MOBILE PRAYER TIMES FOR PDA APPLICATION

FARIDAH AZURA BINTI YAHAYA

This report is submitted ha partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of Bachelor of

Electronic Engineering (Telecommunication Electronics) With Honours

Faculty of Electronic and Computer Engineering

Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka

May 2008

UNIVERSITI TEKNIKAL MALAYSIA MELAKA

BORANG PENGESAHAN STATUS LAPORAN PROJEK SARJANA MUDA I1

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rnengaku membema&m Laporan Projek Sajana Muda mi disimpan di PerpYstakaan dengan syaratqarat kegunaao sepd

1. L a p o m adalah hakmilik Universiti Teknilcal Malaysia Metaka

2. Perpustakaan dibenarkan membuat salinm untuk tujuan pengajian sahaja

3. Perpustakaan dibtntuhn membuat salinan laporan mi sebagai bahan perhbm antara institusi pengajian tmggi.

4. Sila tandakan ( d ) :

(Mengaadungi maklumat yang berdajah keselamatan atau kepentingan Malaysia seperti yang terrnaldub di dalam AKTA RAHSIA RASMI 1972)

T E R M * (Mengandungi maklumat bxhad yang telab ditentukan ole& organisasitbadan di rnana penyelidikan dijalankan)

TIDAK TERHAD

Disahkan oleh:

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Koruq Derkunci 1201, Hang T wh d r p Ayer Kemh, 75150 Mslokz

T* .-2-?&lB!I8 ----------------- Tarikh: . -2MEL2-W8--- --------------

*CATATAN : Jika laporan mi SULIT atau TERHAD, sila lampirkan surat daripada pihak be-wisasi berkenaan dengan menyatakan sekali tempoh laporan ini perlu dikelaskan sebagai SULIT atau TERHAD.

"I hereby declare that this report is the result of my own work except for quotes as cited in the

references."

Signature . . ........................... ....... Author : E~-&-B-WI-YMYA

Date : 2"dk?A~2.008 ---~-.--.--.--.................--oooooooo~--

"I hereby declare that I have read this report and in my opinion this report is sufficient in terms

of the scope and quality for the award of Bachelor of Electronic Engineering

(Telecommunication Electronics) With Honours."

Signature

Supervisor's Name .__._______________----------------------------.-------------.----.-.----- MISS &A IRDAWATY BINTl HASSAN

Date : 2 " d ~ y 2 ~ --.......-.------.------.---.-----------------------

DEDICATION

It is only befitting that I dedicate this humble work to the noble and illustrious

Prophet, Muhammad SallallahuAlaihi Wasallam, addressed by Allah

SubhanahuWataYAla as the "Unlettered" Prophet, yet, the Master of the most

extensive knowledge, foretold in previous scriptures, and the Mercy for the Worlds.

Special dedication to my loving parents, Hj Yahaya b Hj Kasim and

Hjh Mahani bt Hj Rawi, to all my supported siblings and my big family,

especially to my kind hearted supervisors Mr Azmi b Awang Md Isa and

Miss Nurmala Irdawaty binti Hassan, all lecturers in Faculty of Electronics and

Computer Engineering and also to all my dearest fkiends.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Alharndulillah, all Praise to thank to Allah SWT the Almighty for giving me

the Rahmah to finish my Project Sarjana Muda 11 successfully. Thanks to Ilahi for

the opportunity given and helped make easier the entire tasks project given as long as

this semester. After work hard for whole semester, finally I frnished my Project

Sarjana Muda I1 with fully satisfaction.

Special thank you to my kind hearted supervisors Miss Nurrnala Irdawaty

binti Hassan and Mr Azmi b Awang Md Isa, for the opportunity given to me to do

this project and for his belief. Thank you very much for her endless support and

ideas, during which she has been patiently supervising my progress and encouraged

me to do this project in the right way. She never tired teaches me step by step to do

this project until I can do it independently. Thank you for her advice. With full of

hope, Allah SWT bless Her and family.

