your opinion?
Certainly the
horizon of this hill top is different from the horizon of
As far as the time of Subhe-Sadiq is concerned we need not to apply any
Altitude Correction up to the height of 3000 feet elevation.
3.7 Tables for Altitude Correction
To find the altitude correction for any Latitude and Height at any
particular Date, reference to Table 1 and Table 2 given below is necessary:
First of all find the column in Table 1 corresponding to the desired
Latitude and row in the same table corresponding to its desired height. If the
entry in that row and column is a number (digit) that is the correction in time
in minutes due to altitude. If the entry in the column corresponding to desired
height and latitude in Table No.1 is an alphabet then refer to Table No.2.
Look for the entry in the column corresponding to the respective alphabet
and the row corresponding to the date. The entry in the column is the
correction in time in minutes.
TABLE 1
.LATITUDES IN DEGREES
|
HEIGHT IN |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FEET |
0o |
5o |
10o |
15o |
20o |
25o |
30o |
35o |
40o |
45o |
50o |
55o |
60o |
|
1000 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
F |
|
2000 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
6 |
G |
|
3000 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
B |
H |
|
4000 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
7 |
B |
H |
|
5000 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
6 |
6 |
7 |
7 |
8 |
C |
I |
|
6000 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
7 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
C |
I |
|
7000 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
7 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
C |
J |
|
8000 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
8 |
8 |
9 |
A |
D |
J |
|
9000 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
8 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
A |
D |
K |
|
10000 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
8 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
10 |
A |
D |
K |
|
11000 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
A |
E |
L |
|
30000 |
12 |
12 |
12 |
12 |
13 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
N |
O |
P |
S |
V |
|
31000 |
12 |
12 |
12 |
13 |
13 |
14 |
14 |
15 |
N |
O |
P |
S |
V |
|
32000 |
12 |
12 |
13 |
13 |
13 |
14 |
14 |
M |
N |
O |
P |
S |
V |
|
33000 |
13 |
13 |
13 |
13 |
14 |
14 |
15 |
M |
N |
O |
Q |
S |
W |
|
34000 |
13 |
13 |
13 |
13 |
14 |
14 |
15 |
M |
N |
O |
Q |
S |
W |
|
35000 |
13 |
13 |
13 |
14 |
14 |
14 |
15 |
M |
N |
O |
Q |
T |
W |
|
36000 |
13 |
13 |
13 |
14 |
14 |
15 |
15 |
M |
N |
O |
Q |
T |
X |
|
37000 |
13 |
14 |
14 |
14 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
M |
N |
O |
Q |
T |
X |
|
38000 |
14 |
14 |
14 |
14 |
15 |
15 |
6 |
M |
O |
P |
Q |
T |
X |
|
39000 |
14 |
14 |
14 |
14 |
5 |
15 |
16 |
M |
O |
P |
Q |
T |
Y |
|
40000 |
14 |
14 |
14 |
15 |
15 |
15 |
16 |
M |
O |
P |
R |
U |
Y |
TABLE 2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NORTH |
SOUTH |
A |
B |
C |
D |
E |
F |
G |
H |
I |
J |
K |
L |
M |
|
1-Jan |
2-Jul |
12 |
9 |
12 |
14 |
16 |
6 |
9 |
12 |
15 |
17 |
19 |
20 |
17 |
|
15-Jan |
17-Jul |
12 |
9 |
11 |
13 |
15 |
6 |
8 |
11 |
14 |
16 |
18 |
18 |
17 |
|
1-Feb |
4-Aug |
11 |
8 |
10 |
12 |
14 |
5 |
7 |
10 |
12 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
16 |
|
15-Feb |
19-Aug |
11 |
8 |
9 |
11 |
13 |
5 |
6 |
9 |
11 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
|
1-Mar |
3-Sep |
10 |
7 |
9 |
11 |
12 |
4 |
6 |
8 |
10 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
|
15-Mar |
17-Sep |
10 |
7 |
9 |
11 |
12 |
4 |
6 |
8 |
10 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
|
1-Apr |
4-Oct |
10 |
7 |
9 |
11 |
12 |
4 |
6 |
8 |
10 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
|
15-Apr |
18-Oct |
11 |
8 |
9 |
11 |
13 |
4 |
6 |
9 |
11 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
|
1-May |
3-Nov |
11 |
8 |
10 |
12 |
14 |
5 |
7 |
10 |
12 |
14 |
16 |
17 |
16 |
|
15-May |
16-Nov |
12 |
9 |
11 |
14 |
15 |
6 |
8 |
11 |
14 |
16 |
18 |
19 |
17 |
|
1-Jun |
2-Dec |
13 |
10 |
12 |
15 |
17 |
7 |
10 |
13 |
16 |
19 |
22 |
23 |
17 |
|
15-Jun |
16-Dec |
13 |
10 |
13 |
16 |
18 |
7 |
10 |
14 |
17 |
21 |
23 |
26 |
18 |
|
1-Jul |
1-Jan |
13 |
10 |
13 |
16 |
17 |
7 |
10 |
14 |
17 |
21 |
23 |
25 |
18 |
|
15-Jul |
13-Jan |
12 |
9 |
12 |
15 |
16 |
6 |
9 |
12 |
16 |
18 |
21 |
22 |
17 |
|
1-Aug |
29-Jan |
12 |
9 |
11 |
13 |
15 |
5 |
8 |
10 |
13 |
16 |
18 |
18 |
17 |
|
15-Aug |
11-Feb |
11 |
8 |
10 |
12 |
13 |
5 |
7 |
9 |
12 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
16 |
|
1-Sep |
27-Feb |
10 |
7 |
9 |
11 |
12 |
4 |
6 |
9 |
11 |
12 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
|
15-Sep |
12-Mar |
10 |
7 |
9 |
11 |
12 |
4 |
6 |
8 |
10 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
|
1-Oct |
29-Mar |
10 |
7 |
9 |
11 |
12 |
4 |
6 |
8 |
10 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
|
15-Oct |
12-Apr |
10 |
7 |
9 |
11 |
12 |
4 |
6 |
8 |
10 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
|
1-Nov |
29-Apr |
11 |
8 |
10 |
12 |
13 |
5 |
7 |
9 |
11 |
13 |
15 |
15 |
16 |
|
15-Nov |
14-May |
11 |
8 |
10 |
13 |
14 |
5 |
7 |
10 |
12 |
14 |
16 |
17 |
16 |
|
1-Dec |
30-May |
12 |
9 |
11 |
14 |
15 |
6 |
8 |
11 |
14 |
16 |
18 |
19 |
17 |
|
15-Dec |
14-Jun |
12 |
9 |
12 |
16 |
6 |
9 |
12 |
15 |
17 |
19 |
20 |
17 |
|
TABLE 2 Contd.
|
NORTH |
SOUTH |
N |
O |
P |
Q |
R |
S |
T |
U |
V |
W |
X |
Y |
|
|||||||
|
1-Jan |
2-Jul |
18 |
20 |
21 |
23 |
24 |
26 |
28 |
29 |
33 |
34 |
36 |
37 |
|
|||||||
|
15-Jan |
17-Jul |
17 |
19 |
21 |
22 |
24 |
25 |
17 |
28 |
30 |
32 |
33 |
34 |
|
|||||||
|
1-Feb |
4-Aug |
17 |
18 |
19 |
21 |
22 |
23 |
25 |
26 |
27 |
28 |
29 |
30 |
|
|||||||
|
15-Feb |
19-Aug |
16 |
18 |
19 |
20 |
21 |
22 |
23 |
24 |
25 |
26 |
27 |
28 |
|
|||||||
|
1-Mar |
3-Sep |
16 |
17 |
18 |
20 |
21 |
21 |
22 |
23 |
23 |
25 |
26 |
27 |
|
|||||||
|
15-Mar |
17-Sep |
16 |
17 |
18 |
19 |
20 |
20 |
22 |
23 |
23 |
24 |
25 |
26 |
|
|||||||
|
1-Apr |
4-Oct |
16 |
17 |
18 |
20 |
21 |
21 |
22 |
23 |
24 |
25 |
26 |
27 |
|
|||||||
|
15-Apr |
18-Oct |
16 |
18 |
19 |
20 |
21 |
22 |
23 |
24 |
25 |
26 |
28 |
29 |
|
|||||||
|
1-May |
3-Nov |
17 |
19 |
20 |
22 |
23 |
24 |
26 |
27 |
29 |
30 |
31 |
33 |
|
|||||||
|
15-May |
16-Nov |
18 |
20 |
21 |
23 |
24 |
26 |
28 |
29 |
33 |
35 |
36 |
38 |
|
|||||||
|
1-Jun |
2-Dec |
18 |
21 |
23 |
25 |
26 |
29 |
31 |
33 |
41 |
43 |
45 |
47 |
|
|||||||
|
15-Jun |
16-Dec |
19 |
21 |
24 |
26 |
27 |
31 |
33 |
35 |
46 |
48 |
51 |
53 |
|
|||||||
|
1-Jul |
1-Jan |
19 |
21 |
23 |
26 |
27 |
30 |
33 |
34 |
45 |
47 |
50 |
52 |
|
|||||||
|
15-Jul |
13-Jan |
18 |
20 |
22 |
25 |
26 |
28 |
31 |
32 |
39 |
41 |
43 |
45 |
|
|||||||
|
1-Aug |
29-Jan |
17 |
19 |
21 |
23 |
24 |
26 |
27 |
28 |
32 |
33 |
35 |
36 |
|
|||||||
|
15-Aug |
11-Feb |
17 |
18 |
20 |
21 |
22 |
23 |
25 |
26 |
28 |
29 |
30 |
32 |
|
|||||||
|
1-Sep |
27-Feb |
16 |
17 |
19 |
20 |
21 |
21 |
23 |
24 |
25 |
26 |
27 |
28 |
|
|||||||
|
15-Sep |
12-Mar |
16 |
17 |
18 |
19 |
21 |
21 |
22 |
23 |
23 |
24 |
26 |
27 |
|
|||||||
|
1-Oct |
29-Mar |
16 |
17 |
18 |
19 |
20 |
20 |
22 |
23 |
23 |
24 |
25 |
26 |
|
|||||||
|
15-Oct |
12-Apr |
16 |
17 |
18 |
20 |
21 |
21 |
22 |
23 |
24 |
25 |
26 |
27 |
|
|||||||
|
1-Nov |
29-Apr |
16 |
18 |
19 |
21 |
22 |
22 |
24 |
25 |
26 |
27 |
28 |
29 |
|
|||||||
|
15-Nov |
14-May |
17 |
18 |
20 |
22 |
23 |
24 |
25 |
26 |
28 |
29 |
30 |
32 |
|
|||||||
|
1-Dec |
30-May |
18 |
19 |
21 |
23 |
24 |
25 |
27 |
28 |
31 |
33 |
34 |
35 |
|
|||||||
|
15-Dec |
14-Jun |
18 |
20 |
22 |
23 |
25 |
26 |
28 |
29 |
33 |
35 |
36 |
38 |
||||||||
Example 1: Find the correction for a
place at a height of 9000 feet located in a latitude of 40o N
In table 1
look under the column of 40 and the row of height 9000. The number is 9. Thus 9
minutes should be subtracted from the time of sunrise, Sehar and Fajar and
added to the time of sunset, Maghrib and Isha.
Example 2: Find the difference for an
aero plane flying at a height of 33000 feet at latitude of 50o on 15th
May.
In table 1
the cell in column of 55o and row of 33000 contains the alphabet Q.
Now in table 2 look in the column of Q and row of 15th May. The
entry is 23. Thus sunrise, Sehar and Fajar are 23 minutes earlier and sunset, Maghrib
and Isha are 23 minutes later.
CHAPTER 4
ASTRONOMY
4.1 Need and Importance of Astronomy
The study of positions, motions, sizes, distances etc. of heavenly bodies
is called Astronomy. According to scholars it is desirable and good to study
astronomy as many secrets of the universe are revealed and we recognize the
greatness of Allah (s.w.t.). The Holy Quran, in various verses, directs us to
ponder about the heavenly bodies. It becomes easier to understand and preach
religious matters by the study of astronomy e.g. times of prayers, direction of
Qibla etc.
It must be noted that astrology is different from astronomy. Astrologers
forecast the future with the help of stars. There is no room in Islam for this.
It is entirely base less, haram and shirks. On the other hand astronomy is a
formal branch of science and that studies with
the help of mathematics. We appreciate, and recognize the greatness and power
of Allah (s.w.t.) by studying it.
It depends on the intention by which knowledge is obtained. If the
intention is good, then with the blessing of Allah (s.w.t.) the knowledge
becomes a tool to understand and spread the message of Allah (s.w.t.) and the
Quran.
The study of astronomy is good but to relate it with fortune telling is
unislamic and leads to kufar.
Hazrat Ibrahim was born in a tribe which worshipped stars and idols.
There were many idols in the
سبحان الله وبحمده سبحان الله العظيم
Light year: Students of
Physics and Astronomy know very well that light travels at a speed of 186,000
miles or 299,792 km per second. The distance traveled by light in one year is
called a light year. A light year is 9 trillion 46 billion kilometers long. The
diameter of our galaxy is 100,000 light years. The galaxy NGC 2207 in our
cluster of galaxies is at a distance of 1 billion 141 million light years away.
You can imagine the vastness of our universe and the greatness of Allah
(s.w.t.) who created it. Although as compared to the vastness and expansion of
the Universe and Cosmos our position is insignificant, but the entire Universe
and each and every thing has been created for us. So we should think and decide
what for we have been created and how long we are going to stay in this
perishable and tiny world and what is our final destination where we will live
forever and for ever after our worldly life.
سبحان الله
وبحمده سبحان الله العظيم
4.2 Solar System
The surface temperature of the sun is 5500o C. At the centre
its temperature is 15,000,000o C. Its gravity is 27 times the
gravity of the earth. There are thousands of galaxies containing billions of
stars like the sun. In our galaxy there are about 5 billion stars.
There are 9
planets revolving around the sun. The nearest planet is Mercury. Other planets
in order of their increasing distance from the sun are Venus, The earth, Mars,
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto.
The sun and all the
bodies revolving around it due to its gravitation form the solar system. The
sun is a hot star. Hydrogen gas is being converted in its centre into Helium
gas creating atomic energy. The sun is 1.3 million times larger than the earth.
The average distance between the earth and the sun is 150,000,000 km. All the
planets revolve around the sun due to its attraction. There are about 44
satellites (moons) that revolve around planets. Thousands of asteroids and
comets also revolve around the sun. All these objects form the solar system
which in Urdu is called “Nizam e Shamsi”.
Life on planets: Recent research
indicates that there is no possibility of life anywhere other than the earth.
In some planets the atmosphere is too thin or too dense. Some planets are
extremely cold while some are very hot e.g. on Mercury the temperature on the
night side is – 289o F and on the sun lit side 801o. In
some planets all life will freeze and on others it will be burned to ashes.
Mars is the only planet on which some sort of life may exist. But nothing can
be said with certainty. We do not know where and how many solar systems Allah
(s.w.t.) has created in the universe.
Heat of the sun does
not reach to the outer planets so extreme cold persists there. On Pluto
temperature is always – 387o F. Thus the earth is the only planet on
which life is possible. Allah (s.w.t.) sent the Holy Prophet (peace be upon
him) here for the benefit of entire mankind.
Motions of the sun: It is our
experience that when we travel in a train all the trees appear to us as running
backwards. Actually the trees are not running but we are traveling forward.
Similarly we observe that the sun is moving. But actually the earth is moving.
Every one knows that the sun rises in the east, comes overhead and sets in the
west causing day and night. According to astronomers day and night are not
caused due to the motion of the sun but due to the rotation of the earth.
وَٱلشَّمۡسُ تَجۡرِى لِمُسۡتَقَرٍّ۬ لَّهَاۚ ذَٲلِكَ
تَقۡدِيرُ ٱلۡعَزِيزِ ٱلۡعَلِيمِ (٣٨ ) { یسٓ
36}
Translation: And the Sun runs his course
for a period determined for him: that is the decree of (Him) the Exalted in
Might, the All-Knowing. (38)
The sun has three types of motions:
- Motion with the galaxy (The Milky
Way)
- Its own motion inside the galaxy
- Rotation around its axis
Motion with galaxy: The galaxy in which
our sun is located (the Milky Way) is rotating around its centre like a
gigantic wheel. The sun is moving with it at a speed of 250 km/sec.
Motion inside Milky Way: All stars
inside a galaxy are moving, so is the sun. Inside the Milky Way the sun is
moving with a speed of 19 km/sec i.e. 68,400 km/hour.
Axial rotation: The sun is rotating around
its axis as well completing one rotation in a period of 25.4 days.
It takes the
sun 220 billion years to make one complete revolution around the centre of the
galaxy. It is called a galactic year.
Motion of planets
The planets also have three
types of motions.
- Motion along with the sun around the
galaxy and inside it.
- Motion around the sun in elliptic
orbits. The time taken by a planet to make one complete revolution around
the sun is called its sidereal
period or length of year for that planet. The speed with which they
move around the sun is called orbital
speed.
- Rotation
around their axes. The time taken by a planet to make on complete
rotation on its axis is called the rotation
period and the speed with which a point on its equator moves is called
rotational speed.
Motions
of the earth
The earth also has three types of motions.
- Motion around its axis (daily
rotation of the earth
- Motion
with the sun around the galaxy with a speed of 250 km/sec.
·
Motion around the sun in elliptic orbit. The length of the orbit is
569,610,000 miles or 959,000,000 km. When it is nearest the sun, its distance
is 91.5 million miles or 147.1 million kilometers. When the earth is farthest
from the sun, the distance becomes 94.5 million miles or 152.1 million
kilometers. There is summer on that part of the earth which is tilted towards
the sun and winter on the other part.
Orbital
speed: The earth is moving around the sun with a speed of 18.51 miles/sec
or 29.79 km/sec which amounts to 66636 miles/hour or 107244 km/hour.
Solar year: The earth makes one
complete revolution around the sun in 365 day 6 hours 9 minutes and 9.54
seconds. This is called a solar year.
The earth is traveling with a speed of 18.5 miles/sec completing one revolution
in about 365 days and 6 hours. After 4 years the 6 hour difference combines to
form a day. So every fourth year is a leap year having 366 days.
3. Rotation around axis. The earth is almost a sphere rotating around
its axis once in 24 hours causing day and night. At any given time the rays of
the sun fall on half the earth where there is day. The other side, the night
side, is dark. Each part of the earth gradually comes in front of the sun
causing the day to begin and another part moves away from it causing night. The
earth rotates through 360 degrees in 24 hours. Every part moves one degree in 4
minutes.
Rotating
speed
A point on the earth at equator is moving at a speed of 17.29 miles/sec
(27.82 km/sec) or 103756 miles/hour (166979 km/sec).
The plane in
which the earth is moving around the sun is called ecliptic. It appears to us that the sun is moving around the earth
in the ecliptic.
The sun (The centre of the solar system):
Average distance from the earth 92.96
million miles
149.6
million km.sec
Orbital speed 250
km/sec
Rotation period 25.04 earth days.
Distance from galactic centre 30.000
light years.
Temperature at centre 15
million degrees C.
Temperature at surface 5500o C.
Volume 1,300,000 times the earth.
Time in which light travels to the earth 8 minutes 20 seconds.
Mass 330,000
times the earth.
Gases 75%
Hydrogen,
25%
Helium.
Speed of light 186,000
miles/sec.
Number of major planets 9.
4.3 Expanse of the Universe
Changes are continually taking place in the universe. Usually we decide
the volume, area etc. of a body by its length, breadth and height. But for a
star or a cluster of stars only its length, breadth and height are not
sufficient. To measure the universe we have to consider the time along with
these dimensions because whenever an event takes place in a star, we have to
consider both space and time to describe it completely.
The universe is so
vast that the usual units of length which we use on the earth are too small. We
use the following two units to measure the distances in the universe:
1. Light Year
2. Parsec
A light year has been explained. A parsec is 3.6 light years long. The
universe has been seen through telescopes up to 2 billion light years. The
Universe is not static, it is continuously in motion. The galaxies are moving
away from each other with very high speeds. Even if we make a telescope a
thousand times larger then the 200 inch telescope, we will not be able to see
to the extreme of the universe. It can be said that the universe is infinite.
Its end has not yet been discovered. You can imagine the vastness of the
universe. Our galaxy is 100,000 light years across. There are billions of such
galaxies in the universe. Allah (s.w.t.) is great. His greatness is beyond our
imagination.
Some
astronomical terms
Stars:
Stars are the heavenly bodies that emit their own light.
Planets:
They do not emit their own light but reflect the light of the sun e.g. the
earth, Mars, Saturn etc.
Moons:
Bodies revolving around planets are called the moons or
Satellites: There is one moon around the earth. There is more than
one moon around Mars, Jupiter, Saturn etc. All the moons are smaller than their
parent planet.
Comets:
It is a body which has a long tail. A comet has a nucleus and a very long tail.
Meteorites:
They are small stony objects revolving around the sun. When a meteorite comes
near the earth, it is attracted to the earth, falls towards it and starts
burning in the atmosphere due to friction of the air. They emit a streak of
light. A common person assumes that a star is falling. Mostly they are burnt in
the atmosphere but a few larger one reach the surface of the earth. They are
called meteoroids.
