Students from the University of Muhammadiyah Malang (UMM) applied their knowledge of Islamic astronomy (Ilmu Falak) by measuring the qibla direction of Khadijah Mosque in Dau. The measurement was conducted by Group 43, Wave 9, of UMM’s Community Service Program (PMM) on Saturday, September 3, 2022.
Khadijah Mosque is located on Jalan Mulyorejo 42, Jetak Lor Hamlet, Mulyoagung Village, Dau District, Malang Regency, East Java. The activity began at 6:00 PM WIB after the congregational Maghrib prayer.
Group 43 consisted of five students: Teguh Ifandy, Syahrir Roudhi Hadi, Ahmad Miqdad Faqihuddin, Anevia Thalia Artamerano, and Edi Sanjaya. All are students of the Islamic Family Law (HKI) Study Program in UMM’s Faculty of Islamic Studies (FAI). This PMM activity aimed to apply the results of UMM’s research directly to the community.
Group 43 coordinator Teguh Ifandy explained that measuring the qibla direction of Khadijah Mosque was an application of the Ilmu Falak course studied in the HKI curriculum.
"Through this activity, we can directly apply the knowledge of Ilmu Falak in real-world settings," he said.
The activity aimed to educate the community about qibla direction measurement while also addressing issues faced by Khadijah Mosque.
The mosque’s head, Drh. Pien Soeharyono, revealed that the qibla direction of Khadijah Mosque had been measured previously. “It was measured before, but over time, there has been a slight shift,” he noted.
Teguh explained that the team sought to ensure the accuracy of the mosque’s qibla direction using methods learned during their studies. The activity was part of their ongoing community service program.
"The qibla direction was measured using several tools. First, Google Earth was used to determine the coordinates of the Kaaba and Khadijah Mosque. Second, a scientific calculator was employed to calculate the Qibla Azimuth using predetermined formulas," he explained.
“Third, we used a qibla direction measuring banner equipped with a compass. This tool was produced by the Al-Falakiyyah Foundation in Surabaya, led by M. Syamsu Alam Darajat SH, a faculty member for Ilmu Falak practicum in the HKI Study Program at UMM,” he added.
Syahrir Roudhi Hadi, a group member, elaborated on the steps taken to measure the qibla direction.
"The first step is determining the coordinates of the Kaaba and Khadijah Mosque. The Kaaba’s coordinates are fixed at 21° 25' 20" North Latitude and 39° 49' 34" East Longitude. Khadijah Mosque is located at 7° 55' 8.36" South Latitude and 112° 34' 58.66" East Longitude," he explained.
These coordinates were entered into formulas and calculated using a scientific calculator. The calculations determined that the Qibla Azimuth for Khadijah Mosque is 294° 35' 55.51".
"Next, we applied the Qibla Azimuth using the qibla measuring banner. We aligned the compass needle to 0° for true north, ensuring the banner was level and straight. A string was then pulled on the banner to the 294° mark," he detailed.
The final step involved placing a qibla marker sticker to make it easier for the mosque’s management to align prayer rows (shaf) with the new qibla direction obtained from the measurement.
"The data showed a slight deviation from the previously measured qibla direction. This was confirmed by the mosque’s head, necessitating adjustments to the prayer rows based on the new measurements," he explained.
Syahrir added that during the measurement process, mosque attendees observed and listened attentively. The event was open to the public, allowing the community and others to participate directly.
"Beyond socialization, this activity is hoped to open space for interactive discussions between students and the community to further develop Ilmu Falak," he concluded.
Writer: Teguh Ifandy. Co-Editor: Sugiran. Editor: Mohammad Nurfatoni.
ISLAMIC FAMILY LAW