I would like to thank to my beloved fiiend Noor Badariah Binti Asan for her

fiiendship, encouragement and always gave insightful comments on my work. We

work together to provide the best for this project. She never tired to teach me at

which part that I do not know to do. Not to forget to all other my friends, thank you

very much for the support.

Last but not least, I would like to thank my family, especially my loving

parents, Hj Yahaya b Hj Kasirn and Hjh Mahani bt Hj Rawi. Thank you for the

support and encouragement. They are always advising me to perform the best in any

field that I involved. Not to forget to all my supported siblings and my big family, I

love you all.

Finally, to everybody that has been involved in my project directly or

indirectly, thank you very much. Not to forget to Universiti Teknikal Malaysia

Melaka, for the opportunity given. I just hope to get the best mark for my Project

Sarjana muda 11. Thank you very much.

ABSTRACT

Muslims need to perform Solat (Muslim's prayers) no matter of where they

are, even in moving vehicles such as airplanes which is difficult to determining the

prayer times due to high velocity of the airplane and its orientation. To our

knowledge, there are no such portable equipments available to determine the real-

time prayer times. This project is design to develop an innovative system for

Muslims to identify prayer times which is determine the real-time of prayer times

using Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) / Pocket PC with Global Positioning System

(GPS) capability. Graphical User Interface (GUI) based software using Microsoft

Visual Basic.NET has been developed which can determine current prayer times

automatically for users, who are on moving vehicles. The (GPS) receiver will capture

information with regards to the user's current location, and then information will be

synchronized by this software in order for the whole system to be operated correctly.

The beneficial of the GPS is utilized in this system in order to obtain the accurate

location of the observant even they are on moving vehicles. This project divided into

six sub menus which is contains Prayer Times, Qiblat, Local Time, Directional

Finder, Location Info and Calendar in the same PDA. These projects concentrate to

develop sub menu for Prayer Times, Local Time and Location Info. The others sub

menu can be reach in the thesis by Noor Badariah Bt Asan title "Automatic Qiblat

Direction Using PDA GPS" which will explain about it. This project was developed

to assist Muslims by providing them with accurate information that can help to

perform daily duty in a proper manner.

Setiap Muslim perlu menunaikan Solat (Sembahyang Muslim) tidak kira di

mana sahaja mereka berada, biarpun di dalam kenderaan yang bergerak seperti kapal

terbang, dimana ianya adalah sukar untuk mengetahui waktu sembahyang

berdasarkan kelajuan kapal terbang serta orintasi kapal terbang yang tidak diketahui.

Dari sumber yang diketahui, tidak ada lagi peralatan mudah alih untuk menentukan

waktu solat yang sebenar dan tepat. Projek ini dicipta untuk membina sistem yang

inovatif untuk Muslim mengetahui waktu sembahyang, dimana ia akan memberikan

masa yang benar dan tepat untuk waktu sembahyang berkenaan dengan

menggunakan (PDA) / Pocket PC dengan kernampwin (GPS). Perisian Pengguna

grafik antara muka (GUI) @at dibangunkan dengan menggunakan Microsoft Visual

Basic.NET yang mana ia boleh menentukan waktu solat secara automatik untuk

pengguna di dalam kenderaan bergerak. Penerima GPS akan memberikan informasi

kedudukan semasa pengguna dan informasi tersebut akan diseragamkan dengan

perisian yang dibina untuk membolehkan sistem tersebut bmperasi dengan baik.

Faedah GPS didalam sistem ini adalah untuk memberikan ketepatan lokasi walaupun

didalam k e n d m yang bergerak. Projek ini dibahagikan kepada enam sub menu

iaitu mengandungi Waktu Solat, Kiblat, Masa Tempatan, Pencari Arah, Maklumat

Lokasi dan Kalendar didalam PDA yang m a . Projek ini memberi tumpuan untuk

membangunkan bahagian Waktu Solat, Masa Tempatan, dan Maklumat Lokasi.