The
Milky Way: The system of several billion stars of which the sun is also a
member is called the Galaxy or the Milky Way. In clear night it is visible as a
white band across the sky. Our galaxy is rotating around its centre completing
one rotation in 200 billion years. There are billions of similar galaxies in
the universe.
Sunspots:
At some places on the surface of the sun the temperature become less than the
surroundings. These parts look like dark black circles (spots) on the sun. They
are called the sun spots. In size some of them are many times larger than the
earth. Sometimes signal transmission on the earth is disturbed by them. They
disturb the radio transmission. They also interfere with telegraph and
television signals. They produce changes in weather and magnetic field of the
earth as well.
Solar
flares: Some parts of the sun suddenly increase in brightness up to 10
times the normal surface. This brightness spreads rapidly to several thousand
miles. They are called solar flares. They also affect the transmission system
on the earth.
Solar Prominences: The sun ejects hot
gases with high velocities. The gases rise thousands of miles from the surface
of the sun and then fall back forming a loop. They are called solar
prominences. In 1947 a prominence erupted from the sun with a speed of 400,000
miles /hour and reached a height of 250,000 miles in about half an hour.
4.4 The Planets
The scale of the solar
system can be imagined from the following model:
If the distance
between the sun and Mercury be 30 feet, then Venus will be 55 feet, the earth
80 feet, Jupiter 400 feet, Saturn 740 feet, Uranus 1565 feet, Neptune 2330 feet
and Pluto will be 3085 feet away. The diameter of the solar system is
7,400,000,000 miles.
Mercury: This planet is closest to the
sun. It shows phases like the moon. It is the second smallest planet after
Pluto. Its average distance from the sun is 36 million miles. Due to closeness
to the sun the temperature on the side facing the sun is very high. Due to its
small size, it does not have enough gravity to posses an atmosphere. Its
diameter is 3100 miles. It completes one complete revolution around the sun in
88 days which is the length of its year. It completes one rotation around its
axis in 58.6 days which is the length of the day on Mercury. Thus on Mercury
there are 3 days in 2 years. Its orbital speed is 30 miles/sec. Its orbit is
highly elliptic. Its maximum distance from the sun is 43 million miles and
minimum distance 29 million miles. It is nearer to the sun than the earth, so
is visible immediately after sunset as evening star or immediately before
sunrise as a morning star. Its axis is perpendicular to its orbital plane so
there are no seasons on Mercury. Temperature on day side rises up to 872o
F and on night side falls down to -298oF. The day side is very hot
and the night side is very cold.
There being no atmosphere, the meteorite fall on the surface. Mercury has
more iron ratio than any other planet. According to mass it has 65% to 70% iron
and according to volume 45%. Its core is made up of iron. The core is
surrounded by 700 km of thick layer of rock. Its average density is about the density
of the earth. It is the only planet where magnetic field exists though it is
weaker than the earth’s magnetic field.
It shows phases.
When nearer to the earth it looks like a crescent and when farthest its phase
is full. It has no moon.
About
Iron: In the Holy Qur'an, the last revealed book of Allah (s.w.t.), it is
clearly mentioned that Iron was sent down. In other words, iron is not a
material of the earth. It was dropped from the other heavenly body. The Qur’an
is perfect and true. There is no ambiguity. This is a fact which is now proved
by the modern scientists and research scholars- it is a fact.
Venus: It is the second planet of the
solar system and our nearest neighbour planet. It is the brightest planet. It
is also visible only as an evening or a morning star at sufficient altitude. It
also shows phases. Its diameter is 7850 miles and average distance from the sun
is 67 million miles. It completes one revolution around the sun in 225 days
with a speed of 22 miles/sec. When it comes closest to the earth, it is said to
be at inferior conjunction and when
farthest at superior conjunction. A
few days before inferior conjunction it becomes so bright that it casts shadows
on the earth and it is possible to see it in day time near the sun.
The Earth: The earth is almost
spherical and moves around the sun and around its own axis. If we travel in an
aero plane to the west, we will reach
The equatorial radius of the earth is
6378 km and the polar radius is 6357 km. It is not a complete sphere. It is a
flattened near the poles. Its ellipticity is 1/297 { (6378 – 6357)/6378}. The
earth is moving around the sun with an average speed of 29.8 km/sec (18.51
miles/sec). At least 11.2 km/sec speed is needed to escape from the gravity of
the earth. The earth completes one rotation around its axis in 23 hours 56
minutes.
Mars: Mars and the remaining planets
have their own orbits outside the orbit of the earth. They are called superior planets. All such planets have
two special positions.
·
The sun comes in between
the planet and the earth. The planet is behind the sun and is not visible. Its
distance from the earth is maximum. The planet rises at day time and is always
very close to the sun therefore it cannot be seen. This position is called superior conjunction.
·
The earth is in between the
planet and the sun. The distance of the planet from the earth is minimum. When
the sun sets, the planet rises; it is visible all night, transits at mid night
and has maximum brightness. This position is called opposition.
Mars is the nearest superior planet. Its diameter is 4270 miles and
average distance from the sun is 142 million miles. Its orbit is elliptic. Its
minimum distance from the sun is 141.5 million miles and maximum distance 143.5
million miles. It comes closest to the earth (in opposition) after about every
two years. Its minimum distance from the earth varies between 35 and 65 million
miles due to elliptic orbit. At opposition sometimes it appears very bright
(called favourable oppositions) and
sometimes dimmer. Favourable oppositions occur after every 15 to 17 years in
August or September. This planet is called red planet.
Its rotation period is 24.5 days. A day on Mars is 37 minutes longer
than the day on the earth. It moves around the sun with a speed of 15 miles/sec
completing one revolution in 687 days. It has a very rare atmosphere having a
maximum height of 8 miles. Its surface has many craters. Ice caps have been
observed in
Its equator is inclined to the ecliptic at an angle of 1.9o
and its axis makes an angle 25.2o. Its atmosphere consists of a very
thin layer of carbon dioxide having traces of Nitrogen, Oxygen, Argon and Xenon
gases. Surface temperature varies between – 6o F to – 191o
F. Water vapors in the atmosphere of Mars is one thousandth part of that on the
earth. Even then, they form thin clouds and fog in the morning. The surface
indicates that there was water on it in remote past. There are remains of
lakes, rivers and falls. There are short lasting storm in its atmosphere.
The apparent
angular diameter of Mars varies from 3.5 ` to 2.5` due to changes in distance
from the earth. When it is nearest the earth, it is 55 times brighter than the
pole star. Except Venus, no planet or star can compete with it.
It moves around the
sun east wards. For about a year it appears to move east relative to stars.
When its elongation becomes 137o it appears to stop. This is called stationary point. Then it starts moving
backwards i.e. west wards called retrograde
motion. At opposition retrograde motion becomes
very rapid. Then it slows down, again becomes stationary and then starts moving
east wards. It is due to the fact that orbital speed of Mars is less than that
of the earth. All superior planets have stationary point and retrograde
motions.
It also shows phases but its phase never becomes less
than ½ i.e. it never becomes crescent.
The year of
Mars is longer than that of the earth. So the lengths of seasons are also
longer. Spring season is 191 days long, Summer 181 days, Autumn 149 and Winter
season is 147 days long. Like the surface of the earth, the surface of Mars has
mountains and volcanoes. The Martian mountains are as high as 20.18 miles. Its
poles have a thin ice cap. So far no life has been discovered on Mars.
Mars has two moons. One is called Phobos. It is 6 km in diameter. Its
distance form Mars is 5500 miles. It completes one revolution in 7 hours and 39
minutes. It rises in the west and sets in the east. The second moon is called
Deimos. Its diameter is 3 km and completes a revolution in 30 hours 21 minutes.
Mass of Mars is 10.8% that of the
earth and density 37.6% of the earth.
Jupiter: It is the largest planet in
the solar system. It is 480 million miles from the sun even then it appears
very bright due to its large size. It appears equally bright almost throughout
the year. Despite its distance, it competes with Venus in brightness. In telescope, clouds are visible in its
atmosphere consisting mostly of Hydrogen gas. These are clouds of ammonia gas
and methane and not of water vapors. This atmosphere is not suitable for any
type of life. Some surface features including a red spot are visible through
telescopes. Diameter of Jupiter is 89300 miles and it moves around the sun with
a speed of 8 miles/sec completing one revolution in 12 years. It has 12 moons
(more have been discovered by space ships. They are very small). In an ordinary
telescope four of them are visible. The volume of Jupiter is 1300 times that of
the earth and its mass is 318 times. Its density is one fourth compared to the
density of the earth. It is the fifth planet in order of distance from the sun
but first in order of size.
There is a large space between Mars and Jupiter. Some astronomers believe
that there was once a planet in this region which was smashed to pieces for
some unknown reasons. The pieces are rotating around the sun and are called
asteroids. Some of them fall on the earth. It gets heated due to friction in
the earths sphere, starts burning and appear as falling stars.
Diameter of Jupiter at equator is 142,984 km and at poles133, 875 km. In
a telescope it appears flattened at the poles. The atmosphere of Jupiter
consists of 89% hydrogen and 11% helium. Some other gases are also present in
small quantities. In 100,000 parts there are 2000 parts of methane, 200 parts
ammonia, 205 parts deuterium Isotope of hydrogen) and one part water vapors. In
such unfriendly atmosphere the possibility of life is almost nil. Atmospheric
pressure is 100 times that on the earth.
In a telescope, lines parallel to its
equator are visible together with some other spots. The great red spot is very
famous. It is 3 times larger than our earth and is an object of research for
several years.
Saturn: It is the sixth planet of the
solar system and second according to size. It was known since ancient times and
was famous for its yellow color and slow motion among stars. It is perhaps the
most beautiful object in the universe.
Three flat bright rings are rotating around its equator. Each of them
consists of millions of particles and pieces of rocks, dust and ice. The
atmosphere of this planet is very high. It is colder than Jupiter and
possibility of life is very remote. There are 9 moons revolving around it. (More
have been discovered by space ships. They are very small).
Its diameter
is 75,000 miles and mean distance from the sun is 886 million miles. Moving
with 6 miles/sec, it makes one revolution around the sun in 30 years. It also
moves eastwards, stops, starts retrograde motion backwards (west wards), again
stops and changes the direction of motion again. Due to its slow speed other
planets keep overtaking it.
Volume of Saturn is 820 times the volume of the earth and mass is 95
times that of the earth. Its density is 1/8th density of the earth
i.e. less than density of water. If a piece of Saturn is put in a vessel of
water, it will float in it.
The width of
the 3 rings is 40,000 miles but their thickness is not more than 10 miles. The
rings appear very beautiful through telescope.
Saturn is the second largest planet in the solar system but it is smaller
than Jupiter. Its equatorial diameter is 119980 km (74552 miles) and polar
diameter 107982 km. (67097 miles). Like Jupiter it is also flattened at the
poles. Its axis is inclined to its orbital plane at an angle of 26.75o.
Its orbit makes an angle 2.5o with the ecliptic.
It rotates around its axis in 10 hours and 14 minutes near the equator.
The period is less in higher latitudes. The earth is solid so it rotates with
same speed at all points but Saturn is not solid so its rotational speed is not
constant. The weight of a body on Saturn is 7% more than its weight on the
earth.
Its albado is 0.5. Ten moons revolve around it (more have been discovered by
space ships. They are very small). One of its moons, Titan, is almost twice as
large as the earth’s moon. It completes one revolution around Saturn in 16
days. Astronomers believe that its atmospheric conditions on Titan resemble
those of the earth in primitive stage.
Due to large distance of Saturn from the sun its temperature is very
low. Its surface temperature is – 179o
C and atmospheric pressure is 60% more than that on the earth.
Axis of
Saturn makes an angle 27o with its plane. Almost for 15 years we see
the upper parts of the rings and for 15 years the lower part. Twice in 30 years
the rings almost disappear as they appear only as a line. When the rings are
wide, Saturn is the most beautiful object to observe with a telescope. It is
called the prince of heavenly bodies. In 2002 the rings were wide open.
Initially three rings were known but
the space ship Pioneer discovered four more in 1979. The newly discovered rings
are so dim that they cannot be observed from the earth. The nearest D ring begins
at a distance 66711 km from Saturn, B ring at 92000, C ring at a distance 64520
km, a ring at 122170, F ring at 140180 and G ring at 166000 km. The rings are
not named according to their distances from Saturn but in order of their
discovery. There are gaps in the rings visible in a telescope called Cassini’s
divisions. If the photographs of the rings taken from space ships from close
range are seen, it is observed that there are hundreds of rings. The
classification in seven rings is a rough one.
Uranus: Uranus was discovered by
William Hershel in 1781. Its diameter is 32600 miles and average distance from
the sun is 178 million miles (287 million km.). Travelling with speed of 4
miles/sec, it completes one revolution around the sun in 84 years. It rotates
around its axis once in 17.24 hours. Five moons revolve around it (more have
been discovered by space ships. They are very small).
It is dimly visible to the naked eye. Early astronomers knew planets only
up to Saturn. In astrology only planets up to Saturn are used. Uranus was the
first planet to be discovered. Up to 1781, Uranus was regarded a star. In
ancient Bermese book of astrology a planet Radho is mentioned along with sun,
the moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. Perhaps it was Uranus. But
Europeans, knowingly or unknowingly, have credited William Herschel with its
discovery.
William
Herschel was a musician in
Its equatorial
diameter is 32600 mile (50791 km) and polar diameter is 31045 miles (48354 km)
Its mass is 14.54 times the earth’s mass and density 30% that of the earth. Its
axis makes an angle of 97.9o with its orbital plane. Thus it almost
lies on its orbital plane. Its orbital plane is inclined to the ecliptic at an
angle 0.77o.
Neptune: Mathematicians found that the
orbit of Uranus was slightly different from the orbit calculated
mathematically. They thought that some other planet was disturbing it. They
calculated the orbit and position of the unknown planet. The planet
Its diameter
is 30900 miles and average distance from the sun is 279 million miles. Eight moons
revolve around it (more have been discovered by space ships. They are very
small). It completes one rotation around its axis in 19 hours. Moving with a
speed of 3 miles/sec, it completes one revolution around the sun in 165 years.
Cloud formation can be seen on it.
Discovery of Neptune created a sensation in the history of astronomy.
Mathematicians observed the discrepancies in the orbit of Uranus and using
Equatorial diameter
of Neptune is 48766 km and its volume is 5774 times that of the earth but its
mass is only 17.147 times that of the earth. This is due to low density of
Pluto: It was discovered in 1930. It
has a diameter of 1413 miles. Its average distance from the sun is 370 million
miles. Its orbital speed is 1.5 miles/sec. It makes one revolution around the
sun in 250 years. It is the only planet whose orbital plane is vastly different
from the rotational planes of other planets.
The existence
of
The mass of
the earth is 400 times that of Pluto. It rotates around its axis in 6 days. It
has one moon. Its orbit is highly elliptic having eccentricity 0.248. It is
thought that Pluto is the outer most planets. But its orbit intersects the
orbit of
Pluto appears as a star of magnitude 13.7. Its atmosphere consists of
Nitrogen. There is 0.5% to 1.5% methane and some carbon dioxide. Its axis is
tilted at an angle of 122o. Its distance from the sun is 40 times
the distance of the earth from the sun. From Pluto the sun appears as a bright
star. The size of the sun as seen from Pluto is 1/40th of the size
of the full moon as seen from the earth. The sunlight on Pluto is 1/1500 times
the sunlight on the earth.
If the mass of the
earth is 1000 units, the mass of Pluto is about 3 units. It is a completely
frozen world having a rocky core.
Comets/Meteors
and asteroids
Comet:
The word comet is derived from Latin word cometa meaning long
haired. Comets are not stars. They do not have their own light. They keep
changing their positions relative to stars and move around the sun in highly
elliptic orbits. Some times they come very close to the sun and at others move
further away than Pluto. When they come nearer the sun their speed increases in
accordance with Kepler’s law, and when they move away from the sun their speed
decreases.
A comet has
three parts:
- Head
- Nucleus and
- Tail.
Nucleus is the central part and
consists of solid matter. It is surrounded by gases forming the head or coma.
The tail is made up of gas and dust. It is millions of mile long and has a very
low density. It is so rare that stars are visible through it. The tail always
points away from the sun and becomes longer as the comet comes closer to the
sun.
Asteroids
or minor planets: These are thousand of rocky objects moving around the sun
between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. Their diameters vary from a few feet to
a few miles. When an asteroid comes near the earth, it enters the earth’s
atmosphere and starts burning due to the resistance of air. It is called a meter or a falling star, Shahabus-
Saqib. If it reaches the earth it is called a meteorite.
Some famous stars:
Pole star: It is situated in the constellation of small bear (Ursa Minor). The constellation
consists of 7 stars which form the shape of a bear. The pole star is at the
tail of the small bear. In astronomy it is called Alpha Ursa minoris. The
entire sky appears to rotate around it.
Opposite it is another constellation (Binatun-
Nash) called Great Bear (Ursa Major). It also looks like a bear or a plough.
Two of its stars called pointers always point towards the pole star.
Canopus: It is a bright star in the constellation of Carina. Carina
begins from 53o S and extends further south.
Procyan: It is the brightest star in the constellation of Canis
Minor (Small Dog). This constellation is visible in winter. It transits after
mid night in mid January. The constellation Orion is east of it, Gemini in the
north, Canis Major (Big Dog) in its south and Leo to its west.
Table of minimum and maximum
distances of planets from the earth in km/miles
The moon Saturn
Max.
407,000 (253,000) 1,646,000,000 (1,023,000,000)
Min 357,000 (222,000) 1,244,000,000 (773,000,000)
Mercury Uranus
Max. 220,317,000 (136,900,000) 3,132,000,000 (1,946,000,000)
Min. 79,000,000 (49,100,000) 2,565,000,000 (1,594,000,000)
Venus
Max. 259,000,000 (160,900,000) 4,652,580,000 (2,891,000,000)
Min. 39,750,000 (24,700,000) 4,271,000,000 (2,654,000,000)
Mars Pluto
Max 397,500,000 (247,000,000) 7,251,500,000 (4,506,000,000).
Min. 55,000,000 (34,000,000) 4,192,300,000 (2,605,000,000)
Jupiter
Max 960,700,000 (597,000.000).
Min. 582,600,000 (362,000,000)
Table of
Planetary Data (from p 179 of book)
4.5 Circles on the Celestial Sphere
There
1. Great Circles: The circles whose planes pass through the centre of
the sphere are called great circles. Every great circle divides the sphere in
two equal parts. All meridians of longitude are great circles.
2. Small circles: Circles whose planes do not pass through the centre
of the sphere are called small circles.
All great
circles have the same centre, same radius and same circumference. But small
circles do not have these properties. All parallel of latitudes and parallel of
declinations except the equator are small circles.
A line through
the centre of the circle perpendicular to its plane intersects the sphere in
two points called the poles of the
circle.
A great circle
passing through the poles of another great circle is called secondary circle. A great circle and
its secondary intersect at right angle.
C
R P
Q
B O
A
E
D
In the above figure AB is a
great circle. C and D are its poles.
Some important great circles on Celestial Sphere which
are used in calculation of prayer times and determination of direction of Qibla
are given below:
1. Celestial
Equator: The plane perpendicular to axis of rotation of the earth
intersects the celestial sphere in a great circle called celestial equator. Its
pole in the north hemisphere is called the North Pole and the one in the south
hemisphere, the South Pole. When the sun is on the celestial equator lengths of
days and night are equal. The North Pole is almost at the pole star. The
celestial equator passes through the east and the west points. Its plane
intersects the earth in a great circle called terrestrial equator. In the following figure AB is equator. N is
the north pole, S the South Pole.
Diurnal circles: These are small circles parallel to celestial
equator. All heavenly bodies appear to move on these small circles due to the
earth’s rotation. PQ is a diurnal circle.
2. Ecliptic: The plane in which the sun appears to move around the
earth intersects the celestial sphere in a great circle called the ecliptic. In the figure CD is the
ecliptic.
The sun, the moon and planets
move on or near the ecliptic. The ecliptic and celestial equator intersect at
two points called equinoxes (E and
F). The point E where the sun passes from the south to the north of the equator
is called Vernal Equinox and the
point F where the sun passes from the north to the south is called Autumnal equinox. The points where the
sun is at maximum distance from equator are called solstices. C is the summer
solstice and D is the winter solstice.
The 12 zodiacal constellations are spread around the ecliptic.
Small circles parallel to the
ecliptic are called parallels of
celestial latitude. RS is a parallel of celestial latitude.
3.
The arc of the great circle
between the ecliptic and the equator i.e. arc AC is called the obliquity of the ecliptic. Its present
value is 23o 27’.
N
R
C
S F Ecliptic
Obliquity of
B A ecliptic
D E
Q P
S
4. Horizon: The plane of horizon intersects the celestial equator in a
great circle called observer’s horizon
or simply horizon. One of its poles
is exactly over the head of the observer called the zenith. The other pole is called Nadir. It divides the celestial sphere in two parts. All heavenly
bodies above the horizon are visible to us and bodies below the horizon are
hidden. The horizon intersects the celestial equator in the East and the West
points.
