TOPIC 6

FALAK SYARIE

Prepared by: Siti Kamisah Binti Mohd Yusof

OBJECTIVE:
Student should be able to:
1) To describe the use of Islamic Astronomy
(Falak Syarie)
2) To describe and calculate Qiblat direction,
fasting month (Ramadhan) and Eid-ul-Fitr
(Syawal)
3) To describe the Rukyah and Hisab method
6.1 THE USES OF ASTRONOMY WITHIN THE
ISLAMIC SOCIETY IN MALAYSIA
Such as:
i. Muslim prayer
ii. Qiblat direction
iii. Even the within Hijrah calender as a listed
below:
• 1st Ramadhan & 1st Syawal
• 1st of Muharram
• Birthday of Prophet Muhammad s.a.w
• Eid-ul-Adh
• Nisfu Syaaban
• Isra’ Mi’raj
6.2 Basic Information Regarding the Phases of
the Moon

1st Equator

Full
Moon

3rd Equator
6.2.1 The position of the Moon during
its phases

Moon’s
Moon’s Position
Phases
Conjunction of the • While the sunsets, the new moon at the west
moon (1st day) / horizon.
New Moon
1st quarter (7th day) • The moon rises at noon
• Maximum high is midnight and will set at
midnight
Full Moon (15th • The moon rises when the sunset.
day) • Maximum high is at midnight
• will set when the sunrise in the morning
3rd quarter (21st • The moon rises at midnight
day) • Maximum high is when the sunrise and
sunset at
noon
 IJTIMAK – Conjunction of the Moon

 When the moon is almost in perfect alignment

with the Earth and Sun.
 The moon cannot be seen from the earth during
this time.
 GHURUB – Sunrise & Sunset

 During sunrise and sunset, the zenith distance is

90˚.
 Due to the enormity of the sun, with a diameter of
32’ from the view on earth.
 According to Falak Syarie, sunrise/sunset are
defined as situations when the upper orbicular of
the sun is perfectly situated on the horizon.
 When this occur:
 On the East of the horizon called Sunrise
 On the West of horizon called Sunset
Sunrise and Sunset Horizon

S = 16’
 CRITERIA OF DETERMINING THE APPEARANCE
THE NEW MOON

i. When the conjunction of new moon?

 If on 29th of Ramadhan, conjunction occurs before
sunset, then the next day is 1st of Syawal.
* because the new moon has appeared during sunset
 If on the 29th of Ramadhan, conjunction occurs
after sunset, then next day is 30th Ramadhan.
* because the new moon has not appeared during sunset
 Determination of the fasting month
(Ramadhan) and Eid-ul-Fitr (Syawal)
THREE (3) method to determine Ramadhan and
Syawal:
i. Sighting (Rukyah)
 Involves sighting the new moon either with the natural
eye or by using instrument such as binaculars,
theodelite and telescope.
ii.Calculation (Hisab)
 To determine the first day of fasting and Eid-il-Fitr
through the method of calculation in order to decide
whether the new moon has appeared or not.
iii. Sighting (Rukyah) and Calculation (Hisab)
 THE DETERMINATION OF FASTING AND EID-
UL-FITR IN MALAYSIA

 In Malaysia, to determine fasting and Eid-ul-Fitr is

based on combination of Calculation (Hisab) and
sighting (Rukyah). The criteria of visibility is used:
a) The high of the new moon on the west horizon
during the sunset is not less than 2˚
b) The curve distance between the new moon and the
sun not less than 3˚.
c) The age of new moon is not less then 8 hour after
conjunction.
 The age of new moon is not
less then 8 hour
after conjunction.

Hilal’s high
not less
then 2˚

West Horizon

During
the
sunset

The Imkanur – Rukyah

criteria
 The Qiblat Direction
 This method required the position of L , L , where the
qiblat direction will be calculated and also location of
Mecca (M , M).