Maklumat mengenai sub menu yang lain boleh di perolehi didalam tesis yang ditulis

oleh Noor Badariah Bt Asan berta.uk "Automatic Qiblat Direction Using PDA

GPS". Projek ini di bangunkan dengan tujuan untuk membantu setiap Muslim

mendapatkan maklumat yang tepat untuk membantu kehidupan mereka seharian dan

juga untuk memberikan peluang k@ pengguna Muslim mtuk menunaikan

tanggungjawab mereka menunaikan Solat dengan lebih sempurna.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER TITLE

PROJECT TITLE

STATUS REPORT FORM

STUDENT DECLARATION

SUPERVISOR DECLARATION

DEDICATION

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

ABSTRACT

ABSTRAK

CONTENTS

LIST OF TABLES

LIST OF FIGURES

LIST OF ABREVIATIONS

LIST OF APPENDICES

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Project Background

1.2 Project Objectives

1.3 Problem Statements

1.4 Scope of Work

1.5 System Operations

1.6 Organisation of Thesis

PAGE

i

ii

iii

iv

v

vi

vii

ix

X

xv

mi

!Kix

XX

LITERATURE REVIEW

Falaq (Astronomy) Knowledge's

2.1.1 Prayer Times

2.1.2 Qiblat Direction

Zenith

Celestial Sphere Concept (Falaq Concept)

Time Zone

2.4.1 Time Zone Abbreviations

2.4.2 Coordinat Universal Time

2.4.3 Uses

PDA with Built-In GPS: 5466-1 - ETEN X500

(Glofiish)

2.5.1 Advantages of PDA with Built-In GPS

2.5.2 Disadvantages of PDA with Built-In GPS

PDA Parts

2.6.1 Microprocessors and Memory

2.6.2 Wired Connectivity

2.6.3 Synchronization

Global Positioning System (GPS) Receiver

2.7.1 Timing and GPS Receiver

PROJECT METHODOLOGY

3.1 Project Methodology

3.2 Falaq's Knowledge

3.2.1 Theory

3.2.2 Definition of Prayer Times

3.2.3 SOLAT Times Table

3.3 Determination of Prayer Times

3.3.1 Maghrib

3.3.2 Isha

3.3.3 Fajr

xii

3.3.4 Zuhr

3.3.5 Asr

3.4 Prayer Times Calculation Methods

(For Fajr and Isha Prayers)

3.5 Twilight

3.5.1 Twilight and Calculation of Fajr and Isha

3.6 The Global Positioning System (GPS)

3.6.1 Simplified Method of Operation

3.6.2 GPS Accuracy

3.6.3 Sources of GPS Signal Errors

3.7 NMEA- National Marine Electronics Association

3.8 Workflow Description

3.8.1 SystemDesign

SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT

4.1 Introduction Of Microsoft Visual Studio 2005

4.1.1 Objectives Using Visual Studio 2005

4.1.2 Creating a Pocket PC 2003 Smart

~evi'ce Application

4.2 Current Latitude, Longitude, Altitude and Speed

of Airplane

4.3 Coding Prayer Times

4.3.1 Maghrib Prayer Time

4.3.2 Isha Prayer Time

4.3.3 FajrPrayerTime

4.3.4 Zuhr Prayer Time

4.3.5 Asr Prayer Time

RESULTS AND DATA ANALYSIS / DISCUSSIONS 56

5.1 Results 56

5.2 Achievement for This Project 58

5.3 Results on Software and Hardware 59

(Software: Simulation Results from Microsoft Visual

Basic.Net)

(Hardware: Actual Results fiom PDA)