If an observer stands on a level ground, the perpendicular to the ground
through the head of the observer intersects the celestial sphere in Zenith. The
other point of intersection below his feet is Nadir.
Right
ascension and declination
To find the
position of a heavenly body, we take a reference point and a reference circle
on the celestial sphere and locate the body by means of distances from the
point and the circle. Vernal equinox is taken as the reference point and
celestial equator as reference circle.
Declination
of a body is the arc measured along the meridian through the body from the
equator to the body.
Right
ascension is the arc length measured from Vernal equinox along the equator to
the point where the meridian through the body intersects the equator. It is
measured from 0o to 360o east or from 0 hour to 24 hours.
Z (zenith) P (North Celestial Pole)
Star *
Diurnal Circle
Ecliptic
Equator
Equator
Horizon A
Vernal Equinox Declination
Sun sets Right Asension
Sun rises N (Nadir) Q (South C. Pole)
CHAPTER 5
Subahe sadiq and subahe kazib
PHOTOGRAPH OF ZOIDIACAL LIGHT
5.1 Subahe
Sadiq and Subahe Kazib
In all the following discussions and in the remaining book Subahe Sadiq
will be referred to as dawn and
Subah e Kazib as false dawn.
The Problem: Signs of dawn have been described by our
Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) in Ahadees e Nabvi. In this context let us
discuss the following:
At what time azan (call for prayer) for Fajar prayer (following ancient
charts) is given in Indo Pak sub continents for centuries?
What is the form and shape of the light on the horizon at dawn when azan e
Fajar is given?
How far the light appearing at that time agrees with the signs of dawn?
- What is the time that can be taken
as dawn, the beginning of time of Fajar and end of Sehar?
- What is false dawn? What is the
difference between dawn and false dawn? What is the shape of light at
false dawn?
Elongate tail like
Reflected
light of
False
dawn. Zodiacal
light
Observer
Sun more than 18o below
Horizon
If we discuss the above questions critically in the light of
observations, comments and explanations of scholars, it will be helpful in
understanding and solving the problem. Answers to these questions are given in
following pages.
Ancient Charts
(Calendars) For Prayer Times and Dawn
In all charts
and calendar used in Indo Pak, one thing is common. They take the time of dawn
(beginning time for Fajar and end time of Sehar) when the centre of the sun is
18o below horizon.
In common man’s language, the time in ancient charts for dawn is the time
when the centre of the sun is at a point below the horizon from where it has to
travel another 18o in order to reach the horizon. At this time some
light reaches the horizon by reflection.
This instant when the sun is 18o below horizon and its light
spreads on the horizon by reflection in the atmosphere, is called the beginning
of astronomical twilight. All recent and ancient astronomers take this instant
as the beginning of day.
It is
important to note that in the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, the payer charts
in use also consider as the instant of beginning of astronomical twilight when
the centre of the sun is 18o below horizon as beginning time for
Fajar.
Ancient and recent astronomers have described the time of beginning of
astronomical twilight as:
انحطاط الشمس تحت الأفق متى كان ثمانية عشر جزء
وكان ذالك وقت طلوع الفجر في المشرق Translation: The degeneration of the sun under the
horizon when he was eighteen parts and that was the dawn time in the East.
Abu Rehan Al Beruni Has Described This Time
as Dawn
Famous astronomer and mathematician Al Beruni had 1000 years ago defined
the instant when the sun is 18o below horizon as the beginning of
day. In Encyclopedia Britannica it is clearly written that since the 11th
century no one, despite their full efforts, has been able to alter the fact
that the day begins when the sun is 18o below the horizon.
Astronomers
have given special emphasis to the time when the sun is 18o below
the horizon. They have described the light appearing on the eastern horizon at
this instant as:
- As soon as the centre of the sun
reaches 18o below horizon, a light appears on the eastern
horizon.
- At that instant a light in the form
of an arc or semi circular in shape spreads on the horizon after being
reflected from the earth’s atmosphere.
- There is a dim red tint in the
light.
- The light appearing at that instant
continuously increases. The brightness of the light and the brightness in
the region increases. The intensity of the light also increases without
any fluctuation.
- At this instant the light is and was
never been in the form of a conical pillar or in the shape of a pyramid of
- This light is slightly reddish in
color which increases continuously.
- Internationally,
this instant of 18o below horizon has been recognized as the
time which separates day from the night. So “it is
the instant or point of separation between day and night”.
5.2 Determination of Prayer Timings
When we trace historical records we find that
Muslims were the first who attempted to determine the timings of' 
AI
Fajru 'I Kadhib', & 
Al Fajru's Sadiq' , sunrise, sunset and mid-day
timings etc., because it was their utmost need. The first " obligatory
service “Salatul Fajr” 
is
performable from the appearance of the
'Subhe Sadiq' i.e., the 'True dawn' to which modern astronomers consider
to be the time of the beginning of
‘Astronomical Twilight'.
This is the time when the first signs of
light, as has been described and explained in the Holy Qur’an and traditions of
the Prophet, (peace be upon him), just begin to appear all along the eastern
horizon. At this particular moment illumination appears just like a white
thread on the eastern horizon, quite distinct from the black thread of the dark
background of the night sky. This is the time when (at the most initial
beginning time of astronomical twilight), indirect, diffracted and scattered
light of the morning sun spreads on the eastern horizon. This illumination constantly
increases without any break till sunrise.
Prayer timings
·
Although, the 'Salatul Fajr' 
can be offered up to the time of sunrise, it
is, therefore, a must for Muslims to know and accurately determine the exact
initial time of Subhe-Sadiq. Moreover
'Sowm' (i.e., fasting particularly during the Holy Month of Ramadan) too,
begins from the time of ‘AI Fajrus
Sadiq' and ends at the time of sunset. It also invited the immediate attention
of Muslims to ascertain the timings of 'Subhe Sadiq', sunrise and sunset.
·
Similarly, for Salatu-Zuhr (afternoon prayer),
which is also a mandatory prayer, it is necessary for Muslims to determine the
time of Ephemeris Transit - i.e., the time of 'Zawal' 
, when the sun reaches its zenith and when the
shadow of any object is at its least This is also known as 'Saya-Asli' or the
'Real Shadow'. Prayers are forbidden at the time of Zawal. Since the time of
Salatu-Zuhr begins after Zawal, the time of mid-day is also a matter of prime
importance for Muslims to determine.
·
'Misl-e-Awal' 
is the time when the shadow of a stick or any
object is equal to its size plus the length of the least shadow cast by it at
the time of Zawal. This is the time of
·
As for 'Misl-e-Sani' 
, it is the time when the shadow of the stick
or any object is equal to double its size plus the least shadow cast at the
time of Zawal (mid-day).
·
The Salatul Isha (night mandatory prayer) too,
is offered when the reddishness of the evening twilight disappears. According
to the Hanafi Maslak, the time of Isha prayer begins when all sorts of
illumination of twilight (Both red and white Shafaq-e-Ahmer &
Sha-faq-e-Abyed) disappears from the western horizon.
So we observe that
all the mandatory and obligatory prayers are in some way or the other, related
with the timings. This practice develops the habit of punctuality, regularity,
and devotion and sub-mission to Allah Almighty.
As for the time of' AI-Fajrus
Sadiq', there is a necessity to accurately observe the commencement of 'Dawn'
i.e., 'True Dawn' - 
'Subhe, Sadiq' and distinguish with any other
phenomena that may be mistaken for it.
Muslims gave
different names to these different types of illuminations. In Arabic 'AI Fajrul
Kadhib' or 'As-Subh-e-Kazib' is termed 
'Zanabus Sirhan' - identical in meaning with
'Dum-e-Gurg' 
of
Persian. The Qamus explains it as wolf’s tail by its synonym the 'False Dawn'. The
Turkish translation of the Qamus, however, is somewhat more explicit.
It adds to 'Fajru Kazib', in explaining
'Zanabus Sirhan' 
the
gloss 'Shafq-e-MustateeI', the longish or tallish twilight. Under Fajr it
explains: "...there are two dawns, one the false dawn, makes its
appearance under a longish or tallish form, and what is termed the wolf's tail.
The other shows itself later, and is spread along the horizon, when this takes
place, he who is about to fast may no longer eat or drink lawfully". It is
the 'True Dawn'.
Non Muslim Astronomer’s appreciation
In the recent past
non Muslim astronomers admitted that - the Muslims and particularly the Arab Muslims
were the first to recognize and distinguish between the two different types of
illumination - one like a wolf’s tail 
and
the other like a white thread quite distinct from the black thread (streaks of
light) that appears on the eastern horizon well before sunrise.
It was only in the
beginning of the 17th century A.C., according to the Astronomical Treatise
which teaches Europeans, that the illumination like a wolf’s tail - which
appears on the eastern horizon in the morning was first observed by Cassini (in
1683) he first named it 'The Zodiacal Light'. It clearly shows how much and how
early the phenomena of 'False Dawn' and 'True Dawn' interested the Muslims.
Some
times in 1877, a paper was presented before the members of the Royal Asiatic
Society, wherein it was accepted that Muslims were the first who observed the conical pyramid shaped light before the
true dawn. In this paper a suggestion was also made that the natural phenomenon
known to Muslims of every clime as “FALSE DAWN” 
was no
other than what is known in
In the
recent past, it was first observed by Kepler, who supposed it to be the solar
atmosphere. Later it was described by Dominic Cassini, who gave it the name by
which it is now (Astronomically) known, as 'Zodiacal light'. It is visible
before sunrise and - after sunset immediately in the place where the Sun is
about to appear or has just dropped below the horizon. It has a flat lanticular
form extending from the horizon obliquely upwards, and following the course of
the ecliptic or rather of the sun's equator. The most favorable time for
observing it are in the months of April or May in the evening or at the
opposite season of the year -. (October & November) before sunrise.
Muslim authors and eastern Lexicons make no
mention of a 'wolfs tail' as seen at night after the evening twilight. This
circumstance constitutes a difficulty in theoretically identifying the 'False
Dawn' with the 'Zodiacal light’. But it may be partly explained by the fact
that though Muslim astronomers and earth scientists were fully aware of it
there was no mandatory prayer to be offered after the end or beginning of the
conical shaped 'Zodiacal Light'.
Guidance through the Holy Qur’an
In the Holy
Qur’an, for our guidance, it is clearly mentioned: (you are permitted to) eat
and drink till the white thread (illumination of true dawn i.e., Subhe Sadiq in
the form of white thread) and the black thread (i.e., the black streak of the
night sky) is distinctly distinguished.
Muslims were fully
familiar with these natural phenomena. Muslim scholars and astronomers, on the
basis of their personal observations and findings contributed a number of
articles on this issue. Since non-Muslim astronomers were not concerned with
these phenomena, they never paid any attention to it.
Astronomical explanation of the term Twilight
Definitions
This
section describes several optical and celestial phenomena which may occur at,
before, during or after twilight. Many of these can be seen all throughout the
year, except for a few. In this text,
the phenomena are explained in the order they occur, particularly, during the
Morning Twilight. For evening twilight, the order is of course reversed. Some
phenomena (for example Zodiacal light 
and Astronomical twilight 
occur predominantly in
the morning, while others have a fair chance to be seen in the evening.
Before
sunrise and again after sunset there are intervals of time, twilight, during
which there is natural light provided by the upper atmosphere, which does
receive direct sunlight and reflects parts of it towards the Earth's surface.
Some outdoor activities may be conducted without artificial illumination during
these intervals, and it is useful to have some means to set limits beyond which
a certain activity should be assisted by artificial lighting.
The major determinants of the amount of natural
light during twilight are the state of the atmosphere generally and local
weather conditions in particular. Atmospheric conditions are best determined at
the actual time and place of events. Nevertheless, it is possible to establish
useful, though necessarily approximate, limits applicable to large classes of
activities by considering only the position of the Sun below the local horizon.
Reasonable and convenient definitions, therefore, have been evolved.
According to the General Astronomy there are three
kinds of twilight:
·
civil
twilight 
·
nautical
twilight 
·
Astronomical
twilight 
5.3 'AI
Fajrus Sadiq' 
It is defined to
begin in the morning, and to end in the evening when the center of the Sun is
geometrically 18 degrees below the horizon. That is, at the dark limit of
astronomical twilight, the center of the Sun is geometrically 18 degrees below a
horizontal plane. Before the beginning of astronomical twilight in the
morning and after the end of
astronomical twilight in the evening the Sun does not contribute to sky
illumination; for a considerable interval after the beginning of the morning
twilight and before the end of the evening twilight, sky illumination is so
faint that it is practically imperceptible.
When
the sun reaches -18 degrees altitude (18 degrees below the horizon),
astronomical twilight starts. This is (for middle latitudes like 30-50 degrees)
usually, (but not always) to the order
of 90 to 75 minutes before sunrise. It varies from latitude to latitude and
depends upon a number of factors including the atmospheric conditions.
At the time of beginning of
Astronomical Twilight, you will note that the eastern horizon starts to glow
faintly, and the zodiacal light merges into a bright white area on the horizon.
20 minutes later or so, you will notice that the developing twilight starts to
show colors. It will get pale red at the horizon, and yellow just above it
(very hard to detect at first).
When and where to observe it
It
spreads all along the eastern horizon, and is followed by sunrise. There can be
no mistake as to what this really is. It is the daybreak, the morning twilight
with which the time of 'Sehr' & 'Tahajjud' ends and 'Salatul Fajr'
begins. This subject enjoyed sufficient
importance with the Muslim astronomers and scientists, as the two phenomena
helped in determining the times of some prayers and fasting.
Near the Equator, where the Sun appears and disappears at a steeper angle
than it does in the mid latitudes or near the poles, the zodiacal light may be
observed throughout the year. Zodiacal
light is sometimes referred to as the after glow of day or the false dawn.
Under favorable conditions, the zodiacal light is as bright as the Milky Way,
and it can be seen 30 to 40 degrees up from the horizon - about 1/3 of the way
to the zenith.
In the
morning when the sun is 18 degrees below the horizon direct sunlight cannot
reach above the horizon. But sunlight as reflected and diffracted by the
earth's atmospheric layers, illuminates places above the local horizon.
The instant when the solar depression
angle (SDA) is 18 degrees has been chosen by astronomers as the time of the
'Beginning of Astronomical Twilight'. The instant of 18 degrees SDA is
universally regarded as a point of separation between the completely dark
background and discernable background illumination. It is thus generally
accepted that in order to have a completely dark background the SDA must be at
least 18 degrees. At the beginning of morning twilight SDA 18 degrees the
entire horizon is illuminated with extremely faint reddish (almost white)
light. It is distributed all along the eastern horizon, in a slightly
semi-circular form of distribution rather than in a conical or rectangular
form. It is also important to note that light intensity and reddishness
constantly increases without any apparent change in the form of distribution
Findings of Muslim Scientists and Astronomers
We know that the
greatest Muslim scientist and writer on optics Ibn-ul-Haitham determined that
twilight begins or ceases when the sun is 19 degrees below the horizon. He also
attempted to measure the height of the atmosphere.
Abu
Rayhan Muhammad Bin Ahmad AI- Biruni (D.440 AH-I048 AD), some one thousand
years ago, dealt with the subject in ‘Maoala Al-Biruni’. He informs us that this phenomena occurred
when the sun is 18 degrees below the horizon. He adds that "Some people
determine it as 17 degrees. The former result corresponds exactly with the best
modern researches." Evidently both the results are slightly different from
Ibn-ul- Haitham's, findings and are based on independent researches. We know that optics was one of AI-Biruni's favourite
subjects in which he left some original and most remarkable researches.
It is' AI
Fajrus-Sadiq' for which the word 'beginning of astronomical twilight' is used
in nautical almanacs. I hereby suggest to all those who compute the prayers
schedules or coin software for prayer timings, for any particular city or for
the whole world, to consider the instant of 18 degrees SDA to be the right time
of ‘AI Fjrus-Sadiq' as this 18 degrees SDA is universally regarded as the time
when illumination spreads all along the eastern horizon, in the morning,
resembling exactly in shape, form and Intensity to ‘Subhe - Sadiq'.
5.4 ‘AI Fajrul
Kadhib' 
‘AI Fajrul Kadhib’
is in modern astronomy termed 'Zodiacal light'. It is also sunlight but it is
reflected by interplanetary gas and dust (and not by the earth's atmosphere).
'Zodiacal light' in astronomy, is a faint nebulous aurora which surrounds the
sun In the plane of Its equator, is somewhat whitish in colour and confined
within the zodiacal belt around the ecliptic and thus lies streaming upwards.
In favourable circumstances it is visible as a cone of light extending above
the eastern horizon when the SDA is more than 18 degrees. It sometimes gives
the impression of 'False Dawn'. Its shape looks like a wolf's tail or a
pyramid. In the tropics where the ecliptic is nearly perpendicular to the
horizon it may be seen after the end of twilight on every clear evening, and
before the twilight on every clear morning, unless blotted out by the moon
light. But as day approaches, however, matters are quite different. The
'Zodiacal light' is the reflection of the sun's rays in the sphere of
inter-planetary dust and gases. It is narrow and tall like a tail. As the sun
comes nearer to the eastern horizon in the morning, at 18 degrees SDA its light
spreads all along the eastern horizon like a white thread. This is 'True Dawn'
known as ‘AI Fajrus Sadiq'. A similar appearance is made in the evening in the
west, when the sun is as far below the horizon as it was in the morning, when the
false and true dawns appeared respectively.
Zodiacal light'
was first observed by the Arab Muslims as a wolf’s tail - 'Zanabus-Sirhan' to
which they first gave the name 'False dawn or the ‘Al-Fajr-el Kazib’.
Sometimes in 1879,
the Sultan of Zanzibar observed the phenomena and explained: “…..when I watched the light known as Fajrul
Kadhib, it seemed to me very like the “Zodiacal Light” of the evening, rising
in the east in a cone, and inclined considerably to the North. It was not so
distinct as to allow me to measure its apex; but from what I saw, there is
little doubt in identifying with the ‘Zodiacal Light’. There was no fading of
this light as the ‘True Dawn’ - ‘Subhe Sadiq’ spread over the horizon; but it
became lost in the rising light”.
When
Twilight ends
Twilight
does not really end until the Sun is 18 degrees below the horizon; this is
called astronomical twilight. In some areas this happens about 90 minutes after
sunset (or before sunrise) and its duration differs from place to place and from
latitude to latitude. Only when astronomical twilight has ended, is the sky
considered truly dark (assuming the Moon isn't above the horizon!)
After the end and beginning of astronomical
twilight, at certain times of year in the right locations, a faint cone of
light appears in the predawn sky for lucky viewers in dark locations. This
eerie glow is the Zodiacal Light. It is best seen before daybreak, generally
two to three hours before sunrise in the eastern sky. But it’s also visible in
the west at certain times of the year.
Over the centuries countless
individuals have been fooled into thinking the Zodiacal Light was the first
vestige of morning twilight. In fact, the Persian astronomer, mathematician and
poet Omar Khayyam, who lived around the turn of the 12th Century,
made reference to it as a "false dawn" in his one long poem, The Rubaiyat-E-Omer Khayyam.
What it is
It was once thought to be solely an atmospheric
phenomenon: perhaps reflected sunlight shining on the very high atmosphere of the
Earth.
We now know, however, that
while the phenomenon indeed involves reflected sunlight, it is being reflected
not off our atmosphere, but rather off a non uniform distribution of space
debris left over from the formation of the planets some 4.5 billion years ago.
These countless millions of particles -- ranging in
size from meter-sized mini asteroids to micron-sized dust grains -- seem
densest around the immediate vicinity of the Sun, but extend outward, beyond
the orbit of Mars and are spread out along the plane of the ecliptic (the path
the Sun follows throughout the year).
Inter planetary dust
particles within the Zodiacal Belt:
The explanation for the zodiacal light is that
meteoric dust particles (sub millimeter or micron size) found in the plane of
the solar system scatter sunlight in such a way that it's faintly visible from
Earth.
“This dust mainly comes from
asteroids and comets that periodically drop off debris on their way around the
Sun. Over the eons, thousands of comets have replenished the solar system with
dust, most of which is concentrated along the plane of the solar system. The
diffuse light scattered by the dust particles can only be seen during the evening
or morning twilight”
“Zodiacal light is
more readily seen at those times of the year when the Sun rises or sets more
abruptly - the spring and fall.”
“The
smallest dust particles are blown out of the solar system by the sun’s
radiation. The larger dust particles gradually spiral inwards towards the sun,
and together form a flattened disc in the ecliptic plain in the inner part of
the solar system. This disc of dust is composed of dust particles with sizes
between 0.1 and 100 micrometer.”
From a dark secluded location, this disc of dust is
visible from earth at night. A very faint band of light stretches over the sky
following the path of the ecliptic ("Zodiak").
Hence the reason for the name
"zodiacal" light, is because
it is usually seen projected against the zodiacal constellations, which were
conjured by astronomers and poets to fit the ecliptic.
When
to see it
The
best time to see the Zodiacal Light is when the ecliptic appears most nearly
vertical to your local horizon.
