Qibla compass

A qibla (qiblah) compass is a special kind of compass used by Muslims to help them face the right direction when they pray. In Islam, this direction is called the qibla, and it points toward the city of Mecca and a very important building there called the Kaaba. Unlike a regular compass that always points north, a qibla compass has marks or a special pointer that shows the direction to face for prayer.

To use a qibla compass correctly, a person needs to know the exact location where they are and the location of Mecca. With this information, they can find the right angle to face during prayer. The compass usually looks like a small round box made of brass with a lid. Inside, there is a magnetic needle that points north, and there are also numbers and marks to help find the qibla direction.

Older qibla compasses are beautifully made and have been used since at least the 1700s. Some newer versions use digital screens instead of a moving needle. A few even have a small counter to help keep track of certain phrases spoken after prayers.

History

Al-Ashraf Umar II, a leader of the Rasulid Yemeni Caliphate, wrote about using a special compass to show the direction of prayer in the 1300s. He explained how to build this compass and how to use it to find north and the direction called qibla. This was the first time a compass was mentioned in an old Islamic science book to help with prayer directions.