5.3.1 GPSolat Main Menu

5.3.2 Second Menu (Applications)

5.3.3 Prayer Times

5.3.4 Local Time

5.3.5 Menu Location Info

5.3.6 Location Info (Location Compass)

5.3.7 Current City

5.4 Application Using PDA with Built-In GPS

5.5 Analysis

5.5.1 Prayer Times Comparison

5.5.1.1 Prayer Times Comparison -

Version1

5.5.1.2 Prayer Times Comparison -

Version2

5.5.1.3 Prayer Times Comparison - Version3

5.5.1.4 Prayer Times" Comparison - Version4

5.6 Data Analysis / Discussions

5.6.1 Explanation on Analysis

CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS

6.1 Conclusions

6.2 Suggestions and Improvement

REFERENCES

APPENDIX A

APPENDIX B

APPENDIX C

xiv

93

LIST OF TABLES

TITLE

Criteria Used by JAKIM to Determine the Prayer Times

Angle of the Sun with Respect to the East-West Plane in a Year

Compromise Abbreviation

Solat Times

Prayer T i e s Calculation Methods

Prayer Times in (UTC) Time

Prayer Times in Local Time

Changing of Latitude Values

Changing of Longitude Values

Prayer Times Comparison with Other Calculators

Altitude Comparison

Prayer T i e s Comparison with Other Software's

Altitude Comparison

Prayer T i e s Comparison with Other Calculators

PAGE

LIST OF FIGURES

TITLE PAGE

A Simple Scheme of Sacred Geography in the Published Text of the

Kitab Al-Masaliik of Ibn K h e b i h (3rd / 9th century)

Flowchart of the Software Development with PDA with Built-In

GPS Capability

Rubu' Mu. ayy ab

(a) Compass with Telescope and (b) Teodolit

(a) I Learned How to Set Up Teodolit

(b) Ustaz Mohd Marngi Wash Explain about Teodolit and

Compass with Telescope

Teodolit Labelling

The Position of the Sun During Sunrise and Sunset in a Year

The Spinning Earth

Map of World Time Zones

The 5466-1 -ETEN X500-Glofiish Model

The Parts in PDA

Block Diagram of GPS Receiver

Solat Times

Sun Location at Maghrib Time with Form of Sphere Triangle

Sun Location at Isha Time with Form of Sphere Triangle

Indication of Fajr

Sun Location When Zenith Time Based on Local Meridian

Sun Location When Zenith Time and Asr with Form of Sphere Triangle

Twilight

15 Degrees Has Been Used for Calculation of Both Fajr and Isha

18 Degrees Has Been Used for Calculation of Fajr and Isha

Triangulating fiom Satellite

Measuring Distance fiom Satellite

Getting the Perfect Timing

Signal

Knowing Satellite's Position

Correcting Errors

GPS Spread Spectrum Signal

The Constellation of NAVSTAR Satellites and Their Orbits

Work Flow of System Design

The Microsoft Visual Studio.NET Logo

Overall Flow Chart of Designing in Microsoft VB.NET

Create New Project and Solutions

Tools Required by Microsoft Visual Basic.NET

Determining Maghrib Prayer Time

Determining Isha Prayer Time

Determining Fajr Prayer Time

Determining Zuhr Prayer Time

Determining Asr Prayer Time

Main Menu of GPSolat (Mobile Prayer Times and Qiblat Direction)

(a): Simulation Result, GPSolat Main Menu (Welcome Menu)

(b): Simulation Result, Welcome Menu GPSolat with "GPSolat Trial"

(c): Actual Result from PDA

Applications Menu (Second Menu) for GPSolat

(a): First Design

(b): Simulation Result (Second Design)

(c): Actual Result fiom PDA

Simulation Result, Second Design (Applications) with 'Please Wait'

Icon or 'Please click on the selected small pictures' Icon or

'Please Check GPS Port' Icon

Simulation Result from Visual Basic for Help Menu

Simulation Result fiom Microsoft Visual Basic for Real Time

Prayer Times Schedule

Box

Real Time Prayer Times Schedule (Actual Result from PDA)

