Mobile Prayer Times and Qiblat Direction Using GPS

Azmi Awang Md. Isa1, Zahriladha Zakaria2, Fauzi Mohd. Johar3 and Ahmad Faisal Othman41,2,3,4 Faculty of Electronics and Computer Engineering

Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Locked Bag 1200, Hang Tuah Jaya, 75450 Ayer Keroh, Melaka, Malaysia. Tel: (606) 555 2085, Fax: (606) 5552112

azmiawang@utem.edu.my, zahriladha@utem.edu.my, fauzi@utem.edu.my, al_hazriq@yahoo.com

Abstract – This paper presented the

development an innovative system to determine the Prayer Times and the current digital Qiblat (Ka’bah) direction in real time using Personal Digital Assistant (PDA)/ Pocket PC with built-in Global Positioning System (GPS). The GUI-based software has been developed to help users determine their current Prayer Times and Qiblat direction automatically even if they are on the move or in any type of vehicles such as in airplanes, ships, trains etc. The GPS receiver will capture information with regards to the user’s current location. This information will then be synchronized by this software in order for the whole system to be operated correctly. Therefore, the determination of the prayer times and the Qiblat direction is done by the system automatically, without the requirement to select the current location where it is a standard practice for the existing conventional systems. The idea behind this software is to assist Muslims by providing them with accurate information that can help in their daily duty. Keywords: Prayer Times, Qiblat Direction, GPS.

1. Introduction

Muslims need to obey their obligation to perform Solat (Muslims’ prayers) regardless of where they are. For an instance, Muslims traveling abroad on airplanes are still required to perform prayers, even though they may encounter difficulties to do so due to high velocity of the airplane and its orientation. Furthermore, Muslims need to identify their current location in order to know prayer times schedule and Qiblat Direction. To our knowledge, there are no such portable equipments available to determine the real-time prayer times and the current Qiblat Direction.

The Mobile prayer times and Qiblat direction using GPS is built-in a same portable device. The GPS receiver provides information of the latitude, longitude and altitude and finally this information will be synchronized with the developed software in order for the whole system to operate correctly.

The GUI-based software has been developed which can determine current prayer times and digital Qiblat direction automatically for users are on mobile/moving vehicles such as in airplane, ship, train, etc.

2. Methodology The knowledge of the starting and ending times for prayers as well as the Qiblat direction are of fundamental importance to Muslims. Since it is an obligatory for Muslims to perform prayers in the right time-frame and direction, therefore Muslims need to study the method to determine prayer times and the Qiblat direction using the information given by GPS.

This system is named as GPSolat, a combination of GPS and Solat. A GUI-based software for the “Mobile Prayer Times and Qiblat Direction Using GPS” system has been developed using Visual Basic.Net and will synchronized with the GPS information using PDA with built-in GPS.

2.1 Global Positioning System (GPS) A Global Positioning System or GPS in this project is used for determining the latitude, longitude and altitude of observant. PDA with built-in GPS capability is used because it is a portable device, easy to carry, considerably inexpensive and suitable for Muslim whose like to journey. Figure 1 show at least 4 satellites needed to gives precision location of vehicles (example using airplane).

Figure 1: GPS Navigation

1-4244-1435-0/07/$25.00©2007 IEEE

2.2 NMEA Interpreter

The concept of NMEA (National Marine Electronics Association) data is to send data one line at a time and it’s completely standalone [1]. All the NMEA output data are stored in a text file. The NMEA output data are examined and elements of recording data like tracking and mapping are separated. This process is called interpreter as shown in Figure 2 and it uses software developer that has been developed.

$GPGGA,123519,4807.038,N,01131.000,E,1,08,0.9,545.4,M,46.

9,M,,*47

Figure 2:- Example of Latitude, Longitude and

Altitude data

2.3 Mobile Qiblat Direction

The direction of Qiblat (Ka’bah) in the vehicles can be obtained by pointing the PDA with built-in GPS straight towards to the front of the vehicles direction and the arrow of the compass in the system will be pointing to the Qiblat automatically as shown in Figure 3. In this case, the direction of Qiblat can be defined as the angle different between the Azimuth of vehicles and the Qiblat [2].

Figure 3: The PDA with built-in GPS is point towards

to the front of the vehicles direction

3. Results

Figure 4 shows the main menu of the “Mobile Prayer Times and Qiblat Direction” that has been developed.

