UNDERSTANDING QIBLA ORIENTATION THROUGH THE 'NAGARA' ARTIFICIAL COMPASS: A FALAK LEGAL PERSPECTIVE

: Facing or directing towards Qibla, which is one of the essential conditions for the validity of prayer, is sometimes challenging and tends to rely on existing directions or estimations. Among the various Qibla direction indicators circulating in society, especially in South Kalimantan, the Nagara -made compass was found (from one of the Districts in South Hulu Sungai Regency), which later became known as the Nagara compass. The research method used by the author is qualitative research, which produces descriptive data. The type of research is field research, conducted by gathering data by observing the object to be studied, with the researcher as the subject (actor) of the research. The reason for using this type of research is to obtain data in line with the location's data and to avoid invalid data regarding the Nagara compass. The data obtained are collected through observation techniques and data analysis through the science of falak. This study proves that the results of the Qibla direction indication by the Nagara compass cannot be considered scientifically accurate and cannot be justified scientifically; it can only be used as a mere aid for estimating the Qibla direction.


INTRODUCTION
Initially, the Qibla (direction of prayer) for the Muslim community during Salah (prayer) was Bait al-Maqdis (the Farthest Mosque in Jerusalem). 1 This was based on the ijtihad (independent legal reasoning) of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) since, at that time, Bait al-Maqdis was considered the most special place while the Kaaba was still surrounded by hundreds of idols. 2 1 Ahmad Wahidi and Evi Dahliyatin Nuroini, "Arah Kiblat Dan Pergeseran Lempeng Bumi: Perspektif Syar'iyah Dan Ilmiah" (UIN-Maliki Press, 2012). 2 Muhammad Hadi Bashori, Pengantar Ilmu  Falak: Pedoman Lengkap Tentang Teori Dan  Praktik Hisab, Arah Kiblat, Waktu Salat, Awal   However, according to some narrations, despite Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) always facing Bait al-Maqdis in his prayers, when he was in Mecca, he would simultaneously face the Kaaba as well. 3Meanwhile, the Jews remarked, "Muhammad contradicts us regarding our religion, yet he follows our Qibla.If it were not for our religion, he wouldn't know where to face in his prayers." 4 Bulan Qamariah & Gerhana (Pustaka Al Kautsar,  2015). 3Muhammad Rasywan Syarif, "Problematika Arah Kiblat Dan Aplikasi Perhitungannya," HUNAFA: Jurnal Studia Islamika 9, no. 2 (2012): 245-69. 4Hasrian Rudi Setiawan and Hariadi Putraga, "Stellarium & Google Earth (Simulasi Waktu the 'Nagara ' Artificial Compass: A Falak Legal Perspectivepp.78-91   Due to this, the Prophet was reluctant to continue following their Qibla, and it is narrated that he once said to the Angel Gabriel, "I wish that Allah Indeed, We see the turning of your face towards the heaven.So, We will surely turn you to a Qibla (direction Salat Dan Arah Kiblat)," Kumpulan Buku Dosen, 2020.
for prayer) that you will be pleased with.According to the verses and hadiths mentioned above, scholars unanimously agree that facing the Kaaba (Bait Allah) is obligatory for those who perform the prayer, as it is one of the conditions for the validity of the prayer.Aside from its practicality and ease of use, the Nagara compass has no numerical markings for degree units or cardinal directions on its plate.

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would turn me away from the Qibla of the Jews to another Qibla."From then on, he continuously directed his gaze towards the sky, hoping to receive revelation that would establish the change of Qibla towards the Kaaba. 5This continued until approximately six months after the migration of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), when the command from Allah SWT came to turn towards the Bait Allah (the Kaaba) during Salah.The command referred to the revelation of verse 144 of Surah Al-Baqarah, which states: , turn your face towards the Masjid al-Haram (the Sacred Mosque in Makkah).And wherever you [believers] are, turn your faces towards it (in prayer).Indeed, those who were given the Scripture (Jews and Christians) know that it is the truth from their Lord.And Allah is not unaware of what they do.(Quran, Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:144).
of the essential requirements for the validity of prayer, as mentioned in the Quran, Hadith (sayings of the Prophet Muhammad), and Ijma (consensus of scholars).Based on the verses and hadiths mentioned above, scholars unanimously agree that facing the Kaaba is a compulsory act during prayer, as it is one of the essential requirements for the validity of the prayer.Therefore, Muslims are required to face the Qibla while performing their daily prayers as an expression of unity and devotion to Allah.For people around the Masjid al-Haram (the Sacred Mosque), the issue of Qibla (direction for prayer) poses no problem.However, for those who are far away from Mecca, this One of the well-known compasses used for determining the Qibla direction is the "Nagara" compass.It is specially designed to assist Muslims in easily and accurately finding the Qibla direction.The Nagara compass illustration below depicts the Nagara compass.The system used by the Nagara compass to determine the Qibla direction is one of the simplest among many compasses.Simply placing the Nagara compass at the desired location will cause the red arrow on the compass to immediately point towards the Qibla direction.The practicality of the Nagara compass is due to the simplicity of the device itself and the traditional method it employs.The absence of numerical degrees or cardinal directions on the Himpunan Fisika Indonesia 11, no. 1 (2011): 23-29.compass plate makes it straightforward.The arrow is directly oriented towards the Qibla.At first glance, the Nagara compass appears very practical and easy to use.However, its lack of numerical markings and cardinal directions on the plate makes it difficult to determine the exact Qibla direction.Additionally, the direct pointing of the arrow towards the Qibla at the compass's location does not provide information about the exact degree or angle at which the Qibla direction is determined by the compass maker.METHOD This research aims to investigate the use of the navigation device 'Nagara' in determining the Qibla direction based on the perspective of Islamic astronomy.To achieve this objective, , which allows the 'Nagara' Artificial Compass: A Falak Legal Perspectivepp.78-91 for a deep understanding of the usage of the 'Nagara' navigation device in determining the Qibla direction from the perspective of Islamic astronomy.The qualitative approach will help explore detailed perspectives and insights from Islamic astronomy experts regarding the calculations of the Qibla direction.The data sources for this research will come from two main sources, namely documents related to the usage of the 'Nagara' device.Nagara compass utilizes the simplest system for determining the Qibla direction.Using the Nagara compass is straightforward; one only needs to place it in the desired location to find the Qibla direction instantly, as indicated by the red arrow on the compass. 9Dalam Bidang Ilmu Falak," Dalam Journal of Contemporary Islam and Muslim Societies 1, no. 1 (2017).

