FOR Muslims, it is important to fulfil their religious obligations wherever they are. When holidaying or moving to a new home or building, they need to identify the Qibla (the direction facing the Kaabah in Mecca) when praying.
Many Muslims choose to download various applications to identify the Qibla on their mobile phones. Although there are doubts on the accuracy of these applications, they are still widely used by Muslims.
Back in 2012, the Malaysia Islamic Development Department (Jakim) was invited to measure and mark the Qibla at the new surau of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s (UKM) Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment (FKAB) in Bangi.
UKM Centre of Advanced Electronic and Communication Engineering lecturer Associate Professor Dr Norhana Arsad said the measuring and marking of the Qibla was usually performed using a theodolite ― a precision optical instrument for measuring horizontal and vertical angles between designated visible points in the horizontal and vertical planes through solar observation.
The “true north finding system”, said Norhana, which is the north direction on maps, needed to be confirmed before the Qibla is marked.
This is called a resection solution, or free station position surveying, and is used in mapping.
“The measurement was taken outside the building at a designated point, and then the point is moved into the surau.
“The process of moving the point from outside to inside the surau is not only complicated and time-consuming, but also requires skill.
“When using this technique, we sometimes face difficulties, especially in terms of weather.
If it is cloudy or raining, we can’t detect the direction of the sun to confirm the Qibla.”
Hence, a research team from FKAB, led by Norhana, collaborated with Jakim in developing InnoQibla, a prototype device to measure the Qibla into a building using laser technology.
“We want to create a tool that can ease the task of Jakim and state religious departments.”
However, she said, the newly-developed device would not replace existing techniques based on falak (a study on the position, passage, movement, description and phenomenon of celestial bodies like stars, the sun, moon and planets), and a theodolite, which has a high degree of accuracy.
Norhana, who is FKAB assistant dean, said InnoQibla uses the microelectromechanical (MEMS) technology to detect the true north according to the rotation of the earth, which is along the surface of the planet towards the North Pole.
“A micro-sized chip allows the design for InnoQibla to be smaller and lighter to help in marking the Qibla by the authorities.”
The system is divided into modules for working outside and inside a building.
“The outdoor module includes a global positioning system (GPS) for tracking locations, while the location information is sent into buildings via a wireless communication technology.
“Location data is decoded into a format that is understood by the user and processed using a formula to generate a Qibla angle.
“The MEMS system detector inside the buildbuilding will operate and be controlled by a microcontroller to determine the true north direction as a reference point.
“Various improvements were made and discussions have been held with Jakim. We also received assistance from the Malaysia Survey and Mapping Department (Jupem).”
She said applications on mobile phones and compasses were easily distorted by electromagnetic fields.
Therefore, to ensure InnoQibla’s accuracy, Norhana and her students did field tests in UKM and other locations throughout Malaysia.
“Through the field tests, it was found that the application on the smartphone showed an error of up to 20 degrees. Three locations in Penang, Kelantan and Negri Sembilan were chosen for the tests, and the results were satisfactory for Jakim and Jupem. We received feedback to change the design of InnoQibla so that it will be accepted by the people.”
She said three more field tests would be conducted in Sabah, Sarawak and Johor.
The patented InnoQibla has won the gold medal at the 2017 International Conference and Exposition on Inventions by Institutions of Higher Learning.
InnoQibla has also been nominated for the final rating of the patent category for the 2017 National Intellectual Property Awards 2017 and 2018 Malaysia Commercial Year. Recently, it won the Islamic Innovation Challenge organised by Platcom Ventures Sdn Bhd and Innovation Agency Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur.
InnoQibla was recently licenced to a machinery company, Istidamah Sdn Bhd, with a five-year contract. Jupem assistant director (gravity and falak) Muhammad Daud Mahdzur said the Qibla-finding
reference was important for Muslims and must not be taken lightly.
“We collaborated not only with Dr Norhana, but also hotels, office buildings, schools, hospitals, mosques and Jakim.
“The results and accuracy of the field tests need to be verified by Jupem and Jakim. Only then, we will give the green light to mark the direction of the Qibla,” he said.
A field test of InnoQibla being conducted by officers from the state religious departments of Kelantan, Pahang and
Terengganu at Masjid Sultan Ismail Petra in Kota Baru recently.
Dr Norhana Arsad with her PhD student, Nur Hazliza Ariffin (left), who is assisting her in the InnoQibla project.