For those in the Northern
Hemisphere, this occurs in the western evening sky after sunset from early February
to late March. The best morning view in the eastern sky comes from late
September into the early part of November. Conversely,
for those who live in the Southern Hemisphere, the best view in the western
evening sky comes after sunset from early August to late September, while the
best morning view in the eastern sky comes from late March into the early part
of May.
Those
who live in the tropics or at the equator are the luckiest of all, since it has
been said that the Zodiacal Light is bright and very conspicuous from these
regions.
This is probably because the ecliptic is always
favorably oriented there, allowing views of the Zodiacal Light both in the
western evening sky and eastern morning sky all year long.
For
its observation above 40 degrees latitudes the following conditions are
absolutely necessary:
·
A very dark
observing location
·
Dark horizon
·
Lacking light
pollution,
·
A moonless night
·
Cloudless clear
weather and sky
If you are interested to see
and personally observe these phenomena in the morning, it is advisable to start
your observations about 2 to 3 hours before sunrise. During the fall season
(for people on the northern hemisphere), you will have a chance to see the
(sometimes stunning) zodiacal light column rise steeply from the eastern
horizon.
“There is some interval of time after the end of the zodiacal light and
the beginning of astronomical twilight. There is no light on the horizon unless
the centre of the sun reaches 18o below horizon.” Jawaid Qamar,
Chairman, Observatory,
What it looks like
To
the discerning eye, its diffuse shape resembles almost a tilted cone, wedge or
slanted pyramid. At the base of the cone, the light may extend some 20 to 30
degrees along the horizon (a fist on your outstretched arm covers about 10
degrees of sky).
At
its best, the display can approach or even equal the Milky Way in brightness,
yet it is typically so faint that even a small amount of atmospheric haze can
obscure it. On exceptionally clear nights, the tapering cone might be seen to
stretch more than halfway to the zenith, an imaginary point in the sky directly
overhead from wherever you are.
When the sun reaches -18
degrees altitude (18 degrees below the horizon), astronomical twilight starts.
This is (for middle latitudes like 30-50 degrees) usually, (but not
always) to the order of 90 to 75
minutes before sunrise. It varies from latitude to latitude and depends upon a
number of factors including the atmospheric conditions.
At the time of the beginning of the Astronomical
Twilight, you will note that the eastern horizon starts to glow faintly, and
the zodiacal light merges into a bright white area on the horizon. 20 minutes later or so, you will notice that
the developing twilight starts to show colors. It will become pale red at the
horizon, and yellow just above it (very hard to detect at first).
Types of Fajar
There are three types of Fajar.
i.
First, narrow vertical light
called false dawn. It is
Described
as tail of a wolf. No prayer time, act or habit is associated with it.
ii. Second type is the extended light in a semi circle form
along the eastern horizon which
brightens the world. Animals and human wake up according to their habit and worship
(ibadat)
time is also associated with it.
iii. Third type is the red light before sun rise. This is similar
to the first
type in sharia.
Evening Twilight: Like morning
twilight, evening twilights are also of three types but their order is
opposite.
·
First type is reddish light
immediately after sunset.
·
Second is spread white
light. There is a dispute among modern Scientist and scholars as to which
should be treated as evening twilight, (either Red or white twilight.(Both are
subjects of discussion.
·
Third is the vertical light
like the tail of a wolf. People are unaware of it due to their work and being
at home at this time. In the morning when people wake up from their sleep they
make preparations for their work, walk around to wait for the morning, so they
observe it in the morning but not in the evening.
The following rules are devised for the morning and evening twilights as
they are needed for prayers:
When the sun is 18o below horizon before raising it is dawn.
As it cannot be mistaken from false dawn, some times it is taken as 17o.
The time described by Abu Rehan Al Beruni, the astronomer and mathematician
corresponding to 18o below horizon is certainly dawn. It is entirely
wrong to consider it false dawn or not to consider it as dawn. If an ordinary
person confuses it, it is tolerable but not for scholars.
Abu Rehan Al Beruni
in his detailed discussion described the three types of Fajar. He emphasized
that people’s daily and religious activities depend only on dawn. Since people
depend on it, scholars have agreed to fix its time when the sun is 18o
below horizon. On the other hand false dawn has nothing to do with daily or
religious activities. Thus the time of that Fajar which is agreed on is the
dawn when the sun is 18o below horizon.
5.5 Period between sunset and total darkness or between
total darkness and sunrise
“Total darkness
does not occur immediately when the sun sinks below the horizon because light
from the sun that strikes the atmosphere is scattered (both by the air itself
and by suspended matter, e.g., dust and smoke). Civil twilight ends when the
center of the sun is 6° below the horizon. Although it is still not very dark,
it is necessary to use artificial light to carry out most activities. Nautical
twilight ends when the sun's center is 12° below the horizon; at about this
time the light is too dim for the user of a sextant to see a sharp horizon.
Astronomical twilight ends when the sun's center is 18° below the horizon; by
this time even the faintest stars overhead can be seen. (Similar definitions
apply to morning twilight.) During twilight, Venus or Mercury is often seen as
the evening star or morning star. The length of twilight depends on latitude
and the time of year. Twilight is generally shorter at the equator, where the
sun's path towards the horizon is more vertical than at higher latitudes.”**
** The
This is now becoming
a debatable issue as to which twilight angle should be used in the calculation
of Fajar/Isha. For a discussion on the subject refer to Dr. Ilyas’ book
“Astronomy of Islamic Times for the Twenty-first Century”. Here is a brief
extract from chapter five of this book.
“In
modern times astronomical twilight (18 degrees) has come to be widely used for
the determination of Isha and Fajar times. As the average intensity curve of
evening twilight indicates, the flux decreases to a minimum level, and thus it
would seem appropriate that even for Islamic purposes, this should indicate a
reasonable starting value for the end of ‘gastro-Islamic twilight’ (
Following is the summary of the
observations and research of astronomers and scholars about zodiacal light:
·
Zodiacal light is
triangular in shape
·
It is like a tail
·
Its shape resembles
pyramids of Egypt or a rectangular
tower
·
It has a white tint
·
It is spread near the
horizon i.e. distributed over a large area but has a vertex at the top. It
appears to climb up. It is a triangular shaped light.
·
It is such a bright light
that it creates the impression of dawn.
·
In tropical regions
zodiacal light can be observed throughout the year. The reason for its
observation throughout the year in tropical regions is that the ecliptic is
almost perpendicular to the horizon in these regions. It is especially visible
before dawn in the autumn season.
It has been proved spectroscopicaly
that zodiacal light is not the light itself but it is sunlight reflected by gas
and dust particles in the atmosphere.
A picture of zodiacal light taken from internet is given below. It is the
false dawn producing such a bright light even before the beginning of
astronomical twilight.
Picture page
186
5.6
Saying of Scholars of Ancient Past
Following are
sayings of some scholars of ancient past:
Ibne Bashir Maliki says: It is the light of the sun and appears when the sun reaches
near the horizon. When the eyes get used to it, it gives the impression that it
disappears although it does not actually disappear.
Abash Ibrahim quotes some persons that this light disappears after appearing
and it again becomes dark as night.
Abu Jaffer Al Basari describes it as:
two hours are left; this light appears up to quarter sky in a
rectangular shape and is like a pillar. In summer when the atmosphere is
polluted and dusty, this light does not appear. Its upper part is narrow and
lower part is wide. Below it there is darkness. Behind it there is again light
which is dominated and spreads. He contradicted it and said that he has been
observing it for 50 years but never saw it disappeared. He further explained
it: This light steps downwards and merges with the light which appears
horizontally and all merge in the light of dawn.
The concept that the light
disappears and reappears again is either personal opinions or the changes in it
due to seasons giving the deception of disappearance.
The sayings of scholars show that their observations and research have
one thing in common that the light of the false dawn is exactly like the
zodiacal light. They confirm that the false dawn and zodiacal lights are the
two names of the same light.
In Tafseer of Alshqaq, Khalil bin Ahmed
has quoted that I observed twilight (bayaz) from the
Mohasshi (interpreter) says that the observation of the author does not
contradict that of Khalil because Khalil observed it from a high tower and the
author saw it from the desert. If it disappears for some one on the ground, it
is not necessary that it should also disappear to a person observing from a
height because there is a difference in altitude of the two observers.
Imam Zelee in his book “Tabbyanul Haqayaq” says that the person observing
the sun from the tower of Alexandria will see as if it disappears later than
the person who is observing it on the ground. The discussion shows that the
stated byaz (twilight) remains on the sky up to dawn and if it disappears for
some observer, it does not actually disappear.
Now let us consider what present astronomers say about it. When Royal
Greenwich Observatory was contacted, they sent a few pages of a book with their
answer. It is stated: when the sun is 19 or 20 degrees below horizon it appears
that the part of pyramidal zodiacal light near the eastern horizon has extended
further. The extension increases the brightness of the light. When the sun
reaches 17 or 18 degrees, the light of astronomical twilight appears clearly.
It can be inferred that the zodiacal light that appeared at 20o
or further below horizon remains present till the astronomical twilight appears
at 18o. In other words the zodiacal light does not disappear but its
base extends and merges with twilight.
A Professor of the
5.7 An Invitation to Think and Ponder
The times for fasting, Eid and prayers described by the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H)
depend only on visibility of the moon and observations. He (peace be upon him)
described such simple, easy and definite criteria which can be used by every
one. There was no problem to identify the times of dawn and false dawn. There
is still no problem today. Recent research has shown that the course taken by
ancients was correct and the tables of prayer times prepared by them were
accurate. There is no doubt about it.
People used to find the times of dawn and false dawn by their personal
experience. Not only religious people and scholars were expert in recognizing
the dawn and times but elder people of the villages were also well versed with
it. These aged simple people used to recognize the time of dawn by their
observations and on their directive azan e Fajar was given in the mosques. With
azan e Fajar, sehar time ends. In those days
there were no bright electric lights which cause hindrance and interference in
conducting observations. There were no prayer charts in every village. Time of
sehar used to end with azan e Fajar given at the instructions of these elderly
people.
Even today the villagers stop sehar on hearing Azaan e Fajar . These
simple people, even when they settle in cities continue to stop sehar on
hearing azan e Fajar as a habit. They regard it appropriate. Charts and
calendars of prayer and Ramzan times are used for years in the Subcontinent.
Our ancestors have been using them. The learned elders had prepared the tables
for their regions for the benefit of common Muslims. These elders were very
careful, serious, pious and sensible about it. They were far better Muslims
than us. It can not be imagined that they would have prepared the charts
without continued observations, serious thought and confirmation. If someone
was to say that they were not serious and cautious, it would be a base less
allegation against them.
Offering prayers is obligatory and so is
the knowledge of their correct time. It will be a serious allegation to say
that these people did not prepare the charts without proper care, research and
observations. These charts have been in practice since a long time. It cannot
even be thought that they prepared the charts irresponsibly and did not take
proper care in testing and verifying the times. They were more determined,
careful, dedicated than us. These charts are accurate and there is no room for
doubting them. If anyone has any doubt that wrong times of dawn etc. were
compiled and listed, he may contact any of the following national or
international agencies for their satisfaction and confirmation of charts and
tables.
- International, local or overseas
Astronomical Research Centres.
- Local or overseas meteorological
offices.
- Specialists and navigators of Navy
or Air force.
- Astronomy Department of any
University or expert astronomers.
- Royal Astronomical Observatory of
Confirm from
the above sources and/or satisfy yourself by your personal observations that:
- As soon as the sun reaches 18o
below horizon a horizontal light appears on the eastern horizon and day
begins.
- The horizon remains dark until the
sun reaches 18o below horizon. This instant is the limit
between day and night.
- The light appearing at this instant
keeps increasing without any fluctuation. Neither it disappears after
appearing nor does it become dark again.
- This light spreads horizontally on
the entire eastern horizon and keeps spreading in neighbouring parts of
the sky.
- At that time there is no question of
any light appearing on the eastern horizon in the shape of an elongated
tail like or conical or pyramidal or rectangular or pillar like form.
(This has been proved not only by recent and ancient research but also by
observations.)
- This light is not purely white but
it has a slightly dim imperceptible reddish tint which gradually
increases.
- A semi circular light appears on the
eastern horizon at this instant and it spreads rapidly.
- On the other hand the zodiacal light
has a conical shape or the shape of a wolf’s tail, pyramid or rectangular
like a pillar.
- It disappears and merges with the
light of dawn as the sun reaches 18o below horizon.
- Zodiacal light is also the sun’s
light which appears before the beginning of the morning twilight under
suitable conditions.
- Zodiacal light has white tint and is
so bright and clear that it gives the deception of dawn.
- Zodiacal light is the light that
appears at night before dawn. It has exactly the same shape as described
for false dawn. It gives the deception of dawn.
- It is misleading to think that the
horizontally spread light appears on the horizon only when the sun reaches
15o below the horizon and that it is preceded by a long pointed
light.
- It is surely misleading and against
research and observation to say that the reddish tint appears in the light
only when the sun reaches 15o below horizon.
- It is certainly wrong that the semi
circular light appears only when the sun reaches 15o below
horizon.
Despite the
fact that zodiacal light is pointed, tail like, conical and exactly in
accordance with the signs described for false dawn, it is wrong to think that
it has nothing to do with the code of shariat.
It can be confirmed that this is the light which gives the deception of
dawn in the darkness of the night. Its light is several times brighter than the
light of a galaxy.
After considering
the sayings of scholars, it cannot be denied that dawn begins when the sun
reaches 18o below the horizon and that zodiacal light is false dawn.
5.8 A Misconception Regarding the Interval between
Dawn and
Usually people know that it takes the sun 4 minutes to travel one degree
but do not consider the direction in which it travels. Is it along latitude or
longitude? It is to be remembered that it takes 4 minutes for the sun to travel
1o for every longitude but not for latitude. If the sun crosses 1o
latitude perpendicular to it, then it will take 4 minutes but the more
obliquely it crosses, the longer it takes. Mostly the sun moves along latitudes
obliquely. Thus it is wrong to consider that since the sun has to travel 18o
between dawn and sunrise, it will always take 18 x 4 = 72 minutes. Thus it is
wrong to think that there is always an interval of 1 hour and 12 minutes
between dawn (subah e sadiq) and sunrise. This is simply due to ignorance.
Similarly since the angular difference between white and red twilights is 3o
it is wrong to think that it always lasts for 3 x 4 = 12 minutes. It is without
any doubt incorrect to think and against the reality.
If the sun travels 18o in 1 hour and 12 minutes at the
equator, it will travel the same distance in several hours in Britain in summer
which lies between 51o N to 58o N latitudes. This example
is enough to illustrate the statement.
Thus if the
sun travels 18o in 72 minutes at a place, it is wrong to consider
that it will travel between the same distance at all places and in all seasons
and will take the same time. Similarly it is wrong to say that there are always 12 minutes difference between white and red
twilights.
Thus it is clear that the sun does
not travel between two latitudes in equal times.
5.9 Time
Difference Due to Altitude
Altitude correction factor is very important. There is a difference in
times of sunrise, dawn, and sunset due to height and curvature of the earth.
Because of height the time of sun rise and dawn are several minutes earlier and
the time of sunset is later. So we have to consider the height of the place for
calculation of payer times and times for Ramzan (particularly the time of
sunset).
The following table shows the time which has to be subtracted from the
time of dawn, astronomical twilight and sunrise and to be added to the time of
sunset.
Table showing
the difference to be subtracted from the time of subha sadiq.
Height (feet) Time
50 35
seconds
100 50
seconds
200 1 min. 10 sec.
500 1 min. 50 sec.
1000 2 min. 36 sec.
2000 3 min. 40 sec.
5000 5 min. 48 sec.
A
mistake in time difference in Jantaries (calendars)
In payer charts and jantaris, it is noted that the difference of time is
sometimes written in margins for various cities and places. But it is not taken
into account whether they are on the same latitude or not. The times of prayers
of the same date are different for different latitudes. For example if in the
jantary of one city the time difference is written for another city, it is
observed that on the same date the time difference between dawn is different
from that of transit which also differs from that of the sunset. Thus the
stated difference is wrong and misleading.
The following
facts should be noted:
- The difference in time of transit is
due to the difference in longitude only.
- The difference in other times, dawn,
sunrise, sunset etc. depend on difference of longitude as well as
latitude.
- The lengths of day at different
places on different latitudes are also different.
Considering
these difficulties, if the difference is written for a given day for all cities
located on the same latitude, it will be good for all places. The only
difference will be due to the change in longitude. Without keeping in view the
latitude of different places, if the time difference is noted on the margins of
prayer timetables, it will be misleading.
Example: In the timetable published of
Comparing the
chart of Lahore prepared by late Maulana Karim Bakhsh (Professor Arabic,
Government college Lahore) and chart for Karachi by Maulana Qari Shareef Ahmed,
we observe the following difference in times.( All times are in minutes):
Difference of
time for Karachi from the prayer’s table of Lahore
1st Jan. 1st
April 1st July 1st Sept.
Dawn 17 32 53 31
Sun rise 15 33 44 27
Transit 15 12
18 12
Sunset 44 27 15 31
Isha 45 27 10 31
The above
table is given only for 1st of January, April, July and September.
It illustrates that writing the 27 minute difference is not sufficient. It
would have been better to write the differences for places located on the same
latitude so that tables can be used with confidence.
Example 2: If it is desirable to write
the differences without considering the latitude, then the differences should
be written at intervals of five days as Prof. Abdul Wasey has done in the chart
of Hydrabad (
The
difference of
Date Dawn
1st Jan. +16 +17 +13 +4 +8 +9
10th
June +16 +8 +13 +16 +17 +19
The
difference for Aurangabad is not written as a single entry but date wise
difference is given due to the change of latitude.
An
important point to note: The Meteorological Department prepares charts in
the month of Ramazan every year for sehar and iftar times. In these charts the locality
Jacobabad is taken as the centre of
5.10 Nautical
Almanac, Astronomical Ephemeris and Non Muslim Astronomers
Non Muslim astronomers have benefited from the work, experience and
research of Muslim astronomers but they do not care to acknowledge it. They
could not deviate from the laws and principles derived by the expert Abu Rehan
Al Beruni. For example without referring to dawn and false dawn the western
astronomers after their research on twilight remarked “ Despite all efforts and
observations since 11th century no one is able to alter the fact
that the day begins when the sun reaches 18o below horizon. (Encyclopedia
Britannica, Vol 22 p. 637).
Among books of astronomy, Nautical Almanac and Astronomical Ephemeris are
the two books of the west in which they publish astronomical data. They publish
the data after updating it every year. In it the starting time of astronomical
twilight are tabulated for every day for various north and south latitudes.
Tables are given below. These times are
in fact the times of dawn for these latitudes because astronomical twilight and
dawn are the names of the same instant. Similarly the times listed for the end
of the evening twilight for various latitudes are the times for the beginning
of Isha. When the sun reaches 18o below the horizon after setting,
the night begins and evening twilight ends. This is the beginning time of Isha.
The times of the
beginning of morning and end of evening twilight are available for all
latitudes. Taking into consideration the standard and local times of the place,
the times of dawn and Isha can be calculated. These books also publish data about
declination of the sun, motion of the moon and other astronomical bodies. The
times of sunset and sunrise are also given. The times when the centre of the
sun is 18o, 12o and 6o below horizon before
rising and after setting are also given. These are called astronomical. Nautical and civil twilights.
5.11 Further Discussion about Dawn and False
Dawn
1.
When the sun reaches 15o below horizon, illumination of light
expands so much on the ground and the horizon that even a person even with weak
eyesight can feel that it is daytime. When the sun is at 18o and
dawn breaks out, it is the time when dark and white lines can be distinguished.
This instant of dawn can be recognized only by an experienced eye. After it the
intensity of light brightens and when the sun reaches 15o every one
can say that the day has broken out.
2. Arrangements for observing dawn were
made. Scholars of Jamia Al Uloom Islamia,
** “Subhe Sadiq and Subahe Kazib”,
Latif, A., 1982
3.
If we search “zodiacal light” on the internet, we get 1100 sites where articles
and essays by experts are available. They have clearly stated that before the
sun reaches 18o below horizon in the morning, a light appears on the
horizon having the shape of a wolf’s tail, triangular and conical. Several
articles have been published which can be seen on internet. This light is false
dawn.
4. Before sunrise, when the sun reaches
18o below horizon, it is called the beginning of astronomical
twilight. This is the time of dawn, the day breaks from night, and the light
continuously increases. The light spreads horizontally on the eastern horizon.
If we look towards the east the light spreads left and right. At this instant
the light is neither conical nor of the shape of a wolf’s. tail. You are
advised to search on “Google” ”Astronomical Twilight”. You will find at least
2000 sites containing articles by experts of astronomy. You will also find many
photographs. It is clearly written that this light appears on the eastern
horizon when the sun reaches 18o below the horizon. It spreads
horizontally. Before it, zodiacal light appears which is called false dawn.
There is no doubt that zodiacal light is conical in shape and is exactly like
false dawn.
CHAPTER 6
Phases
6.1 The Moon
The paths (orbits) of the moon and the sun are different. If they were
the same, we could never see the moon during day light. You may have observed
that sometimes during the day the moon is visible along with the sun. When we
see the moon for Ramzan or Eid, first the sun sets on the western horizon and
then the moon. So it is a decided fact that the moon will be only visible when
it sets after the sunset. . Thus on the first of a lunar month the sun sets
earlier than the moon. On that day we see the moon before it sets. On the
second day the moon sets later. On the 14th of a lunar month, the
sun sets in the west and at the same time the moon rises in the east.
