WRONG FOR 'KIBLAT' TO BE DETERMINED BY DIRECTION OF SETTING SUN

KOTA BAHARU (Malaysia), Oct 9 (Bernama) -- It is wrong and inaccurate for
Muslims to determine the kiblat (direction of the Kaaba in Mecca) for their
daily prayers based on the direction of the setting sun, as there are only two
days in a year that this method can be used as a guide.

Director of the Islamic Training Institute of Malaysia (ILIM), Paimuzi
Yahya, said this method must also cease for determining prayer times, breaking
of fast and Hari Raya, and Muslims should instead use Islamic astronomy as
approved by the Islamic Development Department of Malaysia (Jakim).

He said from the study of astronomy, there were only two days (May 28 and
July 16) each year where the position of the sun would be right in the middle of
the Kaaba, which could be used as a guide for Muslims to determine the
"kiblat".
"The institute has been given the responsibility to remove the
misperception among Muslims on the matter," he told Bermana after closing a
course on Islamic astronomy pertainig to the "kiblat", here, Thursday.

Paimuzi said most mosques, surau, hotels and Muslim homes in the country did
not use the proper method in determining the "kiblat" when performing their
prayers and this situation must not be allowed to continue.

"For this purpose, we want the course participants to guide other Muslims in
determining the 'kiblat' correctly," he added.

-- BERNAMA