COMPARISON OF SPHERICAL TRIGONOMETRY METHOD, JEAN MEEUS ALGORITHM AND GOOGLE QIBLA FINDER IN DETERMINING OF THE QIBLA DIRECTION OF ISLAMIC HOSPITAL

Abstract

Accuracy in facing the Qibla is an essential part of performing prayers. This vital value is evident when many mosques are built in public places. This article is qualitative with field data sources, namely coordinate points at the Jemursari Islamic Hospital mosque, Surabaya Islamic Hospital, and Al-Irsyad Hospital Surabaya. Once collected, the data was analyzed using three methods for calculating Qibla direction, namely Spherical Trigonometry, Jean Meeus, and Google Qibla Finder. This article found that the three methods obtained the same results at the Jemursari Islamic Hospital at 294°3'5", at the Surabaya Islamic Hospital at 294° 3'6", and at the Al-Irsyad Surabaya Hospital at 294°3'5 ". However, there is a difference between calculations and field measurements of 2°–7°, including within the Qibla deviation tolerance. It can be concluded that these three methods can accurately determine the Qibla direction in various locations. However, re-checking is required if the measurements exceed the tolerance limits.