Physically there are troughs and crests on the moon. There are many
mountains, hills, several miles wide large craters, cracks and holes. When the
sun light falls on the moon, it looks bright and beautiful. All its beauty is
due to the sun. Actually the surface of the moon is rougher than the surface of
the earth.
Our Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) divided the moon in two parts by pointing
towards it with His finger. The signs of this event known as Shaqqul Qamar
still exist on the moon. A straight crack is visible in photographs of the
surface of the moon. This straight crack is the witness that it cannot be due
to the moon quake, but because it was divided in two parts. There is an island
near
There is neither air nor water on the moon. Thus there are no traces of
life there. If two people speak on the moon, they will see their lips moving
but will not hear any sound because there is no air to transmit the sound. Due
to the absence of air we cannot talk on the moon.
Physical
data of the moon
- Average distance between the earth
and the moon = 384,365 km (238,840 miles).
- Diameter of the moon =
3476 km. (2160 miles)
- The earth’s diameter = 12,745 km. (7926 miles)
- Density of the moon = 3.3 times that of water.
- Density of the earth = 5.5 times that of water.
- Sidereal period around the earth =
27.3 days (approx.)
- Synodic
period (new moon to new moon) = 29.5 days (approximately)
Motions
of the Moon
The moon has three types of motions
all from the west to the east.
1. Motion with the earth
2. Revolution around the earth
3. Rotation around its axis
1. Motion with the earth: The earth is moving
around the sun. The moon also moves with it. The time in which the earth
completes one revolution around the sun is called its orbital period.
2. Revolution around the earth: The moon moves around the earth in an elliptic
orbit. The time in which it completes one revolution around the earth is called
a lunar month.
3. Rotation around its axis
Lunar
months: There are two types of lunar
months.
- Sidereal Month.
When the moon returns to the same point of its orbit after making one
revolution, it is called Sidereal
Month. Its length is 27 days 7 hours 43 minutes and 11.5 seconds.
- Syndic month. It is the interval between two new moons. Its
duration is 29 days 12 hours 44 minutes 2.9 seconds. This is the religious
month. It is 2 days 5 hours 51.4 seconds longer than the sidereal month.
Reason for its difference: The moon
returns to the same point of its orbit after 27.32 days. But during this time
the earth has moved considerable further in its orbit around the sun. The moon
takes another 2.2 days to face the earth. Thus the religious month becomes
29.53 days in length.
The moon moves 51
minutes (on the average) east every day i.e. if the moon passes a star at
Length
of lunar year
When the moon makes 12 complete revolutions around the earth a lunar year
has elapsed. Thus a lunar year is 12 synodic months long i.e. 354 days and 8
hours approximately. A lunar year is 10 days 21 hours 20 minutes 35.46 seconds
shorter than solar year. This is the reason that lunar months keep moving in
solar year. Every three years it moves one month backwards. After 33 years
198.22 days the lunar year will again come back on the same dates. For example if Ramzan begins in January this
year after 33 years 198.22 days, it will again begin in January.
The lunar months are:
1. Muharram 2.
Safar
3. Rabi ul
Awwal 4. Rabi us Sani
5. Jamadi ul
Awwal 6. Jamadi us Sani
7. Rajab 8.
Shaban
9. Ramzan 10. Shawwal
11. Ziqad 12. Zilhaj
Longitudinal
motion of the moon: Out of 360 degrees of longitude the moon travels 12.19o
daily and in 29.53 days completes 360o to make one complete
revolution around the earth. Thus the moon travels one degree of longitude in
1.96 hours.
Delay
in the moonrise
In its monthly motion the moon moves towards the east, so it rises 48.76
minutes late every day. Due to elliptic orbit this time varies, but the average
time is 48.76 minutes i.e. 48 minutes and 45 seconds.
- The average distance between the earth and moon is
384,000 km.
- The length of the moon’s orbit is 3,060,000 km. long
- The moon is traveling in its orbit with a speed of 1
km/sec completing one revolution around the earth in 27.5 days.
- The moon is revolving around
the earth from the west to the east.
6.2
Phases of the moon
The moon does not have its own light. It appears bright due to
reflected sun light. If it had its own light, it would always appear as a full
moon. Half of the moon faces the sun and this face is bright. The other half is
dark. Half of the moon always faces us and the other half is hidden from us. It
can never be seen from the earth as the rotation and revolution periods of the
moon are equal. When the entire bright portion faces us, it is full moon. If
half the bright portion is visible, it is called quadrature. There are various phases relative to quadrature.
Let us first consider what
scientific information about the moon is provided to us by experts. Astronomers
keep record of the data about the moon for every second. Especially the
following information is monitored continuously:
- What is the path of the moon i.e.
from which parts will it pass today?
- What will be the altitude of the
moon i.e. what will be its height above horizon?
- What will be the distance of the
moon?
- What will be the strength of its
magnetic field?
- What will be its elongation?
- What will be the lamination towards
the earth?
- What will be the time of moon rise
and moon set at any given place?
- What will be the time of first visibility
of the moon?
- In which part of the world will it
be sighted first?
All types of information can be
obtained at any time from astronomical observatories or meteorological offices.
We can use this information and judge the witness about sighting of the moon in
the light of this information.
Web
based resources for probability of moon sighting
A program “Accurate Times” written
by Mohammad Odeh of Jordon (a member of Jordanian Astronomical Society –
Web site: http://www.jas.org/software/index.html#
This software calculates the Islamic prayer times, the Qiblah direction
and the Hijri – Gregorian date conversion. This program runs under MS –
Windows. The program also use the NAO Technical Note 69 for providing
information on moon’s earliest possible visibility and the position of moon (Lunar
position), in the sky at any instance.
Since it is a
tested program, it is advisable to visit this web site for satisfaction and calculating
the most probable date of visibility of moon for beginning of Ramdhan and Eid
etc.
Prof. Dr. Triq Munier of
A
visual basic program for obtaining prayers times for the entire year is
available. (Visit his web site: http://www.jas.org.jo/munir)
Dr. Mohammad Ilyas from Malaysia is providing Maximum
material on the topic of possibilities of moon sighting. He introduced IIDL – (that
is- International Lunar Date Line) and drawn circles along the
latitudes to show the probability of visibility of moon that decreases to the
east of IILD and increases to the west of IILD as shown in the following
figure.
Sharaie
Ruet E Hilal (Islamic moon sighting)
Islam is a religion for the entire humanity. A
large population of Muslims live in villages, mountains and islands. It
is difficult to acquaint all of them with mathematical calculations. So Islam
has made sighting by eye as a base instead of calculations. Its use is possible
by every literate or illiterate person.
There is only one way of sighting the moon, seeing it with the eye. The
Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) said:
عن عبد الله بن عمر رضي الله عنهما
أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ذكر رمضان فقال
لا تصوموا حتى تروا الهلال ولا تفطروا حتى
تروه فإن غم عليكم فاقدروا له Narrated
Abdullah bin Umar (RA):
Allah's Apostle mentioned Ramadan and said, "Do not fast unless you see
the crescent (of Ramadan), and do not give up fasting till you see the crescent
(of Shawwal), but if the sky is overcast (if you cannot see it), then act on
estimation (i.e. count Sha'ban as 30 days).
Another saying emphasizes
completing 30 days by calculation. Its words are:
فإن غم عليكم فأكملوا العدة ثلاثين .
Translation: And if the sky is overcast, then complete
Sha'ban as thirty days.
Note: Along
with hadith we have to consider the intention of
the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H).
In Islam it is not prohibited to get help from astronomical calculations
regarding the sighting of the moon. But it is wrong and against the will of the
Holy Prophet (peace be on Him) to make the decision on its basis. If
calculations are in favour of the visibility but the moon is not seen by any
eye for any reason, then it is not right to trust and decide on the basis of
mathematical calculations.
6.3 Use
of Modern Instruments for the Sighting of the Moon
Abstract from “Ruet e Hilal” by Hazrat Maulana
Mufti Muhammad Shafi. (Explanations of
Hazrat Maulana Mufti Muhammad
Shafi expressed in the magazine “Ruet e Hilal” are presented below so that it
may become clear that the religious scholars and Mufti Sahebaan do not regard
the use of scientific and technical instruments improper)
The
difference of opinion in this regard is the reason that some people think that
since it is possible to ascertain the position of the moon in the sky with the
help of instruments and calculations, so why not use them for sighting so that
there is no need to see by any eye or any witnesses for sighting. Further why
not believe the news of the radio, television and wireless as the entire world
depends on them for every matter.
6.3 View Of Islam About
Scientific Inventions
All instruments prepared by science, modern or ancient, are blessings
of Allah (s.w.t.) and should be used thankfully. To discard and dislike them is
neither an act of religion nor wisdom. However both religion and common sense
require that they must not be used for disobedience of Allah (s.w.t.) and at
wrong places and for improper purposes. There is no hindrance in their use
where any religious principle is not violated.
It is stated
in the Holy Quran
هُوَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ لَكُم مَّا فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ جَمِيعً۬ا (٢٩){البَقَرَة
2}
Translation: It is He Who hath created for you all
things that are on earth.
The purpose of science, modern or ancient, is to make use of the things
created by Allah (s.w.t.). Science does not create anything, it only teaches
the use of things created by Allah (s.w.t.).
As the new discoveries and invention are needed in the world, Allah
(s.w.t.) teaches the people of that time new methods to use them. In ancient
times every region was self sufficient in their requirements, the members of a family
were not distributed in different countries, so there was no need for speedy
vehicles, radio, wireless, telephone, telegraph etc. But when countries started
depending on one another, members of a family dispersed to different countries,
the problem of communication aroused and Allah (s.w.t.) guided people to invent
necessary audio video techniques. He guided them to use petrol for vehicles
like motor cars, aero planes etc. This was also forecasted in the Holy Quran.
After referring to vehicles driven by horses, camels, donkeys etc. used in
those days it is stated
وَيَخۡلُقُ مَا لَا تَعۡلَمُونَ (٨) {النّحل 16}
Translation: And He creates (other) things of which you
have no knowledge (8)
If names of motor cars, aero planes etc. were mentioned in that place,
the people of that time would not understand them and would become confused. So
instead on naming them, it was simply said that various types of vehicles will
appear. When vehicles to reach the moon are invented, they are also included in
it. Thus inventions of science are also blessings of Allah (s.w.t.) and should
be used thankfully.
However, Islam restricts that these inventions may not be used for
disobedience and improper and sinful deeds by
which principles of Islam are violated. This is why when guns, cannons, tanks
and different types of bombs were invented; no scholar or pseudo scholars even thought that their use in modern war is a sin.
When aero planes flew, Muslims used them freely not only for their worldly but
even for their religious needs.. Similarly wireless, telephones, telegraphs, radios;
loudspeakers were used extensively for religious and worldly affairs. Scholars
took care to restrict their use to the extent that it does not violate any
principle of Quran or Sunnah (shariah). No scholar prohibited loudspeakers to
be used for azan, khutba, speech etc. The only dispute was about its use during
prayer. This was due to debatable and conflicting opinions of scientists. Some
scientists described the voice coming from a loudspeaker as the actual voice of
the person using it and some described it as an artificial voice created by
machine. This dispute continues even today. Decision is not due to ignorance,
like or dislike about modern inventions but as a matter of principle. All
scholars undisputedly agree to believe in the news on recent media as far as
news is concerned. But when there is a need to provide witness, no court in the
world accepts it unless the witness is present personally.
It is therefore wrong to say that the scholars reject the recent
inventions due to their ignorance, but when they appear as reality, they are
compelled to use them. It is possible that there may be some doubts about a new
invention due to incomplete information about it, but when the doubts are
cleared and removed and it is proved that they do not conflict with religious
principles it is considered permissible. It is not correct to blame or accuse
them for waiting initially and then permitting it.
It is not correct to consider them fools; instead it is an indication of
their openheartedness and wisdom to accept the truth.
No one has any objection in using new inventions in sighting the moon to
the extent that it does not violate any Islamic principle. It is necessary, before
any discussion, to study the Islamic principles with open mind and then decide
whether the use of instruments violates it or not.
Eid and Eid ul
Azha are not our festivals but occasions of worship. First of all it should be
clearly understood that whether it is fasting or Eid or Eid ul Azha, they are
not festivals in the sense of the rest of the world. These are the occasions of
our worships. The purpose of worship is the obedience and submission to the
will of Allah (s.w.t.). The commandants of Allah (s.w.t.) are to be obeyed
without any hesitation or opinion. All conditions and restrictions for any
worship have to be followed by the same rule. For example why are there five
prayers daily why not more or less? Why they have to be performed at their prescribed
times why not at any other time? If prayer is offered whole heartedly and with
full faith at any other time, why are they not advisable? Why 2 rakats in Fajar, 4 in Zohar and 3 in Maghrib? What if some
one offers 5 or 6 rakats?
The only answer to all these questions is that it is the will of Allah (s.w.t.) and worshipping is obeying Him
unconditionally. It is not permissible and proper to make any increase or
decrease or change the time. Similarly fasting is to be done from dawn to
sunset. What is the sin if some one fasts up to Isha? What if some one fasts
for 31 days instead of 29 or 30? Why is it not acceptable to fast in any month
other than Ramzan? Why is it wrong to fast for 30 days even if the moon is
sighted on 29th, or to fast for 29 days even if the moon is not
visible? Only the acts performed according to the will and instruction of Allah
(s.w.t.) are fit to be called worships. If human opinion is used in it, it is
not worship.
Similarly if it is disputed that the moon is sighted on 29th or
not, it can not be resolved by the opinion or votes. Its solution has to be
found in the teachings of Allah (s.w.t.) and the Holy Prophet (peace be upon
him) because rising or setting of the moon or the sun is not the basis of our
worships, but our worship depends on fulfilling orders of Allah (s.w.t.).
Practically it will not affect the duration of fast if sehri and iftar are
taken five minutes later than prescribed times to such an extent that all the
effort of the entire day is declared null and void. However if a person
performs iftar five minutes before sun set, he has committed a great blunder
and his fast is nullified.
The problem
is not the presence of the moon but its sighting and witness (shahadat).
First of all
it is necessary to find the criteria of sharia whether it is enough for the
moon to be above the horizon or its sighting is necessary by normal human eye.
Every literate person knows that the moon is never non existent. It is
always present at some point of its orbit and can be seen even on 28th,
29th, or 30th of a month by telescopes which block the
sun light from high altitudes. If the problem were only the existence of the
moon, condition for 29 or 30 would be irrelevant. Thus the sharai requirement
is not for the moon to be above the horizon but its sighting by normal human
eye. Not only Ramzan and Eid but thousands of other matter of Islamic Sharaia
depend on it. It also affects marriage, divorce, iddat etc. If Islamic calendar
is used as in
It is thus clear that sighting or non sighting of the moon on 29th
is not a casual matter like a festival or a national ceremony, but it is the
end of a worship and beginning of another. For example 29th Ramzan means
that fast and other worships of Ramzan have ended and worship of Eid has
started, months of Hajj have started which affects many ahkam e shariah.
It should be understood what is meant by sighting or not sighting of the
moon according to Quran and Holy Prophet ((peace be upon him) Is the presence
of the moon above the horizon enough according to Sharaia or sighting by a
human eye will decide it i.e. is the presence of the moon enough for Ramzan and
Eid or is sighting and witness is needed. To decide it look at the quotation of
the Holy Prophet ((peace be upon him). Shih Bukhari is a well known book of hadith
which is credible second only to the holy Qur’an. In it the Holy Prophet (peace
be upon him) is quoted:
عن عبد الله بن عمر رضي الله عنهما
أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ذكر رمضان فقال لا
تصوموا حتى تروا الهلال ولا تفطروا حتى تروه فإن غم عليكم فاقدروا له .
Narrated
Abdullah bin Umar (RA):
Allah's Apostle mentioned Ramadan and said, "Do not fast
unless you see the crescent (of Ramadan), and do not give up fasting till you
see the crescent (of Shawwal), but if the sky is overcast (if you cannot see
it), then act on estimation (i.e. count Sha'ban as 30 days).
Another hadith
says:
عن عبد الله بن عمر رضي الله عنهما
أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال الشهر تسع وعشرون ليلة فلا تصوموا
حتى تروه فإن غم عليكم فأكملوا العدة ثلاثين.
Narrated
Abdullah bin Umar (RA):
Allah's Apostle said, "The month (can be) 29 nights (i.e.
days), and do not fast till you see the moon, and if the sky is overcast, then
complete Sha'ban as thirty days."
Both these Ahadith are present in all other books of Ahadith. No scholar
has disputed them. In both, the basis of fasting and Eid is on sighting of the
moon. The word “Ruet” is an Arabic word and it means seeing by eye. Any other
meaning assigned to it is not real but virtual. The gist of the quotation of
the Holy Prophet ((peace be upon him) is that all matter depending on the moon
depend on sighting of the moon by normal eye. Thus the criteria
is not presence of the moon above horizon but sighting of the moon. If
the moon is present above the horizon but is not sighted due to any reason,
then its presence cannot be relied upon.
The meaning
of the hadith has been further clarified by the last phrase which says that if
the moon is hidden from you then complete 30 days. It is not said that in this
case find the birth and presence of the moon by calculations and follow it, or
see it by telescope or other astronomical instruments but said that
فإن غم عليكم فأكملوا العدة ثلاثين .
Translation: And if the sky is overcast, then complete Sha'ban as thirty days.
i.e.
if the moon is hidden, then complete 30 days of the month. The word “Ghummah”
needs special attention. Its literary meaning in Arabic dictionary (Qamoos) is
hidden from the eye.
It is said at a time when cloud or some other object hinders the view and
the moon cannot be seen. Thus the Holy Prophet ((peace be upon him) has ordered
it by accepting the presence of the moon, only on its sighting by the eye,
because for something to be hidden its presence is necessary. If something is
not present it cannot be called hidden. It is also clear that there may be
several reasons for the moon being hidden. Whatever the reason, if it is hidden
from the eye and is not visible, then Sharaia instruction is that fasting and
Eid can not be celebrated.
It is further confirmed by another hadith of Sahi Muslim. It is stated
that some Sahabah left for Umrah. They saw the moon during their journey.
Observing its large size they discussed it. Some said it is the moon of 2nd,
some said it is of 3rd. Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbas asked them when
they saw it first. It was informed that it was seen on such and such night.
Ibne Abbas said:
“The Holy Prophet)
peace be upon him) has emphasized the sighting of the moon, therefore it should
be regarded the moon of the night in which it was sighted.”
From this it
is clear that the problem is not the presence of the moon but sighting it by
the common eye. To see the hidden moon with a telescope or to see it from an
aero plane flying over the clouds is not a replacement of sighting. The problem
of seeing an object has nothing to do with science or meteorological department
or astronomy. If a person claims to see an object at a particular time and a
particular place and others say that they were also present there at that time
and did not see it, then the decision does not lie with meteorological
department or astronomy or mathematicians. The judgement can be given in
Islamic states by Qazi (jurist) and in others by a Muslim judge. He will
examine the witnesses and give the decision. If the problem is only of its
presence then it is not a matter of a Qazi (jurist) or Muslim judge, it has to
be decided by an astronomer. If a judge or a Qazi (jurist) has to give a
decision, he can and will seek the advice of astronomers too.
6.5 New Moon Conjunction
The moon is revolving around the earth. Every lunar month, there is a
position in its orbit when the moon comes in between the earth and the sun i.e.
all the three bodies come in a straight line. There is no fixed time for this
event every month. Sometimes it occurs at
Existence
of the moon
After the birth of the new moon, there can be the following
possibilities:
·
The moon sets before the
sunset
·
First the sun sets and then
the moon
·
Both set together
On the first of a lunar month if the moon remains above the horizon even
for one minute (whether visible or not), the astronomers call it existence or presence of the moon. Many Arab countries that use the lunar
calendar in their business and government work use the existence of the moon to
prepare their calendars and use it to regulate their official business and work
and trade. But according to Islamic principles the lunar date does not begin
with the new moon of this nature.
We have nothing to do with the existence of the moon. For example if on
29th Ramzan the sky is cloudy, the moon is neither visible nor is
there any possibility of its being seen, then we are advised to complete 30
fasts and do not celebrate Eid despite the existence of the moon. The calendars
prepared on this basis are wrong. If an Arab country prepares a lunar calendar
or gets it prepared by an expert on the basis of existence of the moon and
announces the beginning of Ramzan or Eid on its basis, we should reject their
claim. But if the moon is sighted in an Arab country and they declare its
visibility it should be accepted by the inhabitants of their locality.
(Abstract from “ Ruete Hila ka Masla Asre Hazir ke Wasayal
aur Taraqqiyat ki Roshni Men” by Hazrat Maulana Burhanuddin Sambhali, Sadar,
Shoba e Hadees Shareef, Darul Uloom Nidwat ul Ulma, Lukhnow.
According to principles and
observations of Astronomy, every month the moon comes in a line with the sun
for some time (called conjunction). It is impossible to see it at that instant.
