Implikasi penentuan waktu solat dengan kaedah titik berbanding dengan kaedah zon bagi Negeri Johor

Abstract

Prayer time determination in Malaysia is based on the concept of prayer time zones, as determined by Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM). However, in reality the establishment of prayer time zones is based on geographical factors and the state administration. Therefore, this study was conducted to analyze inconsistencies in prayer times at boundary areas of prayer time zone of Johor state. Prayer time calculation method based on point, the coordinates of the location itself, was used in this study to revise the time difference between the prayer times for places at border zone and zone’s prayer time for that place. In this study, software called Malaysia Prayer time (WSM) was developed based on JAKIM’s prayer time calculation criteria. Next, the implications of the implementation of prayer time zones towards settlements at the border zone were examined. The results show that the maximum time difference in zones was at Zone 2, between Kampung Sedenak and Kampung Tengar, with 5 minutes difference. The most densely populated area at the border zone was at Asahan, which lies between the delimitation of the state of Johor and Melaka, with 13 settlements. While the time difference in prayer times for adjacent areas of prayer times zone that are most critical is 6 minute that is between Tanjung Gemok at Zone 2, Pahang and Endau at Zone 2, Johor. Prayer time determination using point-based method is more appropriate because the prayer time is calculated based on its location, but to preserve the harmony of society, the concept of zones is more practical to use. However, the distribution of zones need to be improved in term of selecting the most west point and the attenuation zone for whom the time difference in zone is more than 2 minutes and the establishment of special zones for adjacent areas whose have large time difference in its prayer time.