Ottoman Sundial

During the Ottoman period, tools such as sundials and water clocks were used in every major mosque to determine prayer times. This sundial in the courtyard of the Prophet's Mosque is a special architectural element that allows for the precise measurement of times and reflects the Ottoman understanding of science. In Islam, prayer times are determined directly by the position of the sun; determining the times for Fajr, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, and Isha requires serious astronomical knowledge. For centuries, the Ottomans trained astronomers and muwaqqits (officials who determine the times) who meticulously carried out these calculations. The existence of the sundial in the Prophet's Mosque shows that the Ottomans resorted to scientific tools even in this sacred place. This sundial is also a tangible remnant of Ottoman architectural and technical heritage in Medina. There were multiple sundials in the Prophet's Mosque; their primary purpose was to accurately determine prayer times. [Source: TDV Islamic Encyclopedia, "Sundial" article; "Muwaqqit" article, islamansiklopedisi.org.tr/muvakkit]