How to Find the Qibla Direction from Anywhere

The Qibla is the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca, which Muslims face during salah. Wherever you are on Earth, there is a precise great-circle bearing to Mecca — and finding it takes less than a minute with the right method.

Method 1: an online Qibla finder (easiest)

Noor's free Qibla finder calculates the exact bearing from your location (or any city you choose) to the Kaaba, shown in degrees clockwise from true north. On a phone it works as a live compass. Every Noor city page also displays the Qibla angle — for example, the pages for Jakarta, London or New York.

Method 2: the sun

Twice a year the sun passes directly over the Kaaba: around May 28 at 9:18 UTC and July 16 at 9:27 UTC. At those moments, wherever the sun is visible, simply face the sun — you are facing Mecca. This is the most accurate no-tools method.

Method 3: a compass

Look up your city's Qibla bearing (from our Qibla finder or your city page), point the compass north, then rotate to the given angle. Remember two corrections: magnetic north differs from true north (declination can be 10°+ in some regions), and metal objects or electronics nearby will distort the needle.

Common mistakes

• Assuming the Qibla is always east or west: from North America the Qibla is roughly northeast — because the shortest path on a globe is a great circle, not a straight line on a flat map.
• Using a phone compass near speakers, magnets or metal desks.
• Ignoring magnetic declination when using a physical compass.
• Worrying about small deviations: scholars agree that facing the general direction is sufficient when the exact angle is not known.

Find your exact direction now with the free Noor Qibla finder — no app install, no ads.