On Tuesday, 15 July 2025, the sun will be directly above the Kaaba in Makkah for the second and last time this year. This rare event is called the solar zenith. When it happens, everything in Makkah will have no shadow because the sun will be exactly overhead.
This special moment helps Muslims all over the world check the exact direction of the qibla, which is the direction they face when they pray. Because the sun lines up perfectly with the Kaaba, people can look at where the sun is and make sure they are praying in the right direction.
Majed Abu Zahra, who leads the Jeddah Astronomical Society, explained why this happens. The Earth tilts on its axis by about 23.5 degrees. This tilt makes the sun appear to move between the Tropic of Cancer in the north and the Tropic of Capricorn in the south every year.
As the sun moves back down from the Tropic of Cancer, it passes right over Makkah, which sits at 21.4 degrees north. At this time, the sun will reach a high point of about 89.5 degrees above the ground, making it almost straight up in the sky.
This perfect alignment happens only twice a year. Many Muslims use this chance to check or adjust their qibla so they can pray facing the Kaaba exactly. It’s a simple but amazing way that nature helps people feel closer to Makkah, no matter where they live in the world.
