Ottoman Sundial 2

There are multiple sundials from the Ottoman period in the Prophet's Mosque. This second sundial was also used to determine prayer times, just like the other. In Islam, prayer times are determined directly according to the position of the sun. For this reason, sundials have become practical tools that must be present in every major mosque. The Ottomans established a very meticulous tradition in this regard; special officials called 'muvakkit' determined the prayer times through astronomical calculations. The presence of multiple sundials in the Prophet's Mosque indicates that different areas of the mosque benefited from different sun angles, allowing for more precise determination of times. These clocks are also important in terms of the scientific legacy left by the Ottomans to the Haremeyn. [Source: TDV Islamic Encyclopedia, article 'Sundial'; article 'Muvakkit', islamansiklopedisi.org.tr/muvakkit]