For adherents of Islam, knowing the direction of Qibla, or the direction for prayer, is very important. Qibla direction points to the Kaaba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. There are several ways you can do to adjust yourself to the right Qibla direction when you are in an unfamiliar location.
Step
Step 1. Know your position towards Mecca
Although there is a common misconception that Muslims always face the east when worshiping, there is some truth to this. However, it is true only if you live in a place that is further west of Mecca. In the United States, Mecca is approximately to the northeast. If you're in Japan, you should face either west or northwest, and if you're in South Africa, you should face either north or northeast.
From Indonesia, Mecca is in the west or northwest
Method 1 of 4: Using the Sun
Step 1. Use the sun
For thousands of years, navigational experts have relied on the sun to find out their location. By knowing where the sun rises and sets, you can know your position and direction to Mecca.
Method 2 of 4: Using a Sundial
Step 1. Make a sundial
Find a level area, and before noon, place a stick or other vertical object about 1 meter long.
- Mark the shadow end of the stick.
- Measure the length of the shadow, and draw a circle around the stick using the length of the shadow as the radius.
- As the day progresses (towards noon), the shadow will shorten and move away from the center of the circle. The shadow will lengthen again as it gets dark and will touch the center of the circle again. At that point, make another mark, and draw a line between the two marks you have made.
- The line represents the west and east directions. The first point or mark you make represents the west direction, and the last mark you make represents the east direction.
- Draw a line perpendicular to the west and east lines. These lines are your north and south lines.
Method 3 of 4: Using the Watch
Step 1. Use the watch
Any analog watch that has hour and minute hands allows you to determine direction.
- In the northern hemisphere. Hold the clock horizontally and point the hour hand at the sun.
- The direction between the hour hand and the number 12 on your watch is south. From there, you can easily determine other directions.
- In the Southern Hemisphere. Hold the clock horizontally, and point the 12 o'clock mark toward the sun.
- The direction that lies in the middle of the number 12 and the hour hand is north.
Method 4 of 4: Using Compass
Step 1. Use a compass
This tried and true method won't tell you exactly where the Qibla is, but if you know where you are with respect to Mecca, it will be much more accurate than the method using a stick on the ground (the sundial method). Further instructions on how to find the Qibla using a compass can be found here (article in English), or follow these instructions:
- Buy a Qibla compass (Qibla compass).
-
Find out the direction of Mecca from the location where you are.
Hold your compass horizontally, and wait for the needle to stop moving. Stand facing the direction of Mecca indicated from your location. Now you know the Qibla direction
Using More Advanced Technology
-
Use more advanced technology to find out the Qibla direction.
Find the Qibla for Prayer Step 6 - There are many different apps for iPhone and iPad that use GPS and a compass to determine the right direction, no matter where you are.
- On the internet, there are websites that can calculate the closest direction to Qibla. For example, from Portland, Oregon, 17 degrees north-north-northeast-is the closest distance to the Qibla than south-southeast.
- From Jakarta, Indonesia, the Qibla direction is at 295, 15 degrees from north to northwest.
Tips
- The exact geographical coordinates of the Kaaba are 21°25′21.15″North Latitude 39°49′34.1″East Longitude.
- If you are traveling to unfamiliar places or to open places (such as forests), try to mark your location ahead of time, then use one of the above-mentioned techniques to figure out the way to Mecca.
- If you have a PDA, there are several free Islamic apps that can show you the Qibla direction, either during the day or at night, based on your location.
- Now there are also prayer mats that are equipped with a compass to make it easier for you to determine the Qibla direction.
- You can use a service like QiblaFinder to determine the Qibla direction from various places around the world.
- You can visit the nearest mosque, which will definitely point to the Qibla, or at least have a marking line indicating which way you should stand.
Warning
In different places, sunrise and sunset will depend on the time of year (summer and winter) and your location. In addition, orienting using the sun is less reliable the closer you are to the equator
- Islamic QA
- QiblaFinder
- Qibla
- Nature Skills
