The sun will align directly over the Kaaba in Mecca during the Dhuhr prayer call on the first day of Eid al-Adha [1].
This event is significant because it marks a rare astronomical synchronization where the sun reaches a precise angular point above the holy site, causing all shadows to disappear momentarily [1], [2].
According to the Saudi Space Agency, the alignment will occur on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, which corresponds to 10 Dhuhr al-Hijjah 1447 AH [3], [4]. Khalid bin Abdullah al-Maharbi, vice president of the Saudi Space Agency, said the sun will be positioned directly above the Kaaba during the noon call to prayer [5].
This specific solar alignment is the result of a rare match between the sun's declination and the latitude of the site [2], [4]. Such a synchronization has not occurred since 1308 AH, or 1891 AD [2]. This means the phenomenon has not been witnessed for 139 years [2].
Experts indicate that the event follows specific astronomical cycles and will not recur for several decades [2], [4]. The Qatar Calendar House said the sun will align with the Kaaba for the first time this year [6].
Observers in Mecca and those watching via live broadcast will see the shadows of the Kaaba vanish at the exact moment of the solar zenith. This vertical alignment occurs when the sun is at its highest point in the sky relative to the coordinates of the building [1], [4].
“The sun will align directly over the Kaaba in Mecca during the Dhuhr prayer call.”
The alignment is a natural result of the Earth's axial tilt and its orbit around the sun. Because the Kaaba is located at a specific latitude, the sun only reaches a 90-degree zenith at certain times of the year. The extreme rarity of this specific synchronization with the date of Eid al-Adha adds a layer of cultural and religious significance to a predictable astronomical occurrence.
