What is the ruling if one recognizes error in their Qibla estimation but cannot determine the correct direction?
Chapter on Facing the Qiblah
Al-Mughni
Book of Prayer
Primary text
If error is apparent but the person cannot ascertain the direction of the Qibla—for instance, if they estimated a direction based on lunar positions but are unsure whether they are facing east or west, necessitating renewed Ijtihad—the prayer becomes invalid. This is because the prayer cannot be continued toward a direction other than the Qibla, and since there is no established direction to face, the prayer is invalidated due to the impossibility of its completion.