Figure 5 shows the current locations of airplane are

Fi

This menu in Figure 6 hows the schedule of the

detected by GPS satellites. The GPS Device Emulator is selected because the PDA is already has a built-in GPS. Once the ‘start’ button is pushed, the PDA with built-in GPS works as receiver will read the latitude, longitude and the altitude of the airplane.

48 deg 07.038' N

545.4 above mean sea level

LATITUDE LONGITUDE ALTITUDE

11 deg 31.000' E Figure 4: Main menu of GPSolat

gure 5: GPS Setup and Baud Rate

scurrent Real Time Prayer Times. The time of each prayer is referred to the Universal Time (UT) for perfect accuracy. Prayer Times always changing and they depend on the current location of users. In the Prayer Reminder’s menu, it shows the eligible praying time and the duration lefts for current Prayer Time. It also shows the next prayer time information and five minutes alarms before the next Prayer Times.

Figure 6: Prayer Time’s schedule

Figure 7 shows the direction of Qiblat can be obtained by pointing the PDA with built-in GPS place in front of the user or vehicle direction and the arrow of the compass in the system will pointing to the Qiblat automatically.

Figure 7: Digital Qiblat direction with respect to airplane

Figure 8 shows the digital compass of current airplane direction that respect to north clockwise. This menu also displays the current latitude, longitude, altitude and speed of the airplane by using information from Global Positioning System (GPS).

Figure 8: Airplane direction with respect to north

4. Analysis Results

4.1 Prayer Times Comparison

Table 1: Changing of Latitude Values

Location ( in Degree)

Prayer Times Schedule

Lat Long Maghrib

Isha Fajr Syuruk Zuhr Asr

2.15 102.35 19.15 20.25 5.46 7.01 13.09 16.33 2.16 102.35 19.15 20.25 5.46 7.01 13.09 16.33 2.17 102.35 19.15 20.25 5.46 7.01 13.09 16.33 2.183 102.35 19.15 20.25 5.46 7.01 13.09 16.33 2.19 102.35 19.15 20.25 5.46 7.01 13.09 16.33 2.20 102.35 19.15 20.25 5.46 7.01 13.09 16.33 2.21 102.35 19.15 20.25 5.46 7.01 13.09 16.33 2.22 102.35 19.15 20.25 5.46 7.01 13.09 16.33 2.23 102.35 19.15 20.25 5.46 7.00 13.09 16.33 2.24 102.35 19.15 20.25 5.46 7.00 13.09 16.33

Table 2: Changing of Longitude Values

Location

( in Degree) Prayer Times Schedule

Lat Long Maghrib

Isha Fajr Syuruk Zuhr Asr

2.183 101 19.20 20.30 5.52 7.06 13.14 16.38 2.183 101.1 19.20 20.30 5.51 7.06 13.14 16.38 2.183 101.2 19.20 20.30 5.51 7.06 13.14 16.38 2.183 101.3 19.19 20.30 5.51 7.05 13.14 16.38 2.183 101.4 19.18 20.29 5.50 7.04 13.12 16.37 2.183 101.5 19.18 20.29 5.50 7.04 13.12 16.37 2.183 101.6 19.17 20.28 5.49 7.03 13.11 16.37 2.183 102.35 19.17 20.28 5.48 7.03 13.11 16.36

From Table 1, when the latitude is varied and the longitude is fixed, the changing values of Prayer Times are about 20 km using the GPSolat. However, the Prayer times for Zuhr and Asr are remained the same because the determination of Zuhr’s and Asr’s Prayer times are not depending on the height of the location but depending on the angle of the sun. Table 2 shows the Prayer times when the longitude is varied and the

latitude is fixed. It is shown that the longitude different give a same 20 km changed the Prayer times.

4.2 Degrees of Qiblat Direction

Table 3: Changing of Qiblat

Seconds Degree

1 108 degree 54’ 20” 2 108 degree 48’ 07” 3 108 degree 37’ 01” 4 108 degree 39’ 54” 5 108 degree 41’ 23”

Further evaluation has been carried out inside the Lufthansa Airline from Frankfurt, Germany to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia with a constant speed of 800km/h on 25 April 2007. It is shown (Table 3) that the changing of Qiblat is around 0.21 58” for every 5 seconds.