Gradually it moves away. After about 17 to 20 hours, it becomes possible that
the moon may be visible. When the moon just moves away from conjunction, it is
called new moon or birth of the moon. Islamic shariah also
agree with it. (e.g. see the famous book of Fiqah Hanafi (Shami Vol 1, p289).
It has been proved by observations that the moon is sight able at least
17 hours (usually 20 to 22 hours) after the new moon (not a single
contradiction has been reported for several years.). Obviously it can be seen
only after it is sightable not before it.
He further writes: The famous sharah of the most credible hadith book
Bukhari, Hafiz Ibne Hajar has written the following important point to ponder:
In this
hadith of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) it has been ordered to complete
30 days in case of non sighting of the moon. It has not been said to consult
mathematicians. The wisdom is that to begin the next month by completing 30
days is easy for every one (on the other hand not many people know
mathematics). Thus there will be no dispute.
The point of view of scholars about the beginning of a new lunar month is
by sighting with the eye and not by mathematical calculations. Hafiz Ibne Hajar
has also, with reference to Allama Baji has quoted the consensus of previous
religious scholars.
From the above discussion it becomes very
clear that the beginning of month does not depend on calculations or
instruments but only on sighting of the moon by the human eye. It is not enough
for the moon to be present on the horizon. It is also clear that the new moon
found by calculations or instruments does not fulfill the share (Islamic
principles and laws) requirements.
Chances of sighting: The moon can never
be sighted at the birth of the moon. If the moon moves about 12o
away from the sun about 7% of its bright portion faces us and is sufficiently
away from bright rays of the sun. If the weather is clear and the atmosphere is
not polluted, the chances of visibility become stronger i.e. the moon can be
seen by the human eye. This time is called “Possible sighting time”. The sharai
Islamic new moon begins at this instant. Fast, Eids and other religious
occasions depend on this crescent.
There are three important conditions for
the sighting of the moon.
1. Elongation of the moon. The elongation
of the moon should be at least 12o for sighting then it is possible.
2. Altitude
of the moon.
3. The moon should have moved sufficiently away from
the sun so that its sufficient bright part faces the earth.
Moon
Elongation
Horizon 12o Observer
Sun
Maulana Sameeruddin from UK has listed the data available at Royal
Greenwich Observatory, London for minimum times when the moon was sighted.
- When observed with a telescope, it
was found that when elongation of the moon becomes 6.87 and its age 13.47
hours i.e. 13 hours and 28 minutes, it was visible through binoculars not
by naked eye.
- After seeing it with binoculars, it
was then seen with naked eye when its elongation became 8.1o
and age 15.53 days i.e. its age was 15 hours and 32 minutes. It was
visible to the naked eye with great difficulty and was seen very rarely.
- Usually the moon is visible at
elongation 10o. All the three old books of astronomy
“Attasreeh p
52, Sharah e Chaghmani p 90 and the
famous book Al Qanun al Masoodi part 2 p 952” agree that
The crescent is
visible when the moon is 12o from the sun and its age is 23 hours 31
minutes.
Opinion
of experienced observers
Experienced observers are of the opinion that if the age of the moon is
about 18 hours and the weather is clear then shahadat (witness) of sighting can
be accepted without much investigation.
Sighting is common (by a good number of observers) in clear weather when
age is greater than 25 hours. The shahadat of sighting before the age is 17
hours is not trustable.
Altitude
The second condition for sighting is that the moon should be sufficiently
high above the horizon to be seen. Even if the elongation of the moon is 30o
but the moon sets before the sun or at sunset its height above the horizon is
very small, the thin crescent cannot be seen. Thus for six months when the moon
is in the south, it sets before the sun in
abnormal regions as its altitude is very low. For this reason the
crescent is not visible in those regions for several days.
Useful
facts
- Altitude of the moon should be 10o
for sighting.
- The moon cannot be seen immediately
after sunset due to bright light and red twilight (shafaq e ahmer) in the
atmosphere.
- After sunset when the sun has moved
5o below horizon (about 15 to 20 minutes) and the Sun light has
become dim and at that time the moon is at least 5o above
horizon, the crescent can be seen.
Moon
Horizon
Earth
100
Sun
Conjunction: When the sun, the moon and the earth come
together in the same line, it is called conjunction. As soon as the moon moves
away, it is called new moon by astronomers. It can take place at any time
during the day or night. Sighting of the moon on 1st of a lunar
month is different from the birth of the new moon. The situation at conjunction
is given below.
Earth Moon Sun
.
SIGHTING
OF THE MOON a
unique question
–
From the author’s article Published in “Saudi Gazette”:
The day is not too far when
some Muslim, after reaching on
the moon may ask us from the MOON:
“ …O ! You Gentleman, the dweller of the tiny world ..Please let me know
have you sighted the new moon so that I may start Fasting”
My
dear Muslim brothers: ….With the rapid advancement of modern day technology we should now keep ourselves ready to answer
such questions and to face such situations. There is no doubt that the solution
of every problem is available in the Holy Qur’an and Ahadees-e-Nabwi Sharif. It
is for us to recite, learn, understand, practice and preach to others the
teachings of Holy Qur’an and the way of Prophet Mohammad
(Sallaho-alyhe-wa-sallam). May ALLAH Almighty give us Taufiq and Hidayah to do so. Aameen.
(Abstracts
from my article - published in the Saudi Gazette Jeddah, KSA – Monday August
1986 in its Hajj Edition)
6.6
Gregorian Calendar and Its Roots
Unfortunately we condemn our lunar calendar and are satisfied with the
solar calendar hanging on the wall. We find it very simple to see the date in
it although the innocent looking calendar hanging on the wall has several
defects.
How many of
us know the name of the calendar hanging on the wall and why is it named so.
From where this Gregorian calendar had come? We have to relate thousands of
years old history of it so that its defects can be brought forward.
Do you know that this Gregorian calendar based on the sun’s annual
motion changes every year? It becomes obsolete and every year a new calendar
has to be printed.
- It does not divide the year in equal
number of days.
- In a leap year the number of days is
even.
- In these years the 366 days can be
divided in two halves of 183 days.
- In normal years 365 days cannot be
divided in 2 equal halves.
- Neither can the year be divided in 4
equal parts.
- 365 or 366 days can not be divided in equal number of
weeks of 7 days.
Thus this calendar is deprived of several useful properties.
In 46 BC the
Roman king Julius Caesar modified the Roman calendar by increasing a day in
February every fourth year. In 13th century a defect in Julian
calendar founded by ancient Romans was detected. When the calendar was founded,
the period of revolution of the earth around the sun was known as 365.25 days.
Later better calculations showed that the actual period is
With passing years this difference kept on mounting. In 16th
century, in 1582, on the advice of astronomer and mathematician Christopher
Clavius, Pope Gregory XIII made another reform in the calendar and it was
called Gregorian calendar which we use today. To correct the cumulative error,
he shortened the month of October. The following
Gregory changed the rule of leap years also. Till then every fourth year
was a leap year. The centuries 1700, 1800, 1900, 2000 were all leap years in
Julian calendar. But according to Gregory all centuries are not leap years.
Only those centuries are leap years which are divisible by 400. Thus 2000 was a
leap year but 1700, 1800 and 1900 were not, nor will be 2100.
This is the
calendar which we use today without any doubt, but the lunar calendar does not
have these defects.
CHAPTER 7
MATHEMATICAL
METHOD FOR FINDING THE DIRECTION OF QIBLA
7.1 Formula for Direction of Qibla
The following information is needed to find the direction of the Qibla
from a given place:
a = latitude
of the place.
b = latitude
of Mecca Mukarramah = 21o 25’ 16” N.
c = longitude
of the place.
d = longitude of Mecca Mukarramah = 39o
49’ 29.1” E.
Formula:
Cot A = 
Where A is
the angle of Qibla from the north. If A turns out to be add 180o to
it.
Example 1: Find the direction of Qibla
from a place whose latitude is 33o 17’ 12” N and longitude is 73o
02’ 25” E.
Solution: a = latitude of place = 33o 17’ 12”.
b
= latitude of Mecca = 21o 25’ 16”
c
= longitude of place = 73o 02’ 25”.
d
= longitude of Mecca = 39o 49’ 29.2”.
Formula Cot A
=
Put the value
of a, b, c and d and take sin, cos and tan with the help of calculator.
Cot A = 
Multiply the
terms
Cot A = 
. Subtract
Cot A = 
= – 0. 2540800
Take
reciprocal:
tan A = 
= – 3.9357683.
Take tan
-1 with calculator
A = tan
-1 (– 3.9357683) = – 75o 44’ 38”.
= – 75o 44’ 38”. + 180
= 104o 15’ 22” West of The north
or
255o 44’ 38” East of The north
.
Example 2: Find the direction of Qibla
for the city Den Haag of Netherland.
Solution: a = latitude of place = 52o 22’ 0” N.
b
= latitude of Mecca = 21o 25’ 16” N
c
= longitude of place = 4o 53’ 0”E.
d
= longitude of Mecca = 39o 49’ 29.2” E.
Formula Cot A
=
Put the value
of a, b, c and d and take sin, cos and tan with the help of calculator.
Cot A = 
Multiply the
terms
Cot A = 
. Subtract
Cot A = 
= – 0. 6113121
Take
reciprocal:
tan A = 
= – 1.6358257.
Take tan
-1 with calculator
A = tan
-1 (–1.6358257) = – 58.5621.
= – 58.5621 + 180 = 121.438.
= 121o 26’ East of The north or
Example 3: Find the direction of Qibla
from Karachi.
Solution: a = latitude of place = 24o 50’ N.
b
= latitude of Mecca = 21o 25’ 16” N
c
= longitude of place = 67o 03’ E
d
= longitude of Mecca = 39o 49’ 29.2”.E
Formula Cot A
=
Put the value
of a, b, c and d and take sin, cos and tan with the help of calculator.
Cot A = 
Multiply the
terms
Cot A = 
. Subtract
Cot A = 
= – 0. 040523
Take
reciprocal:
tan A = 
= – 24.6773105.
Take tan
-1 with calculator
A = tan
-1 (–24.6773105) = – 87.6795.
= – 87.6795 + 180
= 92.32 = 92o 19’ West of The
north or
267o
41’East of The north
.
7.2 Another Formula for Qibla
Find the latitude of the place, latitude of Mecca and difference of
longitudes of Mecca and the place.
Formula:
A = 
Example 1: Find direction of Qibla from
Rahim Yar Khan.
Solution: Put the value in above formula
A = 
= 
= 
= 
= tan – 1 (
– 7.94408657)
= - 82.8253 + 180 = 97.17
= 97o19’ West of The north
= 262o 41’ East of The north.
Example 2: Find direction of Qibla from
Islamabad.
Solution: Longitude of place = 73.0833o E.
Latitude of place = 33.716676o N.
Longitude of Mecca = 39.75o E.
Latitude
of
Diff of longitudes =
73.0833 – 39.75
= 33.333
Formula: A =
Put the value of the angles
A = 
A = 
A = 
= 
= tan – 1 ( – 4.012193)
= – 76.004o + 180 = 103.996o..
So direction
of Qibla from
7.3 Method
to find the North with The Help of the Sun
On a sheet of
paper draw a line NS.
If it is
Fix the paper
horizontally and put a pencil perpendicular to the plane of the paper at C.
Rotate the
paper so that the shadow of the pencil coincides with the line CB. NS will
represent the North and the South
N
B
Pencil
Shadow
C
S
CHAPTER 8
PLACES
WHERE TWILIGHT NEVER ENDS
Six months long day and night
Abnormal regions
8.1 Regions near the Poles of the Earth
The conditions in places near the poles are different from other places.
These places are called abnormal regions and the countries located in such
regions are called abnormal countries.
In such abnormal regions day and nights are of six months duration. Near the poles and in adjacent regions. White twilight
and sometimes red twilight does not disappear for months. The reason is
explained below.
The earth is rotating round its axis which causes day and night. Its axis
of rotation is tilted at an angle 23.5o. Allah (s.w.t.) almighty has
created the earth in such a way that thousands of our requirements are
fulfilled without our efforts.
night day day
night
Sun
Orbit
Besides the rotation of the earth around its axis it is also revolving
round the sun in the elliptic orbit. The above diagram illustrates that when
the earth is at one extremity of its orbit, due to tilt of axis, the northern
hemisphere is tilted towards the sun so that the rays of sun fall
perpendicularly on Tropic of Cancer. At this time there is summer in the
northern hemisphere and at the North Pole and adjoining areas it is
continuously day time. After six months when the earth reaches the other end of
the orbit due to annual motion, the southern hemisphere is tilted towards the
sun. The sun ray fall perpendicularly on Tropic of Capricorn, causing summer in
the southern hemisphere and is the cause of lengthy days at and around the
South Pole. In summer days are long and nights are short.
When it is perpetual day for six
months at and near the North Pole, there is perpetual night at and around the South
Pole. After six months when there is perpetual day at and around the South
Pole, there remains perpetual night at and near the North Pole.
8.2 The
Issues
Let us tackle the issue separately.
All of us know
that there are two separate regions and period in the world.
·
Normal areas. 
Normal areas are
between (48 ½) degrees North Latitude to (48 ½) degrees South Latitude; while
beyond 48 ½) degrees up to poles are abnormal areas.
·
Abnormal period and area. 
During
the summer season when Twilight never ends in the areas beyond (48 ½) degrees
North Latitude and (48 ½) degrees South Latitude up to poles, are considered as
abnormal areas & abnormal periods. During this period neither Shafaq abyadh
nor Ahmar ends or where neither sun rises nor sets.
The
In
this connection we have to refer to the actual words of the Holy Quran. It is
clearly mentioned to distinguish between:
·
White thread and black thread.
(Line – khat-e-abyad and khat-e-aswad)
·
Allah s.w.t. used the word THREAD
of the morning 
(and not the white and black ROPE 
or
broad spectrum)
We
have to distinguish between the two.
We
must look towards the intention of the Holy Quran.
Think
– why the word Thread is used – what is the intention behind it.
And Think
of the thickness of the thread (KHAT) or line or thread.
We
have not been guided to wait till the lamination (light) spreads all around
us.
All the Ulamas, Alhumdo-llillah, know very
well its meaning and also the intention of Allah s.w.t. and the intension of
our Holy Prophet p.u.h.
What is to be emphasized?
White
and black thread appears and is visible vividly and only recognizable in the
very initial stage when the night breaks and the day light starts spreading. It
happens at the beginning of astronomical Twilight. This is the time when we
have to stop our Sehri and this is the actual time of Subhe Sadiq.
With
the passage of time, every one knows, the illumination –that is light intensity
constantly increases and spreads and covers a broad area till the sun rises.
The
two Threads of Fajr can be distinguished, recognized, and differentiated by
only those experienced persons who constantly watch and regularly observe these
threads in the very initial time of its appearance. And by those who know its
shape, direction, and time of appearance.
Certainly its observation depends upon:
- eye sight of the observer- (most
important)
- If the eye sight is weak, observations
of the line (having thickness of a thread) will be impossible.
- Light free & Clear atmosphere – no
snow fall/ rainfall - (most
important) Cloud, moist, fog and dust free environment -
(most important)constant observations – necessary and
- Observations without knowing the time
of beginning of Astronomical Twilight – must.
As far as Astronomical Terminologies are
concerned
Experts talk about the range:
- The duration of Civil Twilight is
between 0 to 06 degrees.
- The duration of Nautical Twilight is
between 6 to12 degrees.
- The duration of Astronomical Twilight
is between 12 to18 degrees.
It is now clear that we are not concerned with the range
– or the transitional Zone
We
have been clearly and specifically taught by the Holy Quran and asked to
distinguish between the Black and white threads of the morning. 
It can be
confirmed from any Astronomical Observatory that:
·
18 degrees stage is the
point of separation - at this time in the morning black darkness of night ends
and illumination of day starts. It is the time when, on the eastern horizon and
all around, one can find within the DARK night sky :
·
A dark Black cap just like
a black TAWWA 
on the head of the observer – one edge of the
cap, ending on the eastern horizon, shows a black semi circular line (Black
streak) – quite distinct from the white streak of light coming up from the
bottom.
·
This white streak 
of light is quite vivid from
the black streak. 
How
it looks like
The
white Thread appears in a semi circular form of which the upper limb pushes the
black thread upwards – and constantly the light intensity increases with the
increase in size of the semi circular white glow. These are the distinguishable
Black and white threads of the morning.
During the Normal period (in winter) when Twilight
(both Shafaq-Abyed and Ahmar) appears and disappears in areas beyond the (48 ½)
degrees North, particularly in Europe,
any one expert or any one who recognizes the Subhe-Sadiq can observe the Black and white threads, in
favorable weather conditions, in its most initial stage.
Shafaq
(twilight) remains for a longer period in the higher latitudes - and in
abnormal seasons (in summer) for weeks or months and sometimes it never ends.
It is correct but during the normal seasons the shape at its initial stage and
appearance remain the same throughout the whole world.
At this time the shape of illumination never
appears like a wolf’s tail- This statement can be confirmed from any
Meteorological or Astronomical observatory.
Illumination
like a pyramid, pillar, and conical shaped elongated light appears only before
the beginning of astronomical twilight in the morning –it appears in the
Zodiac-and known as zodiacal light
The duration between the sun set and Shafaq-Abyed on any particular date
is the same as the duration between sun-rise and Subhe-sadiq. If it is
difficult to ascertain the time of Subhe-Sadiq, it is advisable to watch and
observe, after the sunset, the time when Shafaq Abyed ends.
Shabbir Ahmad Kakakhel from
(Ref:
Fahmul-Falkiyat 
Shabbir Ahmad Kakakhel)
All the Ulamas, Alhumdo-llillah,
also know:
If
in a country or a locality the moon is sighted by a group of people and Ulamas
are satisfied, they issue the Fatwa of Eid or Ramzan.
Likewise,
if a group of God fearing people observe and sincerely say we have seen and
distinguished the white and black thread of Fajr in its initial stage, it
becomes necessary for all others to accept and follow their findings.
If a person says
no I shall believe only on what and when I and only I personally have observed
– it means every individual will follow and go according to his own findings –
which is neither acceptable nor sensible.
References in
support of 18 degrees are available. But instead of giving any importance to
observations of others, unfortunately Moulana Yaqoob Fathavi from
It
is amazing that on the basis of the following ground Dr Omar Afzal from USA
coined the opinion that the time of Fajr begins at Nautical Twilight
(depression angle 6°).
He wrote: “For
Isha a good gauge is found in Surah Yusuf. The brothers of Yusuf (AS) returned
to their home by “Isha” to tell their father about the ‘event’ of Hazrat Yousuf
(AS) disappearance. They waited in the open desert and returned when the normal
daytime activities were possible... they returned - at the time of Civil
twilight (sun’s depression 6°).”
Remember:
The brothers of Yusuf (AS) returned
to their home by “Isha” to tell their father about the ‘event’ of his disappearance.
But don’t forget they were not bringing any good news to their father. They committed a blunder
and were all guilty. They tried to hide their faces from the general public,
and returned to their home late (quite late) in the night. So how we can assume
they returned - at the time of civil twilight as suggested by Dr.Afzal.
Is it
not very strange that, in order
to facilitate and to avoid
hardship, unfortunately (some Muslims,
consider ( it ) sun’s depression at 6 degrees time to be the time of
Subhe-Sadiq., and depending upon this assumption and on the basis of this
event, they are eating and drinking in Sehri till the time of Civil Twilight.
For
a valid visual observation of Fajr al-Mustateel and Faj al-Mustateer, like
Shafaq al-Ahmar and Shafaq al-Abyad the observers must prepare methodically. A
valid observation should be done at a location away from well-lighted cities,
by observers who do not know the local prayer schedules, or the direction
(where to observe), and should not have watches, etc. A time-keeper with a watch
and a compass should merely note down the details given by each observer (about
when he noticed the first light, in what direction, when the light started
spreading horizontally, the time lag, etc.), without making any comments or
corrections.
So
during our observations we must keep in mind the above conditions. In
abnormal conditions religious scholars particularly Muftees (Jurists) may be
consulted to give their final opinion.
