Muslims praying towards Mekka, required accuracy?

[ripper1199]

I saw this family in a parking lot today and they were rolling out their mats and then set off to presumably pray all in a certain direction. Now I am curious as to the required accuracy while praying because I am pretty sure their heading was off significantly. Technically as I see it they need to perform a half handstand pointing in to the earth or else as the crow flies NWish. They were hailing South Africa instead. The thought that counts or does the proper Muslim bring a compass, a terrestrial globe and a cert IV ticket in advanced navigation to the table?

[Manyak]

Muslims praying towards Mekka, required accuracy?

Islam is all about intention. If they used all the tools/skills they have to try and point them selves towards Makkah, then it's all good


But it's 0913, I guarantee they were spot on as someone would have used the iPhone app

[thro]

Yeah I suspect that's it.

I mean, say you were lost in the desert and had no idea where you were, it's not like your god is going to smite you for praying in the wrong direction, surely?



(assuming for a second the existence of said deity, etc.)

[TROUBLE]

I saw a guy stop on the side of the road and get his mat out and do this.

[Shady7/8]

Yeah I suspect that's it.

I mean, say you were lost in the desert and had no idea where you were, it's not like your god is going to smite you for praying in the wrong direction, surely?

Well apparently he is an angry and jealous god.... Therefore quite likely for smitey smitey

[kapyong]

Arse in the air in the general direction of the clouds and I reckon they got it hammered.

[andymac]

But it's 0913, I guarantee they were spot on as someone would have used the iPhone app

iPraise?

[TurboR1]

While in Dubai, one of the Egyptians in the class had an app on his phone which let out a prayer (like you would hear from the Mosque loudspeakers) telling him when he needed to run off and do his thing.

[Daise]

Yep, there's a app for that.

It's when you have three people using different apps that give off a *slightly* different compass reading is when you need to stifle the giggles

[Rorschach]

I saw a few blokes start praying in the aisle of a train back home.
Damn inconvenient trying to step around them when it pulled into a station.

[filbert]

You guys have seen them too?

They're invading, taking over, our jobs! Our women! Derpa derp derpity derp! Rabble rabble!

I give them credit whether they get the direction wrong or not, at least they make a commitment to their religion and live up to the definition of religious, not like these people who call themselves Christian because they went to church once....

[BusaSteve]

God knows when you are thinking of him....no need to go every week...thats Vicars needing collection for salmon and cucumber sandwiches that started that! lol!!

[TurboR1]

I remember offshore when we got to our work cabin one of the guys found a nice rug/mat rolled up on top of a locker, thinking nothing of it he thought it was a perfect size and shape for a floor mat for the entrance. Rather innocently we all used it for the bulk of the day to wipe our boots clean of oil based drill mud and slime from the rig. Only to discover it was one of the guys from the other shift's prayer mat.... whoops.

[GreenMeanie]

I found the screen I watch movies on Malaysian Airline flights useful to find where Mecca is. I couldn't help myself, pushed all the buttons I could find. Watched where we were on the globe, the next push in what direction Mecca was.
Had a peak in the praying room and decided I'd probably get more knee room if they dispensed with the praying room.

[devolved]

In hotels O/S they have a little arrow on the roof.

I'd presume you don't need to verify it with 3 other sources.