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Qibla Indicator
Iran, 1938-1939
This device is signed by Faraj Allâh Isfahânî. It is made of brass plates over a wood core, 2" x 3" overall. It is engraved in Arabic, and equipped with an inset glazed compass and a suspension ring for carrying. One face has a calibrated degree circle and pointer, to show the azimuth of the qibla. There are additional calibrated semicircles for the direction of Mecca. The dates (1317 Persian solar and 1357 Hegira) correspond to 1938/1939 AD. The reverse has a gazetteer of 60 cities and their directions. Travelers would estimate their position among the cities, adjust the pointer accordingly, then use the compass to find North. |
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Moslems
pray facing Mecca. To do this, they must know the direction of Mecca,
which they call the Qibla. If they are in a mosque, this is
no problem; if they are in some remote and trackless place, they need
help.