Muhamad Wildan Asathin, Kusdiyana Kusdiyana, Ilham Bustomi

AKURASI POSISI GUNUNG SALAK SEBAGAI ARAH KIBLAT BAGI MASYARAKAT CIGOMBONG BOGOR PERSPEKTIF ILMU FALAK DAN FIKIH

Introduction

Akurasi posisi gunung salak sebagai arah kiblat bagi masyarakat cigombong bogor perspektif ilmu falak dan fikih. Uji akurasi arah kiblat masyarakat Cigombong Bogor yang meyakini Gunung Salak sebagai penanda. Perspektif Ilmu Falak & Fikih mengungkap latar belakang kepercayaan dan keakuratan.

Abstract

Muslims are commanded to worship, including prayer. In performing prayer, there are rules that have been determined and must be fulfilled, namely pillars and conditions. Facing the Qibla is one of the valid requirements in prayer, the Qibla is the closest direction to the Baitullah (Kaaba). For people who live close to the Kaaba, facing the Qibla is not a problem, but sometimes it can be a problem for people who live far from the Kaaba. One of them in Indonesia, precisely in Cigombong District, Bogor Regency, there is a unique phenomenon in the form of local wisdom regarding the direction of the Qibla, the community has a belief in Mount Salak as a benchmark for the direction of the Qibla. The formulation of the problem in this study is "What is the background to the emergence of the community's belief that Mount Salak is a benchmark for the direction of the Qibla" and "How accurate is the position of Mount Salak towards the Kaaba in Cigombong District, Bogor". This research uses a qualitative method, the data collected is through observation, interviews, documentation, and literature studies. And the tools used in this accuracy test measurement are Mizwala & Google Earth software. The results of this study, that the background of the Cigombong community's belief in Mount Salak as a benchmark for the direction of the Qibla are: the position of Mount Salak which is in the west, and the Cigombong community used to understand that if facing the Qibla it was limited to facing the kulon (west) direction which coincides with the position of Mount Salak and secondly because of local wisdom inherited from ancestors to the local community. A belief that was formed before the existence of a compass and other tools that can be used to determine the direction of the Qibla. Then in the accuracy test of Mount Salak: it turned out to be true, that Mount Salak is in the same direction as the Kaaba. However, Mount Salak or any mountain cannot be used as a benchmark in facing the direction of the Qibla. Because basically this mountain is a part of the earth that is towering and large, meaning that with the large body of the mountain, it is very impossible to face exactly the direction of the Qibla (Kaaba), and it is also unknown, that which point on the part of the mountain is exactly facing the direction of the Kaaba.

Review

This study presents an intriguing exploration into a unique local wisdom concerning Qibla direction among the Muslim community in Cigombong District, Bogor Regency, Indonesia. The paper adeptly addresses a practical problem faced by communities far from the Kaaba, investigating the accuracy of using Mount Salak as a traditional benchmark for prayer direction. By adopting an interdisciplinary approach, integrating *Ilmu Falak* (Islamic astronomy) and *Fikih* (Islamic jurisprudence), the research frames the issue within both scientific and religious contexts, making it highly relevant to discussions on local Islamic practices and their alignment with established religious principles. The research questions are clearly articulated, setting a focused trajectory for the investigation. The methodology employed in this qualitative study is appropriate, utilizing a mix of observation, interviews, documentation, and literature review to gather comprehensive data. Crucially, the research incorporates modern tools such as Mizwala and Google Earth software to scientifically assess the accuracy of Mount Salak's position relative to the Kaaba from Cigombong. The findings reveal that the community's belief stems from Mount Salak's westward location aligning with the local understanding of *kulon* (west) and inherited ancestral wisdom. While the study remarkably confirms that Mount Salak *is* generally in the same direction as the Kaaba, it judiciously concludes that any large natural feature like a mountain cannot serve as a precise Qibla benchmark due to its inherent immensity and the impossibility of pinpointing an exact directional point on it. Overall, this paper makes a valuable contribution by documenting and critically analyzing a significant piece of local Islamic heritage. Its strength lies in combining empirical measurement with a socio-cultural understanding of belief formation. However, the abstract could more explicitly discuss the implications of its findings for the community, perhaps by suggesting clearer guidance on accurate Qibla determination methods in light of the identified inaccuracies. While it states that the mountain cannot be a precise benchmark, the implications for existing practices need further elaboration. Future research could expand on the *Fikih* perspective to discuss different interpretations regarding Qibla accuracy, especially in situations where precise tools were historically unavailable, and offer practical recommendations for educating the community on optimal Qibla determination practices.

Full Text

Comments

You need to be logged in to post a comment.