Qibla Finder: Find Your Qibla Direction Online

1. 1

   Find your city's Qibla bearing (degrees from North) using the live compass above or the reference table below.

2. 2

   Hold a physical or phone compass flat and steady.

3. 3

   Rotate your body until the compass needle points to the bearing.

4. 4

   You are now facing the Qibla. Place your prayer mat in that direction.

1. 1

   At solar noon (when the sun is at its highest), plant a straight stick vertically in the ground.

2. 2

   The shadow will point roughly north (in the Northern Hemisphere) or south (in the Southern Hemisphere).

3. 3

   Using that as your north reference, estimate the Qibla angle.

4. 4

   This method is approximate but useful when no technology is available.

1. 1

   Use a reputable qibla app or website, such as this page, Muslim Pro, Qibla Connect, or Google's Qibla Finder.

2. 2

   Grant location permissions so the app can calculate your exact bearing.

3. 3

   Hold the phone flat. An arrow or compass indicator will point toward the Ka'bah.

4. 4

   Calibrate your phone's compass by moving it in a figure-8 pattern if the reading seems off.

Is this qibla finder accurate?

The calculation is exact for the coordinates it receives: it uses the standard great-circle formula and the published position of the Kaaba. In practice, accuracy depends on your location and your compass. Phone location is usually precise enough that the bearing barely changes, but a phone compass can be several degrees out if it is uncalibrated or close to metal.

Why does my phone compass point differently from another app?

Apps can use slightly different Kaaba coordinates, measure from magnetic rather than true north, or follow a straight line on a flat map instead of a great circle, so differences of a degree or two are normal. A large difference usually means the compass needs calibrating or is being disturbed by a magnetic case, a laptop or steel furniture.

How do I find the qibla without a compass or internet?

Note your city's bearing from the table on this page before you travel. Without a compass, the sun helps: it rises roughly in the east and sets roughly in the west, and north of the tropics it is due south at midday. The prayer direction of a local mosque is another reliable reference, as are the qibla markers found in many hotel rooms in Muslim-majority countries.

Does the qibla change depending on where I live?

Yes. The Kaaba stays in one place, so the direction to it depends on where you stand. From the UK the qibla is south-east, from North America it is north-east, from Pakistan and India it is roughly west, and from Indonesia and Malaysia it is north-west. If you move house or travel, check the direction again for your new location.

What if I cannot determine the exact direction?

When the exact direction cannot be known, it is widely accepted that a Muslim makes a sincere best effort to face the qibla, using whatever signs are available, and then prays. Facing the general direction is understood to be enough in that situation. For specific cases, such as travel, illness, or realising afterwards that you faced the wrong way, ask a knowledgeable local scholar or imam.

What was the original Qibla?

For the first 16–17 months after the Hijra, Muslims prayed facing Masjid al-Aqsa in Jerusalem. The Qibla was then changed to the Ka'bah in Mecca by divine command (Qur'an 2:144). The change is described in Surah al-Baqarah, verses 142 to 150, and the mosque in Medina where it happened is known as Masjid al-Qiblatayn, the Mosque of the Two Qiblas.

Can I pray on a moving vehicle (plane, train)?

Begin your prayer facing the Qibla if you can; the bearing for your departure city is a good starting point. Scholars discuss what to do if the vehicle then turns, and many allow voluntary prayers to be offered facing the direction of travel. Because the details differ between schools of thought, ask a local scholar about your own situation, especially for long flights.

Does it work on a laptop or desktop?

Yes. Search for your city or allow location access and the bearing appears as degrees and a compass point. Laptops and desktops have no compass sensor, so the arrow stays fixed with north at the top of the dial instead of turning with you. Line it up with a handheld compass, or open this page on your phone for a live reading.