Mecca which direction

For the pedantic amongst you meaning me , a better transliteration would be Makkah. This direction is known as the Qibla. Most mosques will be oriented along that direction, with an alcove inside the mihrab to indicate that direction.

That forms quite a picture in my head of a worldwide practice — and must add greatly to a sense of unity. Disclaimer: I am not a Muslim but I did live for two years in a very conservative Muslim country and learned quite a lot about Islam. Recently, a friend asked me to help with determining that direction for a gathering they were organising. Off the top of my head, I thought that it has to be either roughly northeast or northwest depending on which way is shorter.

This was important and I wanted to be sure — so I consulted the internet as you do. A issue like this is quite common for Muslims, especially when travelling. I can recall visiting countries in Asia and the Middle East where the qibla was shown as an arrow painted on the ceiling of hotel rooms. This guy has some special issues. It should come as no surprise that there are apps and websites that provide this service.

The first website I consulted was Hamariweb. Then, orient yourself by looking at where the sun rises, which will be in the east. Next, turn to face the correct direction, such as east if you're in the US or north in South Africa. Alternatively, download an app for your phone, which will use GPS technology.

You can also find the direction by holding a compass flat in front of you and waiting until the needle points north. Then, use this to figure out which way you have to face. To find out how to use a watch to locate the qibla, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No. Log in Social login does not work in incognito and private browsers. Please log in with your username or email to continue.

No account yet? Create an account. Edit this Article. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. By using our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Cookie Settings. Learn why people trust wikiHow. Download Article Explore this Article methods. Tips and Warnings. Related Articles. Article Summary. Author Info Last Updated: May 6, Know where in the world you are in relation to Makkah Mecca.

While the common misconception is that Muslims always pray facing east, that's only true if you're west of Makkah. In the US, the direction is east-southeast. If you are in Japan you would face west-southwest, and if in South Africa, you would face north-northeast.

Method 1. Use the sun. For millennia, navigators have relied on the sun to know their direction. Simply knowing where the sun rises and sets can get you in the general direction of Mecca. Method 2. Make a sundial. Find level ground, and before noon, place a stick or other vertical object that's about 3 feet 1m high.

Measure the length of the shadow, and draw a circle around the stick using the shadow length as the radius. As the day progresses, the shadow will shorten and move away from the circle. It will eventually start to lengthen as the day wears on, and then touch the circle again. At that point, make another mark, and draw a line between the two marks you made. The line is west to east, with the first point being west, the second being east.

Draw a line perpendicular to the west-east line, and this is your north-south line. Method 3. Use a watch. Using any analog watch with an hour and minute hand will allow you to find directions. You should face Kaabah. Our Qibla finder tool makes the process easier to find prayer directions wherever you are. If you need help to use our tool, we suggest you watch our video guide above.

Yes, this tool will solve your need to find Qibla. As such when written in English there are number of variations used to spell the word. The main variation is the use of either "Q" or "K" in the beginning of the word. The second is the addition of letters "t" or "h" at the end.

This has given rise to the following variations of spelling:. Sometimes the prefix "Al" is added to the word which make it "Al Qibla".

The exact direction depends on the location in UAE. For Dubai, it is about degrees from geographic north, for Abu Dhabi the direction is around degrees and for Sharjah it is around degrees. The Qibla direction in Singapore is generally North-West and it is about degrees from geographic north.

The Qibla direction in India is generally West. The exact direction depends on the location in India. For Chandigarh, a city in the north of India, the direction is about degrees from geographic north. For Madurai, located in the south, the direction is around degrees. Here are directions for some of the main cities in India. For New York, it is about 58 degrees from geographic north, for Los Angeles the direction is also 24 degrees and for Chicago it is around 49 degrees. Do you want to open this link in the HalalTrip Mobile App?

Locate Detecting your location. A Video guide on how to find Qibla direction Here's how you can calculate accurate prayer times and Qibla direction using the HalalTrip app's prayer calculator and Qibla direction finder.

Need more help to find Qibla? Click here for detail instructions. What is the meaning of Qibla? What is the definition of Qibla direction in Islam? Is the Qibla direction west or east?