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10 Its surface is plain and devoid of any writing, making it difficult to determine the exact Qibla direction.Moreover, the direct pointing of the arrow towards the Qibla at the compass's location does not provide information about the degree at which the compass maker determined the Qibla direction, whether from the North to the West or from the West to the North.As a result, its accuracy cannot be scientifically justified.Considering the operation of this compass system, a significant weakness is apparent in the arrow's direction.The Nagara compass's fundamental weakness lies in the accuracy of its arrow's indication.It can be deduced from the compass's operation that, before creating the Nagara compass, the maker determined the Qibla direction that would be indicated by the red arrow on the compass plate, and the placement Afrian Mustaqim, Ilmu Falak (Syiah Kuala University Press, 2021). 11Mustaqim, Ilmu Falak. the 'Nagara' Artificial Compass: A Falak Legal Perspectivepp.78-91 log cotg ½ C =10.(A + B) -½ (A -B)= 82º 41' 47",13 -15º 21' 33",71 B (Qiblat) = 67º 20' 13",42 to 67º 20' from north to west or 22º 39' 46".58 seconds) (rounded to the nearest minute) depending on whether the angle is measured from the North to the West or from the West to the North.Based on the calculations, we can determine that the Qibla direction in the Nagara area is 67° 20' from North to West and 22° 40' from West to North.However, the direction indicated by the arrow of the Nagara compass does not align with the aforementioned Qibla direction.It is well-known that the compass needle or magnetic needle does not always point towards the True North at a specific location.This is due to the fact that the magnetic poles of particular location, it is essential to correct for the magnetic declination of that location.In the general area of South Kalimantan and potentially in Nagara, this magnetic correction typically ranges from 1.5° to 1° 30'.However, the Nagara compass does not appear to account for this magnetic correction.The deviation of the compass needle from the True North direction can be attributed to the misalignment between the magnetic poles of the Earth and the geographic poles.The compass needle is usually marked in red and points towards the geographic North, which is known as the magnetic North pole.The deviation of the compass needle to the left or right from the True North direction is expressed at a specific the 'Nagara' Artificial Compass: A Falak Legal Perspectivepp.78-91 location, it is crucial to consider the magnetic declination of that location.collected Nagara compasses, it is noted that the direction indicated by the arrow points to approximately 65° 30' from North to West and 24° 30' from West to North.Thus, there is a difference of about 1° 30' compared to the calculations based on Islamic astronomy principles.This difference may vary and could be smaller or larger depending on the circumstances.This discrepancy is due to the traditional calculation system and data used by the compass maker.The placement of the red arrow pointing to the Qibla direction is merely estimated based on previous examples, making it 12 Sayful Mujab and M. Rifa Jamaludin Nasir, "Ilmu Falak (Dimensi Kajian Filsafat Ilmu)," scientifically challenging to justify its accuracy.As a result of the estimated placement of the red arrow pointing to the Qibla direction, the Qibla direction may differ between different Nagara compasses produced at the same time, as well as between compasses produced at different times. 12At first glance, there may not be an apparent difference between the Qibla directions indicated by one Nagara compass compared to another, or between the Nagara compass and the true Qibla direction.However, a more precise examination using tools such as Theodolites or a simple string hanging method based on right-angled triangle formulas would reveal differences or deviations in the Qibla direction indicated by the Nagara compass.To clarify further, the deviation or inclination of approximately 1.5 degrees may not be clearly visible, but when a long string or rope is pulled, the difference becomes more apparent as the string or rope widens.AL-AFAQ: Jurnal Ilmu Falak Dan Astronomi 2, no. 2 (2020): 1-18.latitude running from North to South, the value of 1 degree remains around 111 kilometers.However, for lines of longitude running from West to East along the equator, the value of 1 degree varies depending on the distance from the equator.The farther away from the equator, the smaller the unit in kilometers, and vice versa, with the formula 1 far at first glance, according to actual calculations, it is