What are the prescribed alignments for the North Star in various locations?
Chapter on Facing the Qiblah
Al-Mughni
Book of Prayer
Primary text
The most just Qibla is attributed to Harran. If one is in Iraq, the North Star should be aligned slightly above the right ear, resulting in facing the door of the Kaaba relative to the Maqam. Facing away from the two stars of the Pointers (Al-Farqadan) or Al-Jady when one is high and the other low, indicating alignment, is equivalent to facing away from the North Star. Facing away from the North Star when it is not in this specific aligned position means facing a general direction. Facing away from the eastern star leads to a slight deviation westward, while facing away from the western star leads to a slight deviation eastward. Facing away from the daughters of the bier (Banat Na'sh) also results in facing a general direction, albeit with a greater deviation.
Supporting text
If the observer turns their back to the eastern star, they deviate slightly west. If they turn their back to the western star, they deviate slightly east. If they turn their back to Banat Na'sh, they face the general direction, but the deviation is greater.