The Qibla (قبلة) is the direction of the Masjid al-Haram in Makkah, Saudi Arabia — the direction Muslims face during salah (prayer). Knowing the precise Qibla direction for your location is one of the fundamental requirements of a valid prayer. AdhanTime.Today’s Qibla finder uses your device’s GPS coordinates to calculate the exact bearing to Makkah from wherever you are in the world.
Why the Qibla Matters
Facing the Qibla is an obligatory condition (shart) of salah. Allah commands in the Quran: “Turn your face towards the Sacred Mosque, and wherever you are, turn your faces towards it.” (2:149). Scholars agree that deliberately praying in the wrong direction without a valid excuse invalidates the prayer. However, if someone makes a genuine effort to determine the Qibla and makes an honest mistake, their prayer is valid.
How to Use the Qibla Finder
Our Qibla finder works in two ways:
- Automatic: Tap “Detect My Location” to use your device’s GPS. The compass will rotate to show the precise Qibla direction in real time.
- Manual: Type your city name into the search box. We will calculate the Qibla bearing based on the city’s coordinates.
The Qibla bearing is shown in degrees from North. For example, if you are in London, the Qibla is approximately 119° (southeast). In New York, it is approximately 58° (northeast). In Jakarta, it is approximately 295° (northwest).
How the Qibla Direction Is Calculated
The Qibla is calculated using the Great Circle method — the shortest path along the surface of the Earth between your location and the Ka’bah in Makkah (latitude 21.4225°N, longitude 39.8262°E). This is the same method used by pilots for flight paths and is universally accepted by Islamic scholars as the correct method for determining Qibla direction.
The formula uses spherical trigonometry to compute the bearing angle. Because the Earth is a sphere, the Qibla direction from any point is a curved line on a flat map — which is why it can seem counterintuitive. For example, from the east coast of North America, the Qibla direction points northeast, not southeast as one might expect from looking at a flat map.
Tips for Finding Qibla Without a Device
When a phone or compass is unavailable, here are practical methods for estimating the Qibla:
- Sun position: In the Northern Hemisphere, the sun rises roughly in the east and sets in the west. Use this as a rough bearing guide combined with your knowledge of the approximate Qibla direction for your region.
- Mosque orientation: Find the nearest mosque — its prayer hall faces the Qibla. Even if you cannot enter, observing the building’s orientation gives a useful reference.
- Hotel room: Most hotels in Muslim-majority countries place a Qibla sticker or arrow in the room. In other countries, check the direction the prayer mat faces if one is provided.
- North Star (Polaris): At night in the Northern Hemisphere, face Polaris (true north) and adjust to your known Qibla bearing.
The Qibla in Different Parts of the World
The Qibla direction varies significantly by location. Here are approximate bearings for major cities:
- London, UK: ~119° (southeast)
- New York, USA: ~58° (northeast)
- Istanbul, Turkey: ~150° (south-southeast)
- Lagos, Nigeria: ~65° (northeast)
- Karachi, Pakistan: ~273° (west)
- Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: ~292° (west-northwest)
- Sydney, Australia: ~277° (west)
- Cape Town, South Africa: ~2° (north)
Use our interactive Qibla finder for the precise bearing from your exact location.
The Scholarly Discussion on Qibla Direction
There is a minor scholarly discussion regarding whether the Qibla should be determined by the Great Circle method (shortest path over the curved Earth) or by the Rhumb Line method (a line of constant compass bearing on a flat map). The overwhelming majority of contemporary scholars and all major Islamic authorities endorse the Great Circle method as geometrically correct. Our calculator uses this method.
It is worth noting that for locations close to Makkah, both methods produce nearly identical results. The difference becomes meaningful only for locations far from Makkah, particularly in East Asia and the Americas.
See also: Prayer Times for Your City | Read Quran Online | Umrah Guide