Graphical User Interface for Local Time

(a): Simulation Result from Microsoft Visual Basic

(b): Actual Result h m PDA

Graphical User Interface for Menu Location Info

(a): Simulation Result from Microsoft Visual Basic

(b): Actual Result h m PDA

(a) and (b) is Airplane Direction with Respect to the North

(Location Compass)

Airplane Direction with Respect to the North

(Location Compass - New Design)

(a): Simulation Result h m Microsoft Visual Basic

(b): Actual Result h m PDA

Graphical User Interface for Current City

(a): Simulation Result h m Microsoft Visual Basic (First Design)

(b): Simulation Result fiom Microsoft Visual Basic (Second Design)

(c): Actual Result from PDA

Real Time Prayer Times Schedule

Actual Result for Current City in the Moving Car

Altitude Comparison for FAJR

Altitude Comparison for SUNRISE

Altitude Comparison for ZUHR

Altitude Comparison for ASR

Altitude Comparison for MAGHRIB

Altitude Comparison for ISHA

LIST OF ABREVIATIONS

AGC - CUT - DGPS - DST - GPS - GUI - GMT - INSTUN-

JAKIM - LEH - LWH - NMEA - 0s - PDA - RAM - ROM - SA - SD - Solat - s v s - TUC - UT - WLAN - WAAS -

Automatic Gain Control

Coordinated Universal Time

Differential GPS

Daylight Saving Times

Global Positioning System

Graphical User Interface

Greenwich Meridian Time

Institut Tanah Ukur Negara

Jabatan Kemajuan Islam clan Dakwah Malaysia

Local East Horizon

Local West Horizon

National Marine Electronics Association

Operation System

Personal Digital Assistant

Random Access Memory

Read Only Memory

Selective Availability

Secure Digital

Muslims Prayers

Space Vehicles / satellites

Temps Universe1 Coordonnk

Universal Time

Wireless Local Area Networks

Wide Area Augmentation System

LIST OF APPENDICES

NO TITLE PAGE

A IEEE Conference Paper, In-Night Prayer Times and Qiblat Direction 102

A Preliminary Study, International RF and Microwave Conference,

Putrajaya; 2006.

B Mobile Prayer Times and Qiblat Direction Using GPS. 107

Asia-Pacific Conference on Applied Electromagnetics (APACE2007).

C Calculation to Determine Prayer Times Used by Jabatan Kemajuan 112

Islam Malaysia (JAKIM).

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

Chapter One is focusing on the project background, project objectives,

problem statements, scope of work, system operation (methodology) and

organisation of thesis.

1.1 Project Background

Solat (Muslims' prayer) is one of the five pillars of Islam and was introduced

within a few years of the introduction of the Faith. In Islam, the day begins at sunset

and the time for the "W prayer (Maghrib) followed by the "second" (Isha) and

"third" (Fajr) prayers. The "fourth" prayer (Zuhr) is performed after midday and

followed by the "fifth" and last obligatory prayer (Am) in the afternoon. Muslims

need to obey their obligation to perform Solat regardless of where they are either on

the ground, on the sea and also in-flight. For instance, Muslims traveling abroad on

airplanes (which usually takes hours' journey) are still required to perform prayers,

even though they may encounter difficulties to do so. In fact, it is extremely difficult

to determine prayer times and Qiblat direction (direction to Ka'bah in Makkah while

performing prayers) during a flight, due to the high velocity of the airplane as well as

the uncertainties linked to its orientation, Another fxtor would involve the altitude

of the airplanes as this affects the angle of the sun.

Problem arise when someone traveling fkom a place which the Prayer Times

has come to another place where the Prayer Times has not come yet. Muslims only

need to pray one-time in a Prayer Times only, however in this case the Muslims can

also pray more than one time in the designated time. For a long-term flight journey

fiom one continent to another will make Muslims skip a day forward or lag a day

behind before the journey starts. In this case, Solat is based on the sun position and

not taking into account the day or dates.