4.3 Consistency of GPS Two tests GPS signal were conducted, firstly in a wide open area or outdoor area and secondly was inside the Mosque or indoor area; both tests were executed with neither cloudy nor rainy conditions. The measurement took place at MITC Mosque Ayer Keroh, Melaka on 17 February 2007 (8.30a.m). Figure 9 shows a scattering diagram for GPS Testing Position Float at all Poles referred to Qiblat (Ka’bah) (as depicted in Table 4 (wide open area). Twenty times reading of latitude and longitude was taken for each Pole 1 to Point 3. All the GPS signals data has been plotted and it is shown that the GPS signal do not detect the real position of the users. According to the GPS receiver manufacturers, GPS unit is accurate within 49 feet (15 meters) [1].

An average (mean) of all twenty recorded data for each pole was calculated and resembled as a new reading point for the pole. According to the Figure 9, the mean for pole 1, pole 2 and pole 3 are straight towards the Qiblat (Ka’bah). In order word, the results of the GPS testing position float at a wide/ open area are better. More meters the user walks, the more accurate the point of the Qiblat direction. Based on observation, walking about 2.5 meters can get accurate straight Qiblat direction and tolerance is about 3.5° to 4°.

Times was based on the location at Melaka, Malaysia (Latitude = 2.183330 N, longitude = 102.350 E, and Altitude = 100 meters) on 31 May 2007.

Table 4: Results of GPS Measurement in a Wide Open Area Changing of Qiblat Change

Pole 1:- 8:30AM Pole 2:- 9:15AM Pole 3:- 10:00AM

NO. Latitude Longitude

Latitude Longitude

Latitude Longitude

1 2.269748333

102.2886717

2.269773333

102.2885967

2.269763333

102.2884183

2 2.269753333

102.2886933

2.269823333

102.2884817

2.269793333

102.2884417

3 2.269708333

102.2887267

2.269776667

102.2885667 2.269835

102.28846

4 2.269763333

102.2886183 2.26977

102.288575

2.269798333

102.28848

5 2.269721667

102.2886633

2.269786667

102.288555

2.269803333

102.2885217

6 2.269721667

102.2886633 2.269785

102.288525

2.269813333

102.28848

7 2.26973667

102.2885033 2.26976

102.288525 2.269805

102.28851

8 2.269743333

102.2885667

2.269763333

102.2885617

2.269791667

102.2885367

9 2.26976667

102.288217

2.26971667

102.2885733 2.269825

102.28852

10 2.26977

102.288665 2.269815

102.288585 2.269815

102.2885617

11 2.269765

102.2886033 2.269805

102.28858 2.26982

102.2885333

12 2.269695

102.2886067 2.269775

102.28855 2.26982

102.2885233

13 2.269728333

102.2886317

2.269778333

102.2885683

2.269806667

102.2885533

14 2.269725

102.2886183 2.26979

102.2885333

2.269816667

102.2885433

15 2.269731667

102.2885533 2.269795

102.2885617

2.269828333

102.288495

16 2.269721667

102.2886633 2.269785

102.2885267 2.269815

102.2885417

17 2.26971

102.2886867

2.269761667

102.28853

2.269761667

102.2884533

18 2.269736667

102.2885433

2.269763333

102.2886

2.269838333

102.2885133

19 2.269741667

102.2886667

2.269753333

102.28858

2.269808333

102.2885117

20 2.269741667

102.2886667

2.269753333

102.2885533

2.269818333

102.2885117

Figure 9:- GPS Testing Position Float at Pole 1, Pole 2 and Pole 3 referring to Qiblat (Wide open area)

Aver-age

2.2697365 102.2886317

2.26977975

102.2885578

2.269808833

102.2885055

Figure 10:- GPS Testing Position Float at Pole 1 and Pole 2 referring to Qiblat (inside the Mosque)

Table 5: Results of GPS Measurement inside the Mosque

Figure 10 shows a scattering diagram for GPS Testing Position Float at all Poles referred to Qiblat (Ka’bah) as depicted in Table 5 (inside the Mosque). Twenty times reading of latitude and longitude was taken for each Pole 1 and Pole 2. All the GPS signals data has been plotted and it is shown that the GPS signal do not detect the real position of the users. An average (mean) of all twenty recorded data for each pole was calculated and resembled as a new reading point for the pole. As shown in Figure 10, mean for pole 1 and pole 2 are not going straight to the Qiblat (Ka’bah). In other word, the GPS testing position float at a closed-area were not provide good results.

