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Qibla compass: find the direction of Mecca
The Qibla compass lets Muslims find the direction of Mecca easily, wherever they are in the world. Facing the Kaaba is essential for performing the five daily prayers prescribed by Islam correctly.
Traditionally, believers used ordinary compasses and complex calculations to work out the right direction. Today our digital tool makes that far simpler. The automatic calibration uses your device's GPS data to work out precisely the bearing to Mecca from exactly where you are.
Using it is very simple. Just allow access to your location and hold your phone or tablet flat. The compass orients itself automatically and shows the sacred direction with a clear arrow. That technical precision respects the spiritual importance of praying towards the qibla in Muslim religious practice.
Whether you are travelling, at work or somewhere unfamiliar, this tool goes with you. It works in every country and adapts to different time zones. You can also check the prayer times to know the exact moment of each salah.
The direction of Mecca varies with where you are. A Muslim in London does not face the same way as one praying in Jakarta or New York. Our compass works out those variations automatically and gives a correct bearing, an important condition for a valid prayer according to Islamic teaching.
To deepen your religious practice, you can also learn how to pray correctly according to the prophetic tradition.
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Which direction should I pray in?
A Muslim prays towards the Kaaba, in Mecca: that is the qibla. The direction depends on where you are. From Britain and Western Europe it lies broadly to the south-east, but the exact bearing varies with the city. The Qibla compass on this page works out that bearing automatically from your position and shows it with an arrow.
How does the Qibla compass work?
The tool uses your device's GPS location to work out the bearing to Mecca, then the phone's magnetometer to orient the compass in real time. Allow location, tap Activate compass and hold the phone flat. If the needle wavers, run the calibration by tracing a figure 8 with the device, away from anything metal or magnetic.
What if I do not know the direction of the qibla?
You should look for the direction by whatever means are available: a compass, the position of the sun, the orientation of a mosque or the guidance of a reliable person. Most scholars hold that if you make a sincere effort and get it wrong, the prayer remains valid; if you discover the error during the prayer, you simply turn to the right direction. If you truly cannot tell, you pray in the direction you think most likely.
Is the direction of the qibla the same everywhere?
No. The direction of Mecca varies with your position on the globe: a Muslim in London does not face the same way as one in Jakarta, New York or Dakar. That is why the Qibla compass recalculates the bearing for each place, which makes it valuable when travelling, in a hotel or somewhere unfamiliar. It works in every country and goes with the geolocated prayer times.
Must I face the Kaaba exactly?
Most scholars hold that anyone who can see the Kaaba must face it precisely, while anyone far from it should face its general direction: being a few degrees off does not invalidate the prayer. It remains recommended to face it as accurately as you can, which the compass makes possible. Once you are facing the right way, look again if you need to at how to pray, step by step.