Find Qibla Direction from
Qibla Angle
Qibla Direction
Distance to Kaaba
Qibla Position: Your Exact Compass Bearing to Mecca
You are facing Makkah
Find Qibla Direction from
Qibla Angle
Qibla Direction
Distance to Kaaba
Check Qibla — What Is Qibla Position?
"Qibla position" refers to the precise compass bearing — expressed in degrees — from your location to the Kaaba in Mecca. The side of qibla is not vague like "face west" or "face northeast" — it is a specific degree.
For someone in London it is approximately 119°. For someone in Los Angeles it is around 24°. These figures are degrees clockwise from True North.
The Kaaba's coordinates are fixed: 21.4225°N, 39.8262°E. Any point on Earth has exactly one qibla position relative to those coordinates. Two cities in the same country can have qibla positions that differ by several degrees.
Search for Qibla Position: How Is It Calculated?
The calculation uses the Great Circle path — the shortest route between two points on the surface of a sphere. Here is the logic, without the mathematics:
Your GPS receiver captures your latitude and longitude.
The software computes the bearing along the arc of the Earth's surface from your position to the Kaaba's coordinates.
That bearing, expressed in degrees clockwise from True North, is your qibla position.
This is the same principle used in aviation navigation. The qibla position is not simply "the direction of Mecca on a flat map" because flat maps distort both distance and angles. The Earth is a sphere, and the shortest path between two distant points curves when projected onto a flat surface.
Magnetic North vs. True North: Where's Qibla Direction?
This distinction is practical and causes genuine confusion.
True North
True North points toward the geographic North Pole. GPS systems and almost all digital qibla tools use True North as their reference.
Magnetic North
Magnetic North is where a physical compass needle points. It differs from True North by an amount called magnetic declination, which varies by location. In parts of North America the difference can exceed 20°. In much of Europe it is 2–5°. In parts of Southeast Asia it is nearly zero.
If you use a digital qibla tool on your phone, it accounts for magnetic declination automatically and gives you a True North-referenced bearing. If you use a physical compass without applying the local declination correction, your reading will be off by the declination amount for your area.
Why Do Different Apps Show Different Qibla Side Positions?
Comparing two qibla tools — different apps, a website, or a friend's device — often shows a difference of 1 to 5 degrees. This is normal. Four reasons explain it.
True North vs. Magnetic North
Tools that display the raw magnetic compass reading without correcting for declination show a different number from tools that apply the correction. Both can be labeled "qibla" without clarification.
GPS location precision
A phone's GPS typically places you within 5 to 20 meters of your actual position, depending on signal quality. At thousands of kilometers from Mecca, this produces a negligible directional error — but it produces one.
Great Circle algorithm implementations
Different software libraries implement the bearing formula in slightly different ways. The results typically differ by under one degree.
Device sensor calibration
The magnetometer in your phone can develop an offset. Performing the figure-8 calibration gesture — moving the device through a slow figure-8 pattern in the air — resets it and reduces drift.
From an Islamic jurisprudence standpoint, all of these variations fall well within acceptable limits. The principle of ijtihad al-qibla — making a sincere, informed effort to face the correct direction — covers every one of these minor discrepancies.
Qibla Is on Which Side: Position Data for Major Cities
Mumbai, India — 19.08°N, 72.88°E — 291°
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — 3.14°N, 101.69°E — 295°
Dhaka, Bangladesh — 23.81°N, 90.41°E — 279°
Chicago, USA — 41.88°N, 87.63°W — 52°
São Paulo, Brazil — 23.55°S, 46.63°W — 75°
Cairo, Egypt — 30.04°N, 31.24°E — 135°
Dakar, Senegal — 14.72°N, 17.47°W — 72°
Melbourne, Australia — 37.81°S, 144.96°E — 279°
Dubai, UAE — 25.20°N, 55.27°E — 248°
Toronto, Canada — 43.65°N, 79.38°W — 54°
Qibla Near Me: Islamic Jurisprudence on Qibla Accuracy
How precise does qibla position need to be? Islamic law provides a measured answer.
The concept of ijtihad al-qibla holds that a Muslim who makes a genuine effort to determine the correct direction using available means fulfills the obligation, even if the alignment is not mathematically exact. This principle was established long before GPS for situations where precise calculation was difficult or impossible.
Different schools of thought specify different tolerance ranges, but all agree that the goal is to face the general direction of the Kaaba — not to achieve sub-degree precision. Modern GPS tools already deliver accuracy far beyond what any school requires.
In congregational prayer, the direction is set by the imam. Individual worshippers align with the congregation rather than making independent calculations.
Why Use QuranTime for Your Exact Qibla Position?
If you want the precise degree bearing — not just a general direction — QuranTime is built for exactly that.
GPS-Based Accuracy
QuranTime calculates your Qibla position from GPS coordinates referenced to True North, not from the magnetic sensor alone. Magnetic declination is applied automatically, so the degree shown reflects your real bearing.
Degree, Map, and Distance Together
You see your Qibla position as a precise bearing, the Great Circle route on a map, and your distance to the Kaaba — all in one view, not just a compass needle.
No App, No Registration
Open the page in your browser, allow location access, and your Qibla position is ready in seconds.
Global Coverage
At home or traveling, QuranTime recalculates from your current GPS position. No manual input needed.
Free and Ad-Free
No subscription, no advertisements. Available to everyone, everywhere.
All Devices Supported
Works on mobile, tablet, and desktop — any device with a browser.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What does a qibla position of 293° mean?
It means you should face 293° clockwise from True North — roughly west-northwest. Any compass app can display this bearing.
Q: Should I use Magnetic North or True North?
True North is the standard reference for qibla position. Most digital tools use it automatically. If using a physical compass, apply the local magnetic declination correction.
Q: Why does my app show a different angle than my friend's?
Most likely a True North versus Magnetic North difference, or a small GPS location discrepancy. Both readings are valid under ijtihad al-qibla.
Q: How did ancient Muslims determine qibla without GPS?
Through astronomical observation — the North Star for latitude, the sun's noon position, and star tables compiled by scholars such as al-Biruni. The logic was identical: establish a bearing from a known point toward Mecca.
Q: If I am exactly north of Mecca, what is my qibla position?
Approximately 180° — due south. This applies to locations at nearly the same longitude as Mecca but north of it, such as parts of Greece or Ukraine.