To our knowledge, there are no such portable equipment. available to

determine the prayer times based on different locations automatically. Inventions are

therefore needed to resolve this problem. This project is design to improve and

develop an innovative system for Muslims to identify prayer times which is

determine the real-time of prayer times using Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) /

Pocket PC with built-in Global Positioning System (GPS) capability.

Graphical User Interface (GUI) based sofbva~ using Microsoft Visual

Basic.NET will develop which can determine current prayer times automatically for

users, who are on moving vehicles, without need to select the cment location. The

(GPS) receiver will capture information with regards to the user's current location,

and then information will be synchronized by this software in order for the whole

system to be operated correctly. The determination of the prayer times is done

automatically, without select current location. It is to provide accurate information.

This (PDA) is easy to use because of the (GUI) format is friendly user, which is they

can get the necessary information with easily. It is also provide other services and

multifunction.

The beneficial of the GPS is utilized in this system in order to obtain the

accurate location of the observant even they me on moving vehicles. Therefore, the

determination of the prayer times is done by the system automatically; without the

requirement to select the current location where it is a standard practice for the

existing conventional systems.

The prayer times for any given location for any vehicles like example

airplane could be determined mathematically if the latitude, longitude and altitude of

the location are known [I]. However, the theoretical determination of prayer times is

a lengthy process and therefore, high performance of computer's software is used to

minimize this tedious process. In the Shafie School, k i n g the direction of prayer is

a necessary condition. If the direction is not known that the person asks someone

who knows; if no such person is available he uses personal reasoning [2].

This main project is divided into two parts, which is hardware and software.

The hardware use is PDA with GPS compah'bility is used to execute the soflware that

has been developed using Microsoft Visual Basic. NET. The GPS receiver provides

infonnation of the latitude, longitude and altitude of the airplane and this infonnation

will be synchronized with the developed soha re in order for the whole system to be

operating correctly. In this project, GUI-based s o h has been developed which

can determine the real-time of Prayer Times with additional features that can be

incorporated into portable devices such as personal digital assistant (PDAs) or smart

phones with global positioning system (GPS) capabilities.

Figure 1.1 : A Simple Scheme of Sacred Geography in the Published Text of the

Kitab Al-Masalik of Ibn K h d a d h b i h (3rd / 9th century) [I]

1.2 Project Objectives

This part will discuss deeply about the project objectives, problem

statements, scope of work, briefly explained about the system operation

(methodology) that has been done in this project and organisation of thesis. This

project is developing with the following objectives:

(a) To improve and design an innovative system for determine real-time of

prayer times in any location even though on moving vehicles using Personal

Digital Assistant (PDA) / Pocket PC with built-in Global Positioning System

(GPS) capability.

(b) To develop a GUI-based software using Microsoft Visual Basic.NET, this

can determine real time of prayer times.

(c) To develop other sub menu to determine Local Time, Current City and

Location Info.

(d) To provide friendly user interface using Microsoft Visual Basic.NET with

easy arrangements menu icons for user's to explore in Personal Digital

Assistant (PDA).

(e) To study and understand on how to create a programming using a Microsoft

Visual Basic.NET and know how to use the software effectively.

(f) To study on how GPS works and the functionality of PDA with built-in GPS.

(g) To commercialize this GPSolat product.

1 3 Problem Statements

(a) Muslims have to perform their responsibilities to perform Solat no matter

location they are. However, most Muslims have diflficulty to perform Solat

when they are on moving vehicles such as airplane, ship, train and so on It is

because there is no such equipment available to determine the Prayer times.

Besides that, different locations have different Prayer times. Before this,

Muslims just solve this problem by pray for respeckxi the Prayer times and

later the Prayer will be replaced (Qada'). It is difficult to determine the

Prayer times due to high velocity of the- flight, its orientation and the direction

of travel. It is also depends on the angle of the sun relative to the altitude of