Faber Optimé - Hajj

Though “Hajj” literally means “performing the pilgrimage to Mecca”, this Travel Bug wants to take its journey of a lifetime visiting as many geocaches as possible in countries where Muslims live and meeting as many Muslims and friends of Muslims as possible.

Qibla (قبلة, also transliterated as Qiblah, Kibla or Kiblah) is an Arabic word for the direction that should be faced when a Muslim prays. Most mosques contain a niche in a wall that indicates the qibla.

The qibla has more importance, playing a part in everyday ceremonies. The head of an animal that is slaughtered using Halal methods is aligned with the qibla. After death, Muslims are buried with their faces in the direction of the qibla.

At one point the direction of the qibla was toward Bayt al-Maqdis, Jerusalem (and it is therefore called the First of the Two Qiblas). At least since Mishnaic times (200CE), Jews face the temple mount in Jerusalem while praying. The Mishnah speaks about this in Berakhot (Talmud) chapter 4, Mishnahs 5 and 6 and this practice is even found as early as I Kings 8:35-36. In Islam, this only lasted for seventeen months after Muhammad's arrival in Medina, after which the qibla became oriented towards the Kaaba in Mecca.

According to accounts from the prophet Muhammad's companions, the change happened very suddenly during the noon prayer in Medina, in a mosque known as Masjid al-Qiblatain (Mosque of the Two Qiblas).

Muhammad was leading the prayer when he received a revelation from Allah instructing him to take the Kaaba as the qibla (literally, "turn your face towards the Masjid al Haram").

Muhammad, who had been facing Jerusalem, upon receiving this revelation, immediately turned around to face Mecca, and those praying behind him also did so.

Since then, the qibla, for any point of reference on the Earth, is taken as being the direction of the Kaaba.

Note that Muslims do not worship the Kaaba (or its contents); it is simply a focal point for prayer. If someone is inside the Kaaba, they may face in any direction.

The Qibla Compass gives the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca, hence are widely used by Muslims to determine the precise direction for prayer five times each day.

It has a 0-400 scale and is used in conjunction with a table of major cities.

Note that because of variations in the earth's magnetic field, the numbers change about every 10 years.

Use

1. Make sure the compass is level and at least 18” from any magnetic material.
2. Determine the index number (0-390) for your nearest city from the table shown at Stanley London.
3. Rotate the compass until the compass needle is aligned with your city number.
4. The Minaret (shown at zero degrees) now points in the direction of Qibla.

Problems?

Travel Bugs need maintenance from time to time (as do we all?!). If this one looks in need (or if you would like to know how to make your own capsule), please take a look at the Faber Optimé Travel Bug Maintenance Manual.

A PDF file of the custom stash note for this travel bug can be obtained here.

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