Alhamdo-llillah
Muftian karam are very cautious in this respect. They are guiding and assisting
Muslim brothers to pray all five obligatory prayers and compiling Sehar and
Iftar Time Tables on the basis of Ijtehad - (FAQDEROO) Taqdeer -
Abnormal areas & different conventions in use
In various countries, people are using different
convention, for the compilation and composition of Prayers Timetables
particularly for Fajr and Isha. The different methods used by different
organizations are as follows.
|
Organisation |
Fajr Twilight angle |
Isha – twilight Angle |
Region |
|
|
University of Islamic Sciences, |
18° |
18° degrees below horizon |
|
|
|
Islamic Society of |
15° |
15° -Incorrect don’t use it it is debatable |
Parts of parts of |
|
|
World Islamic League |
18° |
17° |
parts of |
|
|
Um Ul-Qura, Makkah |
19° |
90 mines after Maghrib, 120 min in Ramazan |
|
|
|
Egyptian General Organisation of Surveying |
19.5 |
17.5 |
Africa, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Malaysia, parts of |
|
Convention: In the abnormal areas and also
in the extreme northern and southern latitudes, during the summer months, the
twilight may persist between sunset and the next sunrise for certain months of
the year. In these months the sun does not go below the horizon to abolish
twilight. Hence we can say these are the abnormal regions where there is no
true night. Under these circumstances, Fajr and Isha times may be calculated
using one of the following four agreed principles. These conventions are commonly
known to the Ulmas
i. Nearest
latitude (Aqrab Al-Balad)
Since
conditions differ from Lat 48:30 in both the hemispheres add the interval
between sunset and isha for a location on latitude 48 degrees (the nearest
Latitude) to the local sunset time to obtain time for local isha. Similarly the
interval between fajr and sunrise for a location on latitude 48 degrees is
subtracted from local sunrise to obtain local fajr time.
ii. Nearest
day (Aqrab Al-Ayyam)
Use
fajr and isha times from the last day, for the abnormal period, when it was
possible to determine and calculate these times in the normal way for that
location.
iii. Middle
of night (Nisf Al-Lail)
Split interval between sunrise and sunset into two
halves. Isha may be offered before the midpoint (e.g. 15 minutes before
iv. One seventh of night (Sube Al-Lail)
Split interval between sunset and sunrise into seven segments. Isha may
be offered after the first segment and fajr may be offered after the sixth
segment
From latitude of 48.5o north to the North Pole and from 48.5o
south to the South Pole white and red twilights do not end for several months
in summer. We consider these regions as abnormal regions too. They include
European countries specially
A fatwah was obtained from Mazahar ul Uloom, Saharanpur (India) with the
efforts of Hazrat Maulana Mohammad Umer Palanpuri. It was published by Haztar
Maulana Muhammad Yousuf Ludhianvi in the monthly magazine “Al Bayyenat” of Jama
Islamia,
8.3 Istafta (Questionnaire)
Respectable Hazrat Mufti Saheb
Assalam
Alaikun wa Rahmatullah wa Barkatuhu
Hope by the
grace of Allah (s.w.t.) that you are well. These lines are written for the
solution of a very important problem. Between the latitudes of 48½ degrees
north and south, the days and nights continue all year round with changes in
durations. But in higher latitudes on some days there is not complete night
i.e. the twilight does not end. It creates some problems and confusion as to
when Maghrib and Isha prayers each be offered and to decide when the time of
sehri ends.
Since Muslim
countries are located between 48 ½ degrees north and south, there was no
practical problem in this context. Guidance was provided by scholars in some
rare cases for these regions but in general it was not needed for a common
person. Now the situation is different. There are millions of Muslims in some
cities of the western countries There are thousands villages. Without
exaggeration, the number of Muslim residing in these areas is in tens of
millions. Now as Ramazan is coming in July and the interest and trend of
prayers in Ramazan also increases in Muslims, there are great difficulties in
those areas where twilight does not end. There is great dispute in such areas
in finding times of Isha and Fajar. Different times are followed in different
mosques of the same city. It becomes an easy way for lazy people who seek ways
to avoid religious practices. Various situations faced are given below in detail.
Some more similar situations may be known to you.
Kindly
provide the guidance towards principles which are definite according to sharia
and on which the Islamic community agrees.
Wassalam
Abdul Latif
Muharram 3,
1402 H
Some
important problems are as follows
There are places where twilight does not end and places where there is
continuously daylight or continuously night. There are some places where either
the sun does not rise or does not set for several months. Muslims living in
such places face problem in fixing times for prayers, sehar and iftar.
Thousands of Muslims live in such places. There are local Muslims and other Muslims
who have settled in such places from other parts of the world. The following reflects the problems faced by
them in determining the times of prayers.
1. Nights
in which twilight does not end. In places from 48½ o N to the North
Pole and from 48½ o S to the South Pole the twilight does not end
and white or red twilight remains visible on the sky throughout the night in
summer. The list of such places is given in table 1 on
page
The problems in these places are
Question No.1
(a) How to
fix the time of Isha prayer?
(b) How to
fix the time of beginning of Fajar and end of shear?
2. Days
when the sun does not set: (i.e. where it is perpetual day).
In the northern hemisphere at
latitude of 66oN the sun rises on 12th June and does not
set (remains above the horizon) for 19 days i.e. it is continuously day time.
In higher latitudes, this duration is longer. On 75o N the sun rises
on 28th April and sets on 15th August after a long day of
3 months and 19 days in length. (Table 2 page ). At further north latitudes and at the
North Pole the sun does not set for six months in the northern hemisphere.
While in the southern hemisphere there is six months day in summer. (Table 4
page )
The problems
for these places are:
Question No. 2
(a) How to
fix the times for all five prayers?
(b) How to
find times for sehar and iftar?
3. Days when the sun does not rise (i.e.
perpetual night)
On the latitude 68oN when
the sun sets on 8th December at
The problems
in these places are:
Question No.3
(a) How to
fix the times for all the five prayers?
(b) How to
find times for sehar and iftar?
4. Appearance of twilight in places near
poles during long nights
In places near poles where there is
perpetual night, the twilight is visible above the horizon for several hours
every day. The twilight appears on the horizon when the sun is 18o
below horizon. The light of twilight keeps increasing every hour. It neither
vanishes nor ends. It remains visible throughout north south for hours. The
details are given in table 4 page
(The number of
hours for which the twilight is visible from 68o N to 75o
N is given in table 5 page .)
In these
places the problems are:
Question No. 4
(a) Will
beginning of twilight be treated as beginning of Fajar and end of sehar?
(b) The sun
does not rise at all. How the interval of twilight be treated? Will it be
regarded as part of day or night?
(c) How will
prayer times be set in these days?
5. The shortest day and the corresponding
longest night
In winter season, especially on 21st
December, the length of the day decreases continuously from 60o N to
67o N. At 66o the day is 2 hours 45 minutes long and at
67o it becomes 1½ hour long and the night becomes 22½ hour long.
Just imagine
that at 67oN, during a 1½ hour short day,
Time of sun
rise =
Transit time = 11:58 morning.
Time of sun
set =
Dawn (end of
sehri) = 6:34 morning.
Beginning of
time of Isha =
The question
is that in 1½ hour short day
Question No. 5
(a) Transit
time is 45 minutes after sunrise. Will Zohar be offered immediately after
transit and since?
(b) As a 45
minute interval is in between transit and sunset, will Asar prayer also be
offered in the same interval?
(c) There is
an interval of 1½ hours between sunrise and sunset, so will Maghrib prayer also
be offered at the end of 1½ hours?
Muslims living there have a very short period available to them, will the
prayers be offered as described above or they will have to fix the times in
these short days as for those places where no day time is available?
6. The longest day and the corresponding
shortest night
In The
northern hemisphere 21st December is the shortest day in winter. On
the other hand in summer 21st June is the longest day. On this date
at 60o N latitude this day is 19 hours long. Further north it
increases. On the same date at latitude of 65o N the day is about 22
hours long. The corresponding night is hardly of 2 hours. At latitude 66o
N and further north, the sun does not set on that day and it is continuously
day. At latitude of 66o N, the twilight does not end continuously
for 5 months and 1 day.
Just imagine:
in the 2 hour short night period at latitude 66o N on 21st
June,
Time of
sunset =
Time of sun
rise =
Dawn:
Twilight does not end throughout the night.
Transit time =
Time of Isha:
Twilight does not end all night.
Thus Muslims
living at this latitude get 2 hours short night in which even twilight does not
end after sunset.
In these two
hours duration after sun set:
(a) Iftar is
to be done.
(b) Maghrib prayer
is to be offered.
(c) Isha and
traveeh during Ramzan are to be offered.
(d) Sehri is
to be done.
(e) After
sehri Fajar prayer is to be offered before sunrise.
Remember that
this night corresponding to the longest day is only of two hours duration in
length.
The problems
are:
Question No. 6
(a) Will the
short night be divided according to the usual rules?
(b) Will some
rule be devised as for those regions where the sun
does not rise or set
(c) How will the time of Fajar and end of
sehar be decided?
7. The calendar for prayer times published
from London
London city, from which 0o Greenwich longitude passes, is
located at 51.5o N. Millions of Muslims from all over the world live
there. Due to high altitude, the twilight does not end there from 23rd
May to 19th July i.e. for one month and 28 days (almost two months).
Many other cities are located on the same latitude e.g. Bristle, Cardiff,
famous city of Canada Canderlay, parts of Sekchwan, Enderhoven, Valkil,
Netherlands etc. In these cities
twilight does not end for two months as in
In a calendar of prayer times published from London, the time of Isha is
shown one hour after Maghrib every day. Time of Fajar for every day from 23rd
May to 15 th July is shown (more or less) 2 hours before sunrise.
The problems
are:
Question No. 7
(a) Is it
correct to offer Isha prayer one hour after Maghrib in
places where twilight does not end?
(b) In places
where twilight does not end, is it correct to offer
Fajar prayer two hours before sunrise?
(c) Is it
correct to end sehri two hours before sunrise in such
places?
(d) Is the
calendar published from London wrong?
(e) How will
the times of prayers, sehar and Iftar be determined
in such places?
8.4 Answers
i. In the case where twilight does not
end all night, Isha prayer can be offered one hour after Maghrib prayer
Arabic text p 302
Its clear meaning is that if a person offers prayer in congregation even
before the end of white twilight it is correct without any objection and will
not be a matter of dispute or to condemn.
Thus if there
is no harm in it without any hindrance or objection and is not condemnable,
then in stated latitudes it will not be objectionable due to valid and
unavoidable reasons and conditions. It is advisable to consider it in mosques.
The rule is that the interval between dawn and sunrise is the same as the
interval between Maghrib and Isha. If the first interval is known, the second
will be considered as the same.
The sign of
dawn is that in the east a long light appears i.e. at the place of sunrise it
looks like a high pillar. This is false dawn. Later this light almost
disappears and another light appears in the sky in the north south directions.
It is a must to end sehri before the beginning of this light and Fajar time
begins at its appearance. And after sunset till a similar light remains, i.e.
white twilight, Isha should not be offered. When this light disappears, Isha
can be offered.
It is not difficult to find dawn and white twilight because it has a
special characteristic. The darkness of the night is evident and the
illumination of light in the east or west against it is also evident. Till this
light is towards the west, it is time for Maghrib, when it disappears, it is
time for Isha. And till such light does not appear on the east, it is night and
when it appears in the east, it is dawn. It is Fajar time between dawn and
sunrise. End sehri before dawn; do not continue it after dawn.
If the stated procedure is difficult, Fajar should be offered 1½ hours
before sunrise. Offer Isha prayer one hour after Maghrib.
ii. In places where the sun does not rise
and set daily but for several days or several months it remains risen or set as
at and near poles, in such regions the sun completes one circle daily in 24
hours i.e. it leaves a place one day and after almost 24 hours returns to the
same point. It can be regarded as one circuit which is equivalent to the sum of
a day and a night and the times of the five prayers can be guessed and offered accordingly.
The time of start of day-night cycle may be taken as the sunset of the nearest
place where it rises immediately after setting.
In places where the sun rises immediately after
setting, the interval between sunset and sunset be treated as the sum of
day-night. First half (12 hours after sunset) be treated as night.
Maghrib should be offered at the start of this period. Isha time should be
regarded after 1½ hours and Isha should be offered as soon as possible.
Then half hour before the end of first half (which was regarded as night)
offer Fajar. After elapsing half the time of the second half, which is regarded
as day, i.e. after three quarters of the time regarded as day-night, Zohar time
be declared and Zohar prayer may be offered as soon as possible.
Then about 1½ hours before the end of the 24 hour circuit, i.e. 1½ hours
before sunset, the time of Asar be taken. Then after sunset the next day-night is
considered and the next day’s Maghrib be offered soon after sunset. Then times
of Isha, Fajar and other prayers be fixed regarding the sum of day-night as a
day. The schedule of daily prayers is made accordingly.
If it is difficult, then it will be easier to regard 24 hours as a
day-night from the time the sun rises and does not set for several days. The
first 24 hours be regarded as one day-night and the five prayers be distributed
as described. Next 24 hours be regarded as next day.
In regions where the sun does not rise or set daily, but remains above or
below the horizon for several days or months, as at and near the poles of the
earth, the complete 24 hour circuit of the sun be treated as sum of a
day-night. The second half be treated as day. Keep fast in it. Stop eating
sehri 1½ hours before beginning of this half and keep fast after making intention.
First half is treated as night. Offer Maghrib, Isha, Taraveeh in it. When the
next day starts after the sum of day-night period ends, perform iftar and offer
Maghrib. Then in the first half of the next day which is treated as night, you
can eat, drink and offer all prayers of night. 1½ hours before the beginning of
next half which is treated as day, eat sehri and perform intention of fast.
Keep following it until the situation lasts.
iii. When the sun does not rise daily, the
sun is not present continuously for several days and remains set as at or near
poles, then in such places every 24 hours will be treated as a day-night
period. The first half will be treated as night and the second half as day
provided the sun does not rise after setting and remains continuously set. In
this case the 5 prayers will be offered as in answer (2).
The beginning of the day-night period be taken as sunrise of the nearest
place where the sun sets immediately after rising. In this case the first half
will be treated as day and the second half as night. In this case follow the
routines of (2) until continuous setting does not end. The times of fasting in
(3) will be the same as in (2).
iv. In case of continuous night, every 24
hours of time will be treated as a day-night period. First half is treated as
night and second half as day.
See the direction in which the twilight if it appears. If it appears in
the west it will be treated as white or red evening twilight and if it begins
elongated towards the east, i.e. it is like a pillar in the place of sunrise,
it is false dawn. Later it almost disappears and another light spreads on the
sky stretching along north south. After it Fajar time begins. This is taken as
dawn.
If above
mentioned signs are visible then it will be taken as evening white or red
twilight or dawn. Otherwise again a 24 hour period will be regarded as
equivalent to a day-night and prayers may be offered as in (3).
v. When the length of a day becomes too
small and it is difficult to determine and distinguish misl and malain , offer
Zohar as soon as possible and well before sunset (i.e. Isteqrar e Shams) offer Asar.
When the day becomes so short that even transit cannot be determined definitely
and agreed upon, then offer Zohar after half the day has passed and before
Isteqrar e Shams offer Asar so that there is a little difference of time
between the two prayers. There is no harm even if there is too little
difference.
vi. When night is short and day is long but
the sun rises and sets daily, time of transit and time of Asar may be separately
determined. Every prayer should be offered at its actual time. However Asar
must be offered before (Isteqrar e Shams) otherwise the prayer will be makrooh.
If the night is two hours long, offer Maghrib after sunset and Isha half
an hour later. Offer Fajar half an hour before sunrise. One hour’s time remains
between Isha and Fajar, in which Taraveeh and sehri can be done easily.
In places where the sun rise and sunset occur daily all the year round
but there is not enough time after sun set till dawn that according to the
ayat:
وَكُلُواْ وَٱشۡرَبُواْ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ ٱلۡخَيۡطُ
ٱلۡأَبۡيَضُ مِنَ ٱلۡخَيۡطِ
ٱلۡأَسۡوَدِ مِنَ ٱلۡفَجۡرِۖ ثُمَّ أَتِمُّواْ ٱلصِّيَامَ
إِلَى ٱلَّيۡلِۚ (٨٧ ) {البَقَرَة 2}
Translation: And eat and drink until the white thread (light) of dawn appears to you
distinct from the black thread (darkness of night), then complete your Saum
(fast) till the nightfall.
Food and
drinks can be taken and then fast can be completed till Maghrib, then for these
places the length of fast will not be determined with hours. But exactly the
same the days of the month will be fixed for fasts. As without eating and
drinking satisfactorily, a whole month fast is intolerable so in these days
keep fast by giving gaps according to courage and limit.
The fasts in lieu of gaps may be completed in other months according to courage
and power again by giving gaps.
If it is not
possible due to physical weakness then gives fidiya equal to one sadqa e fitr
and if it is not possible due to poverty, then keep repenting and try to leave
such a place as soon as possible.
In places
where sunrise and sunset occur daily and between sunset and dawn there is
enough time all the year in which the night prayers can be offered and food
taken easily and enough time is left for rest, then for persons in these
regions fasting is obligatory and necessary in Ramzan and fast should be
started with dawn. The duration of fast will be long, but due to cold country,
it will be well within tolerable limits and should not be avoided.
vii. In this case to offer Isha prayer one
hour after Maghrib is correct. Offer Fajar prayer 1¼ hours before sunrise. To
be on the safe side, end sehri two hours before sun rise. Offer remaining prayers at their scheduled times. If
Ramzan occurs during this period then fasting is obligatory. Obligatoriness is
not invalid and cancelled because in such days fast is 16 or 17 hours long
which is not beyond human endurance.
Yahyah Mazaharul Uloom,
7,
Jamadiul Awwal, 1402
Note: Evidently the answers to above
questions are not given in books of Fiqah in detail. Some scholars have written
explainations and answers in their fatawa like Muntakhibat e Nizamul
Fiqah, Ahsanul Fatawa. Imdadul Fatwa etc., that is written. May be some scholar disputes. It should be shown to
other scholars as well. We have written after consulting Hazrat Mufti Mahmood
Hasan Gangohi - Yahya GG
Table 1
The places where twilight does not end in
summer.
|
North latitude |
Days when twili- ght does not end |
No of such days |
Length day night 21 June |
Affected regions/ Places |
|
degree |
|
Mnth day |
Night day h m h
m |
|
|
49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 |
11 Jun - 1 July 1 Jun - 11 July 25 May - 17 July 21 May - 21 July 15 May – 27 July 11 May – 31 July 9 May – 3 Aug 5 Mat – 7 Aug 1 May – 11 Aug 27 Apr – 13 Aug 25 Apr – 17 Aug 21 Apr – 19 Aug 19 Apr – 23 Aug 17 Apr – 25 Aug 13 Apr – 29 Aug 11 Apr – 1 Sep 7 Apr – 3 Sep 5 Apr – 5 Sep 3 Apr – 9 Sep 31 Mar – 11 Sep 29 Mar – 13 Sep 25 Mar – 17 Sep 23 Mar – 19 Sep 21 Mar – 21 Sep 19 Mar – 23 Sep 15 Mar – 27 Sep 13 Mar – 29 Sep |
0 21 1 11 1 23 2 1 2 13 2 21 2 26 3 3 3 11 3 18 3 24 4 0 4 5 4 9 4 17 4 22 4 28 5 1 5 7 5 12 5 16 5 24 5 28 6 1 6 5 6 13 6 17 |
7 47 16
13 7 37 16
23 7 27 16
33 7 16 16
44 7 02 16
58 6 51 17
09 6 37 17
23 6 22 17
38 6 06 17
54 5 49 18
11 5 29 18
21 5 07 18
53 4 43 19
17 4 15 19
45 3 41 20
19 2 58 21
02 1 57 22
03 0 00 24
00 0 00 sun 0 00 0 00 does 0 00 0 00 not 0 00 0 00 set 0 00 0 00 |
Britain, Mangolia, Ukrain, Canada, Belgium Russia, Canada,
Brussels, British Clumbia, Humburg Russia Russia Russia Finland, Alaska,
Greenland
Do
Do ,
do N.Russia,
do
do
do
do |
Table 2
Places where sun does not set
(Perpetual day)
|
N. Lat Degre. |
Date of no sunset perpetual day |
Duration of Perpet. day |
Famous places / regions |
|
|
Rises
Sets |
Months Days |
|
|
66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 |
12 June 30
June 2 June 11
July 26 May 17
July 21 May 23
July 16 May 27
July 12 May 31
July 8 May 4 Aug 5 May 8 Aug. 1 May 11 Aug 28 Apr 15
Aug |
0 19 1 10 1 22 2 3 2 13 2 20 2 28 3 4 3 11 3 19 |
do
do
do
do
do
do
do
do |
Table 3
Places where sun does not rise
(Perpetual night)
|
N. Lat Degrees. |
Date of no sunrise perpetual night |
Duration of Perpet. Night |
Duration of Twilight Minimum
Maximum |
|
|
Sets
Rises |
Mon Days |
Hr. Min Hr.
Min |
|
68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 |
8 Dec 3 Jan 1 Dec 11 Jan 26 Nov 17 Jan 21 Nov 22 Jan 17 Nov 26 Jan 12 Nov 30 Jan 9 Nov 2 Feb 6 Nov 6 Feb |
0
26 1
11 1 23 2 2 2 10 2 18 2 25 3 1 |
5 20 5 26 5 16 5 20 5 12 5 38 5
8 5 51 5 3 6 1 4 58 6 13 4 53 6 25 4 46 6 42 |
Times for 76o onwards are in next table.