ENP
Formula:
 Tan  = Sin 
(Cos L x Tan M) – (Sin L x Cos )

Qiblat direction = Azimuth M from L

M ( , ) = 360˚ - 


L ( , )
* ENP = Earth’s North Pole
EXAMPLE
Calculate the Qiblat direction of the mosque in Sarawak
Polytechnic, Kuching (PKS).

• Latitude of PKS’s mosque, L = 1˚ 33’ 00” N

• Longitude of PKS’s mosque, L = 110˚ 20’ 00” E
• Latitude of Mecca, M = 21˚ 25’ 20” N
• Longitude of Mecca, L = 39˚ 49’ 30” E
 Solution:
1)  = 110˚ 20’ 00” - 39˚ 49’ 30”
= 70˚ 30’ 30”
2) Using Formula;
Tan  = Sin 
(Cos L x Tan M) – (Sin L x Cos )
= Sin 70˚ 30’ 30”
(Cos 1˚ 33’ 00” x Tan 21˚ 25’ 20” M) – (Sin
1˚ 33’ 00” x Cos 70˚ 30’ 30”)
 = 67˚ 52’ 47”
3) Qiblat direction of PKS’s Mosque = 360˚ - 
= 292˚ 07’ 13”
Exercise
Calculate the Qiblat direction of the mosque in
Selangor, Masjid Sultan Salahudin Abdul Aziz
Shah (SSAAS). Given;
 Latitude of SSAAS’s mosque, L = 03˚ 04’ 43” N
 Longitude of SSAAS’s mosque, L = 101˚ 31’ 15” E
 Latitude of Mecca, M = 21˚ 25’ 20” N
 Longitude of Mecca, M = 39˚ 49’ 30” E

(10 marks)
Students Activitie – Qiblat Direction
Method of prayer time determination
Formula For Calculating Prayer Time

GHA (middy) = LHA (middy) - L

L.Std.T (middy) = GHA (middy) – GHA (h1)

x 24h
GHA (h2) – GHA (h1)

1) Zuhr = L.Std.T (Midday) + 1m 04s

2) Asr = L.Std.T (Midday) + tA
3) Maghrib = L.Std.T (Midday) + tm
4) Isha’ = L.Std.T (Midday) + ti
5) Fajr = L.Std.T (Midday) - tf
EXAMPLE
 Reference Station = Kg. Gedangas
 Latitude, L = 3˚ 44’ N
 Longitude, L = 101˚ 23’E
= 6h 45m 32s
 Std. Longitude, std = 120˚ E
= 8h
• Date of calculation = 21 March 2012

Sun Date of March 2011 is referred

Calculate Zuhr prayer time on that day.

 Solution
Calculate of Middy Time (Waktu Istiwa) & Zuhr Payer Time
1) GHA (middy) = LHA (middy) - L
= 24h – 6h 45m 32s
= 17h 14m 28s

2) L.Std.T (middy) = GHA (middy) – GHA (h1)

x 24h
GHA (h2) – GHA (h1)

= 17h 14m 28s – 3h 52m 28s

x 24h
27h 52m 46s – 3h 52m 28s

= 13h 21m 50s

3) Zuhr prayer Time = L.Std.T (Midday) + tz

= 13h 21m 50s + 1m 4s

= 13h 22m 54s / 01:23 pm

 Calculate of Solat Zuhr from the data given below;
Value of h1 and h2 from Falak Syarie Almanac (Month: October 2012)
WPM GST GHA DEK
20:00 17˚ 54’ 07” 04˚ 15’ 08” -10˚ 17’ 05”
21:00 17˚ 54’ 03” 04˚ 15’ 18” - 10˚ 38’ 33”
22:00 18˚ 02’ 00” 04˚ 15’ 27” - 10˚ 59’ 51”

Data:
 Reference Station = Taman Panorama
 Latitude, L = 04˚ 40’ N
 Longitude, L = 101˚ 10’ E
 Std Longitude, std = 120˚ E
 Date of Calculation = 21 October 2012
(10 marks)