The Prophet's Mosque Sundial: Engineering of Time

The sundial in the Prophet's Mosque embodies a facet of the scientific heritage used in ancient times to accurately determine time and prayer times, before the proliferation of mechanical clocks and modern timekeeping methods. It remains a testament to the evolution of astronomy and computation in Islamic civilization.

Crafted in 1335 AH, the sundial operates based on the movement of the sun's shadow. The shadow traverses calibrated markings to indicate the time with precision according to the geographical location of the Prophet's Mosque, making it one of the accurate tools employed for setting prayer times at that time.

Located near the Green Dome in the Prophet's Mosque, the sundial retains its historical and scientific value. It serves as a landmark documenting an important era in time measurement, reflecting the Muslims' deep concern for accurate timing, especially regarding worship. Today, it stands as a prominent witness to the application of astronomical sciences in service of the Prophet's Mosque over the centuries.