Table 4
Six months long day and night
Appearance of twilight in long nights
|
North Latitude |
Days when sun light or Twilight remains |
Continuous night but Twil. Begins and ends |
Continuous night Duration of twilight(1) |
|
|
From
To |
From
To |
|
|
76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 – 90 |
9 March 2 Oct 7 March 4
Oct . 4 March 8 Oct 2 March 9 Oct 1 March 12 Oct 25 Feb
15 Oct 23 Feb
18 Oct 20 Feb
20 Oct 16 Feb
24 Oct 14 Feb
26 Oct 10 Feb
29 Oct day is longer in these days |
3 Oct 8,10 Mar 5 Oct 6,8 Mar 8 Oct 3,5 Mar 10 Oct 1,3
Mar 13 Oct 28
Feb,
1 Mar 16 Oct 24,26
Feb 19 Oct
22,24 Feb 21 Oct
19,21 Feb 25 Oct
17,19 Feb 27 Oct
13,15 Feb 30 Oct 8,10
Feb night is longer in these days |
72o to 87o twilight does not set for 6 hours. (Jan), date 26 Twilight does not set For 4 to 5 hours daily From 76o to 800.(Jan) 80o day starts to rise from 1 March 76o night begins from 1, Oct. 76o to 81o twilight does not set for 5 to 9 hours on 16 Oct. 16 Nov. twilight does not set for 6 hours from75o to 85o. 10 Jan. twilight does not set for 4 hours from 75o to 80o. |
(1) Light of twilight appears for different durations
at different times at different latitudes. Some data is given above as a
sample.
Table 5
Days in which it is perpetual night
Hours for which twilight is visible
Degrees in North latitudes
|
Date/Month |
68 |
69 |
70 |
71 |
72 |
73 |
74 |
75 |
|
|
H M |
H M |
H M |
H M |
H M |
H M |
H M |
H M |
|
7 Nov 9 Nov 13 Nov 17 Nov 21 Nov 27 Nov 1 Dec 2 Dec 9 Dec 15 Dec 23 Dec 1 Jan 7 Jan 9 Jan 15 Jan 21 Jan 25 Jan 29 Jan 1 Feb 5 Feb |
5 26 5 22 5 20 5 25 |
5 28 5 23 5 18 5 16 5 21 5 28 5 31 |
5 38 5 31 5 27 5 19 5 14 5 13 5 18 5 25 5 28 5 39 |
5 49 5 35 5 27 5 24 5 15 5 10 5 08 5 14 5 22 5 25 5 37 5 51 |
5 59 5 47 5 32 5 24 5 20 5 11 5 05 5 04 5 10 5 18 5 21 5 34 5 49 6 01 |
6 10 5 57 5 45 5 29 5 20 5 16 5 07 5 01 4 58 5 05 5 14 5 17 5 31 5 47 6 00 6 13 |
6 25 6 10 5 56 5 43 5 26 5 16 5 12 5 02 4 55 4 53 4 59 5 09 5 13 5 27 5 45 5 58 6 13 6 24 |
6 34 6 25 6 09 5 54 5 40 5 22 5 12 5 07 4 56 4 49 4 46 4 54 5 04 5 08 5 24 5 42 5 57 6 12 6 25 6 42 |
(insert the duration of Astronomical
twilight from its beginning to sunrise from
the sunset to its end)
8.6 A New Method for Finding Times of Prayer in
Regions near the Poles
The transit time (at any date)
is the same all over the world.
Strange and interesting
Allah (s.w.t.) almighty put a very useful idea in my mind by which the
problem of prayer, sehar and iftar can be easily solved in places where the sun
does not rise and set for six months. All praises to the almighty Allah
(s.w.t.) who put this idea in my mind. It is a fact which most people are
unaware of. Perhaps religious scholars also have not thought about it.
i. All over the world, in every country,
every city, on every latitude and longitude (at any given date, and place) the
time of transit is the same. It is a known fact to which astronomers agree and
confirm. There is nothing extraordinary about it.
ii. For example today 1st of
April, the time of transit in Glasgow and Pakistan is 12:00 hrs Universal Time.
The same time of transit is in
iii. The apparent difference in the time of
transit (zawal) observed by us in different places and countries, is due to the
standard time of the country and due to the difference between standard and
local times. The standard time of
iv. Some
further explanations
To form charts of prayer times we need to know the difference in
standard and local times. This has already been discussed in detail on
pages .
- When the sun is on observer’s
meridian, it is transit time which is the same all over the world on the
same day.
- Just as the time of transit is the same all over the world on
the same day similarly the time of dawn, i.e. for beginning and end of
astronomical twilights is also at the same instant, when the sun is 18o
below horizon. It is another matter that when red and white twilights do
not end, there is no question of beginning or end of dawn. These days are called
abnormal days and the regions in which it occurs are called abnormal
regions.
8.7 An Important Proposal
(Hopefully religious scholars will ponder over this and give their
valuable opinion).
It is a universal truth that the time of zawal (transit) is the same all
over the world for any date of the solar calendar. We can use this fact (known
time of transit) safely for compiling and composing of Prayer Timings etc. for
the regions where the sun neither rises nor sets for several months. We have to
convert the Universal Time of transit in to local time to know the exact time
of zawal for the place for which we are going to calculate the times of
prayers. When we have calculated the time, it can be used as a standard. The 24
hours day and night duration may be divided by this standard which is the
middle point of 24 hour day and night duration.
For example if the middle point is 12 hours, the first half that is 6
hours may be regarded as time of sunrise and the second half from this standard
time that is 18 hours may be considered as the time of sunset. All the prayers
may be scheduled with this reference.
This is most
simple and easy to use method for calculating the timings. After sunset Maghrib and Isha may be offered, and before
sunrise Fajar. In between time of transit and sunset, Asar may be
offered two hours before sunset. (Lateef)
CHAPTER 9
Direction of Qibla
9.1
Details About Great Circle and Rhumb Line of Mercator’s Projection for
Finding Direction Of Qibla
Some people living in Canada and America, due to their ignorance, are
getting confused themselves and are confusing others about the direction of
Qibla. Two terms, great circle and Rhumb line of Mercator’s projection are
repeatedly used in this connection. Let us consider them in detail.
Our earth is a sphere. So a globe can accurately represent it. But it
is not possible to carry a globe everywhere and at all the times. We have to
use maps drawn on plain papers. Some method or device has to be adopted to
transfer lines of latitude and longitude from the globe to the paper. A method
by which latitudes and longitudes on the globe are transferred to a plain paper
is called map
projection. Projection means shadow
or image. We assume that the lines of latitude and longitude are made of steel
wires i.e. it is a spherical cage made of wires. Wrapping a photographic paper
round the globe and lighting a bulb at the centre of the globe the images of
wires are transferred on the paper.
If the paper is wrapped in the shape of a cylinder, the image will be
cylindrical. The image will appear rectangular when the paper is unwrapped i.e.
all lines in length and breadth will be equally spaced, which is entirely
different from the real globe. Such projection is called cylindrical
projection. It is a deformed form of the map. Mercator’s projection is similar.
Neither shape nor area is represented correctly. The line on it is called Rhumb
line or Loxodrome.
There are many types of projections. We can wrap the paper in various
ways according to our requirement and get latitudes and longitudes transferred
on the paper. Some of them are:
·
Projection showing equal areas.
·
Projection showing equal shapes.
·
Projection showing equal distances
and
·
Projection showing equal sizes.
We use
different types of projection for equatorial regions, Polar Regions, tropical
regions and mid latitude regions (European countries)
Types of Projections
1.
Cylindrical projection.
2. Conical
projection.
3. Zenithical
projection.
4. Conventional
projection.
5. Molowide
projection.
6. Gnonomic
projection,
7.
Ortographic projection
8.
Stereographic Projection
9. Azimuthal
Projection
Pictures of conical and cylindrical page 313
Map on page 314
Mercator’s
projection is a technique of map making as are other types of projections. Map
making is a branch of geography called cartography.
In it, using mathematics and taking into consideration various requirements of
map making, beautiful maps of different regions are designed. One of the
projections is Gnomonic projection. The people unaware of this art think that
Mercator’s projection is the only projection from which the direction of Qibla
can be found. This is due to the lack of knowledge about the art of map making.
In Gnomonic projection, all the lines joining two points are straight
lines whereas they are great circles. In Mercator’s projection a great circle
becomes an arc where as Rhumb line or Loxodrome is shown as a straight line. In
Gnomonic projection Rhumb line is in the shape of an arc and great circles are
straight lines.
To sum up, in sharia neither Gnomonic projection is mentioned nor is it
dependable. Similarly Mercator’s projection is neither mentioned nor is advised
to determine the direction of Qibla. There is a simple rule to turn your face
towards Baitullah where ever you are.
We cannot
draw a straight line on a globe. If two places are to be joined it can be done
only with the help of a thread or a string. Put the ends of a string at the two
places that will make an arc on the globe. This forms a great circle which is
also the line of sight and also of the minimum distance.
Rhumb
line or Loxodrome on Mercator’s projection
When the Rhumb line or Loxodrome on Mercator’s projection is drawn on the
globe, it is a zigzag line. On the other hand the great circle is straight.
Pakistan International Airlines has set up a training centre at Karachi
for training their navigation staff. On page 58 of its Training Manual # AV-
31N-01, both Rhumb line of Mercator’s projection and great circle are drawn on
a globe for comparison. The Rhumb line becomes zigzag on the globe whereas
great circle is straight. The figure is given below:
Picture page
316
In Gnomonic
projection the curve joining two places is a straight line which is great
circle.
9.2 Gnomonic Projection
If direction of Qibla is to be found
by a map, use Gnomonic projection for correct direction. According to the great
circle route, the direction of Qibla, in North America and
Following map is Mercator’s projection. Note the form and shape of lines
of latitudes here. In it the distance between all the latitudes near the pole
are as far apart as on equator (24000 miles). In this projection all parallel
of latitudes are equal. This is its greatest drawback. The actual distance
between parallels of latitudes measured north south are the same, but as we
move north or south, the distance on the map increases. Thus Mercator’s
projection is defective and do not represent the globe correctly.
9.3 Some Important Information
Measurements, distances, weights, Sharaie
journey etc.
One mile has 8 furlongs and one furlong has 220 yards. Thus a mile has
1760 yards.
A yard has 3 feet and each foot has 12 inches. Thus a yard has 36 inches.
British system of units yard, feet, inches, sair, mond, chattak,
Fahrenheit etc were used in India and Pakistan during British Rule. Now metric
system is being used in which the units are meter, kilogram, litre, Centigrade
etc.
The unit of length is a meter. It was initially defined as a ten
millionth part of the distance from the equator of earth to the North Pole. Now
a law has been passed according to which one yard is equivalent in length to
0.9144 meter.
10 meters = 1 decameter
100 meters = 1 hectometer
1000 meters = 1 kilometer
1/10 meter = 1 decimeter
1/100 meter =
1 centimeter
1.1000 meter
= 1 millimeter
Units of weight
10 grams = 1 decagram
100 grams = 1 hectogram
1000 grams = 1 kilogram
1/10 gram = 1 decigram
1/100 gram = 1 centigram
1/1000 gram = 1 milligram
100 kilogram = 1 tonne or 1 metric tonne
Linear
measures (measures of length)
1 centimeter = 0.39370 inch.
1 meter = 1.0936143 yards.
1 kilometer = 0.62137 miles.
1 inch =
2.54 centimeter.
1 mile = 1.609344 kilometers.
One Sharaie
mile is 240 yards longer than a British mile.
1 yard = 0.9144 meter
1 furlong = 201.168 meters.
1 square mile = 2.58998 square kilometers.
1 acre =
4840 square yards.
9 inches = 1 balisht
2 balisht = 18 inch = 1 haath
(Hand).
2 haaths = 1 yard = 3 feet = 36
inches.
1 zara e
masahat = I yard 6 inches = 42
inches.
1 zara e
karbas = 1,5 feet = 18 inches.
According to "Fuqahaa" one mile is 4000 yards of 24 fingers
yard. Thus one Sharaie mile is 2000 English yards because the 24 fingers zara
is one hath i.e. 1.5 feet or 18 inches.
Mile: In Arabic dictionary "Mustapha e Baser" is called a mile
and according to "Fiqah" a mile is one third of a
"Forsake". Fiqah have different opinions about magnitude of "Farsakh".
Farsakh =
distance of 3 miles and
Bareed =
distance of 4 fasakh or 12 miles.
In Nihaya, Ibne Aseer says that this word is the abbreviation of Persian
word Bereedadam. Breedadam donkeys were used to distribute post. It was
abbreviated to "Bareed" and then the rider was also called “Bareed”.
Ultimately the distance traveled by the rider was also called “Bareed”.
(Extract from book “Jawahar Ul Fiqah” by
Hazrat Maulana Mufti Muhammad Shafi)
CHAPTER 10
WHAT THE QUR’AN SAYS
ABOUT ASTRONOMY
1) Big Bang -
Creation of the heavens and earth:
"To Him is due the primal origin of the heavens and the earth; when He
decrees a matter He said to it: "Be"; and it is." (2:117)
2) Stars are
fixed to guide the travelers in the land and the sea:
"And it is He who ordained the stars for you that you may be guided
thereby in the darkness of the land and the sea." (6:97)
3) Judgment Day:
"One day the Earth will be changed to a different Earth and so will be the
Heavens and (men) will be marshalled forth before Allah the One the
Irresistible." (14:48)
4)
Constellations:
"And verily in the skies We have set constellations and beautified it for
beholders." (15:16)
5) Stars and
other signs to be used for directions:
"And marks and sign-posts and by the stars, (men) guide themselves."
(16:16)
6) Creation of
Mankind and Heavens By Allah:
"See they not that Allah Who created the heavens and the earth has power
to create the like of them (anew)?...." (17:99)
7) Big Bang:
"Don't the Unbelievers see that the universe was once joined together,
then We burst it apart. We made from water every living thing. Will they not
then believe." (21:30)
8) Sun Moon
Stars subjected to His Law:
"If indeed thou ask them who has created the heavens and the earth and
subjected the sun and the moon (to His Law); they will certainly reply
Allah." (29:61)
9) Sun is
moving:
"And the sun runs towards its destination (resting place) ...."
(36:38)
10) Gaseous
state of universe:
"Then He turned to the sky when it had been gas and said to it and the
earth, condense willingly or unwillingly. And they said, "We condensed
willingly." (41:11)
11) Creation of
the heavens and earth, not mere idle play:
"We have not created the heaven and the earth and all that is between them
in mere idle play. None of this have We created without an inner truth: but
most of them understand it not." (44:38-39)
12) Expansion of
the universe:
"And the universe, we constructed with power and skill and verily we are expanding
it." (51:47)
13) Sirius (the
Mighty Star):
"And He is the Lord of Sirius (the Mighty Star)" (53:49)
14) Space
flight:
"O assembly of Jinns and men when you can penetrate regions of the heavens
and the earth, then penetrate them! Not without power (or authority) will you
be able to pass." (55:33)
15) Other
galaxies:
"God is the One Who created seven heavens and of the earth a similar
number. The command descends upon them so that you know that God has power over
all things and comprehends all things in His knowledge." (65:12)
16) Seven
Heavens, Stars, and the skies:
"He Who created the seven heavens, one above another: No want of
proportion will you see in the creation of Most Gracious, so turn your face
again; Do you see any flaw ....... And We have adorned the lowest heaven with
lamps ...." (67:3-5)
17) Seven
Heavens:
"See ye not how Allah has created the seven heavens one above
another." (71:15)
18) Signs of
Qiyamah (Judgment Day):
"When the stars are put out and when the sky is cleft asunder."
(77:8-9)
19) Seven
Heavens and the Sun:
"We have built above you seven strong (heavens) and placed a blazing
lamp." (78:12-13)
20) Creation of
Mankind and Heavens By Allah:
What! are ye the more difficult to create, Or the heaven (above)? (Allah) has constructed
it; On high has He raised its canopy and He has given it order and perfection;
Its night does He endow with darkness and its splendor does He bring out (with
light). (79:27-29)
21) Signs of
Qiyamah (Judgment Day):
"When the sun is folded up and when the stars loose their lustre."
(81:1-2)
22) Planets
(Retrograde Motion):
"So verily I call to witness the planets that recede." (81:15)
23) Signs of
Qiyamah (Judgment Day):
"When the sky is cleft asunder and the planets are scattered and the oceans
are forced to join." (82:1-3)
24) Signs of
Qiyamah (Judgment Day):
"When the sky is split asunder and attentive to her lord, and it must do
so." (84:1-2)
25)
Constellations:
"Consider the sky full of great constellations." (85:1)
26) Moon, Stars,
and Planets:
"By the sky and the night-visitant; and what do you know what the
night-visitant is? It is the star of piercing brightness." (86:1-3)
27) Sky Raised High:
"And at the Sky how it is raised high?" (88:18)
WHAT THE QUR’AN SAYS
ABOUT THE MOON
1) Crescent moon
as the standard to be used for reckoning of time:
"They ask you about the waxing and waning phases of the crescent moons,
say they are to mark fixed times for mankind and Hajj." (2:189)
2) Moon is not
my Lord:
"When he saw the moon rising in splendor He said: "This is my
Lord." but when the moon set he said: Unless my Lord guide me I shall
surely be among those who go astray." (6:77)
3) Sun and Moon
to be used for reckoning of time:
"And He who made the night for rest and sun and moon for reckoning of
time. This is the decree of the Exalted, the All-knowing." (6:96)
4) Sun, moon,
and the stars governed by laws:
"Allah is He, who created the sun, the moon, and the stars (all) governed
by laws under His commandment." (7:54)
5) Moon is the
measure of month:
"The number of months in the sight of Allah is twelve (in a year) so
ordained by Him the day He created the heavens and the earth; of them four are
sacred; that is the straight usage.......Verily the transposing (of a
prohibited month) is an addition to unbelief: the unbelievers are led to wrong
thereby: for they make it lawful one year and forbidden another year in order
to adjust the number of months forbidden by Allah and make such forbidden ones
lawful. The evil of their course seems pleasing to them. But Allah guideth not
those who reject faith." (9:36-37)
6) Sun is source
of light and Moon is just light:
"It is He who made sun a lamp, and moon a light and measured stages so you
know number of years and count (of time)." (10:5)
7) Joseph's
Dream:
"Behold Joseph said to his father: O my father! I did see eleven stars and
the sun and the moon: I saw them prostrate themselves to me!"
8) Sun and moon
continue in an orbit to their destiny:
"Allah is He who raised heavens without pillars that you can see; Then He
established Himself on the throne; And He subjected the sun and the moon (to
his law); each one runs its course for a term appointed." (13:2)
9) Allah created
Sun and moon, and He made them subject to you:
"It is Allah Who hath created the heavens and the earth and sendeth down
rain from the skies......... He has made subject to you, the night and the day;
the sun and the moon; and the stars in subjection by His command."
(14:32-33)
10) Day and
night, sun and moon, and stars made for you:
"He has made subject to you, the night and the day; the sun and the moon;
and the stars in subjection by His command." (16:12)
11) Sun bright -
Moon dark (no light):
"We made night and day two signs. The sign of night we made dark and sign
of day we made bright. That ye may seek bounty from your lord and ye may know
number of years and count (of time)." (17:12)
12) Orbits of
celestial bodies:
"It is He who created the night and the day, and the sun and the moon, all
(the celestial bodies) swim along, each in its orbit." (21:33)
13) All things
bow down to Allah:
"See you not that to Allah bow down in worship all things in the heavens
and on earth, the sun, the moon, the stars." (22:18)
14) Moon is
reflected light of the sun:
"Blessed is He who made constellations in the skies, and placed therein a
lamp and a moon reflecting light (25:61)
15) Sun and moon
are subjected to Allah's laws
If indeed thou asl them Who has created the heavens and the earth and subjected
(to His Law), they will certainly reply, "Allah". How are they then
deluded away (from the truth)? (29:61)
16) Sun and moon
continue in an orbit to their destiny:
"See you not Allah merges night into day and day into night; And subjected
the sun and the moon (to His Law); each one runs its course for a term
appointed." (31:29)
17) Sun and moon
continue in an orbit to their destiny:
"He merges night into day and day into night; And subjected the sun and
the moon (to His Law); each one runs its course for a term appointed."
(35:13)
18) Ordained
orbits of celestial bodies:
"And the moon, we have measured for her mansions (to traverse) till she
returns like the old, (withered, and curved-up like a sickle) date-palm. It is
not permitted for sun to catch-up the moon, nor can the night outstrip the day;
each swims along in (its own) orbit." (36:39-40)
19) Sun and moon
continue in an orbit to their destiny:
"He created heavens and the earth in true proportions; He makes night
overlap day and day overlap night and subjected the sun and the moon (to His
Law); each one runs its course for a term appointed." (39:5)
20) Do not
Prostrate to the Sun and Moon:
"Among His Signs are the Night and the Day and the sun and moon. Prostrate
not to the Sun and the Moon but Prostrate to Allah Who created them if it is
Him ye wish to serve." (41:37)
21) Moon is
split asunder:
"The hour (of Judgment) is near and the moon is split asunder."
(54:1)
22) Celestial
bodies tied to orbits:
"The sun and the moon follow courses exactly computed." (55:05)
23) Sun is
source of light and Moon is just light:
"And made the moon a light in their midst and made the sun as a (Glorious)
lamp." (71:16)
24) Swear by the
Moon:
"Nay verily: by the Moon." (74:32)
25) Signs of
Qiyamah (Judgment Day):
"And the moon is buried in darkness. And the sun and moon are joined
together." (75:8-9)
26) Moon becomes
full:
"And the moon when it becomes full." (84:18)
27) Moon follows the sun:
"By the sun and its radiant brightness; By the moon as she follows
him." (91:1-2)
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