To solve a problem received a low GPS signal inside the closed-area; user could use an external GPS receiver like GPSlim product. User can go outside the building and update the latest signals GPS. The GPS receiver will synchronize with the PDA. Then, user can determine the current prayer times inside the building. The current Qiblat direction can be determined with help by a magnetic field compass that shows the North. Compass is needed because the PDA is not built-in with a magnetic fields compass [3]. The develop system is

use for movement vehicles and not on static condition. For inside the airplane, the GPS signal can be received, because the airplane airlines have put the reradiating antenna on the airplane roof. This will enable it to see as many satellites as possible. GPS receiver indoors received outside GPS signal that has been amplified and rebroadcast inside.

5. Conclusions In this paper “Mobile Prayer Times and Qiblat

Direction Using GPS” or GPSolat system has been presented to determine Prayer Times and the Qiblat using GUI-based software. The GPSolat is using GPS with built in a same portable device. The GPS receiver provides information of the latitude, longitude and altitude and finally this information will be synchronized with the developed software in order for the whole system to operate correctly. Using a PDA / Pocket PC with built-in GPS, the locations of the users can always been updated automatically and not the conventional way where the users need to select the city and the current location manually. The digital Qiblat Compass in this system will be pointed to Ka’bah automatically as compared to conventional way where the index numbers of the locations need to be known by the observant. The GPS testing position float at a wide open area resulting in the accurate direction to Qiblat (Kaabah). However, it is otherwise for the GPS testing position float at a closed-area. User could use an external GPS receiver to keep the outside GPS signal. As for the usage in an airplane, no problem with the received signal because the existing of the reradiating antenna on the airplane roof. This system is a user friendly device and could be used in other vehicles such as train, ship, airplane and also on the ground. The Muslim population for the year 2007 is about 1.6 billion which represent a 27% of the world population [4]. Therefore, it is highly believe that the opportunity to commercialize this project is huge. In addition, the population of PDA and Smartphone users increases every year.

References [1] Joel McNamara, GPS for Dummies, Wiley

Publishing Inc. pp 50-53; 2004 [2] Azmi bin Awang Md Isa, Zahriladha bin Zakaria,

Fauzi bin Johar and Ahmad Faisal bin Othman, IEEE Conference Paper, In-Flight Prayer Times and Qiblat Direction - A Preliminary Study, International RF and Microwave Conference 2006, Putrajaya, Malaysia, pp 1-5.

[3] Michael Zeiler, IEEE Conference Paper, Integration of GIS & GPS for Mapping and Analysis of Electric Distribution Circuits, September 1996, Michigan, USA, pp 1-6.

[4] www.islamicpopulation.com, February 2007.

Pole 1:- 10:30AM Pole 2:- 11:15AM

NO. Latitude Longitude Latitude Longitude 1

2.270141667 102.2881233 2.27013 102.2880233 2

2.270155 102.288155 2.70296667 102.2877783 3

2.270201667 102.287965 2.270318333 102.28792 4

2.270718333 102.2879567 2.270045 102.28793 5

2.270433333 102.2879717 2.270371667 102.2878888 6

2.270741667 102.28784 2.270228333 102.28795 7

2.2701 102.28803 2.270106667 102.287885 8

2.270001667 102.2879633 2.27034 102.2878967 9

2.270165 102.2877217 2.270468333 102.287985 10

2.270508333 102.2880767 2.27026 102.2879417 11

2.269895 102.2881317 2.270381667 102.28785 12

2.2702 102.2880333 2.270326667 102.2878683 13

2.270363333 102.2880067 2.270336667 102.2878867 14

2.270243333 102.2878667 2.27064 102.28795 15

2.27065 102.2880933 2.27 102.28787 16

2.270641667 102.2878517 2.270138333 102.2879583 17

2.270313333 102.2880133 2.27 102.2879583 18

2.270146667 102.2881117 2.270355 102.2878017 19

2.270033333 102.2880133 2.27008 102.2877773 20

2.270033333 102.2880133 2.27008 102.2877773

Aver-age

2.270284333 102.2879964 2.270245167 102.2878914