How Accurately Could Early (622-900 C.E.) Muslims Determine the Direction of Prayers (Qibla)?

Walter R Schumm

doi:10.3390/rel11030102

Abstract

Debate has arisen over the ability of Muslim architects in the first two centuries of Islam to determine true qiblas accurately. Some believe that they had such a capability, while others think not. The argument could be more complex—perhaps some architects could, while others could not; perhaps their accuracy changed over time or over greater distances from qibla targets. Here, we investigated how the accurate qiblas of 60 mosques or related structures were, using data from Daniel Gibson’s books and websites. Contrasts were drawn between theories that the qiblas of early mosques were—or were not—generally accurate. If one were to assume that Mecca was the only qibla, qiblas would not appear to have been accurate. However, if one were to assume that qiblas changed, it would be found that qiblas were accurate to plus or minus two degrees in over half of the cases and accurate within plus or minus five degrees in over 80% of cases. Accuracy was not related to distance but did appear to improve over historical time, while distance from the target cities and historical time were positively associated. The average qibla accuracy had a near zero error, with random variations on either side of that zero error. The overall distribution was not normal—kurtotic—because a greater accuracy was found than would have been expected with a normal distribution; however, the pattern deviated more from a uniform distribution than it did from a normal distribution. To try to synthesize the competing theories, we analyzed data for only 14 of the 60 mosques, those presumed to face towards Mecca, and we found fairly high degrees of qibla accuracy with nearly 43% of qiblas within two degrees of accuracy and nearly 80% within five degrees of accuracy. Comparing the accuracy of Meccan qiblas with other qiblas of the same century, we found no significant differences in azimuth errors. While some architects were more accurate than others, early Muslim architects seemed, in general, quite capable of placing qiblas with reasonable accuracy, even though their accuracy may have improved slightly over the first two centuries of Islam.

Highlights

Architecture is closely tied to religion, even in our modern age (De Wildt et al 2019)
14 of the 60 mosques, those presumed to face towards Mecca, and we found fairly high degrees of qibla accuracy with nearly 43% of qiblas within two degrees of accuracy and nearly 80% within five degrees of accuracy
Islam accurately determine the qibla? Brubaker (2019, p. 17) has mentioned the work of Dan Gibson, who claims that Mecca was not the original holy city of Islam, Brubaker does not take a firm position on that claim

Summary

Introduction

Architecture is closely tied to religion, even in our modern age (De Wildt et al 2019). Faithful Sunni Muslims have dutifully prayed toward the holy city of Mecca five times a day (Shia, three times a day). If a person does not turn his/her face to the qibla direction within an acceptable declination, his/her prayer is invalid according to scholarly consensus” Could early Muslims in the first two or three centuries of. 17) has mentioned the work of Dan Gibson, who claims that Mecca was not the original holy city of Islam, Brubaker does not take a firm position on that claim. Petersen (1996) has stated that “Many early mosques were not built to a correct qibla orientation . King (1990) acknowledges that many early mosques did not face toward Mecca, the city That might imply that qiblas were not able to be measured

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