Is it permissible to pray facing the Clock Tower as the Qibla for the people of Makkah, and does the direction on it differ from the direction on the Kaaba for those who live close to the Haram?

The jurists differed regarding what is obligatory in prayer for those who are from the people of Mecca and do not see the Kaaba: is it to face the exact Kaaba itself or its direction? The Hanafis are of the view that for one who does not see it, facing its direction suffices. The Malikis and Hanbalis are of the view that for those who are near, facing the exact Kaaba is obligatory. The Hanbalis elaborated that if facing the exact Kaaba is impossible due to a permanent obstruction, one should make an effort (ijtihad (definition)) towards it. With a non-permanent obstruction, certainty of alignment can be achieved by sight or reliable information. As for the Shafi'is, they did not differentiate between a natural and an accidental obstruction, and they permitted ijtihad if a reliable informant is not available. The fatwa (definition) adopted by us is that facing its direction suffices. It is not permissible to rely on the Abraj Al-Bait Clock Tower as the direction of the Qibla (definition) for all people, because the direction of the Kaaba varies depending on the worshiper's location.