Find the Qibla Direction
Direction of the Kaaba from major cities worldwide
New York
US
London
UK
Paris
France
Istanbul
Turkey
Cairo
Egypt
Dubai
UAE
Jakarta
Indonesia
Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia
Tokyo
Japan
Lagos
Nigeria
Islamabad
Pakistan
Toronto
Canada
Los Angeles
US
Sydney
Australia
Berlin
Germany
How Qibla Direction Is Calculated
The Qibla is the direction a Muslim faces during salah, pointing toward the Kaaba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Determining this direction from any point on Earth requires spherical geometry because the Earth is not flat — a straight line drawn on a standard map projection would give an incorrect bearing.
- Great circle formula — the Qibla bearing is computed using the orthodromic (great circle) formula, which finds the shortest arc between two points on a sphere. This gives the initial bearing from your location to the Kaaba's coordinates (21.4225° N, 39.8262° E).
- Based on Kaaba coordinates — the precise geographic coordinates of the Kaaba serve as the fixed reference point. Your latitude and longitude are the variable inputs, and the formula outputs a bearing in degrees from true north.
- Accounts for Earth's curvature — because the Earth is a sphere, the shortest path between two distant points curves across its surface. From Los Angeles, the Qibla points north-northeast (23.4°) rather than due east, because the great circle path arcs over the North Atlantic and Europe.
- Flat map projections mislead — Mercator and similar projections distort angles, especially over long distances. Drawing a line from New York to Mecca on a flat map suggests a due-east direction, but the true great circle bearing is approximately 58.5° (east-northeast), passing over the Atlantic and Mediterranean.
Using SalahLock's Qibla Compass
SalahLock includes a built-in digital Qibla compass that provides real-time directional guidance, so you always know exactly which way to face for salah — whether you are at home, traveling, or in an unfamiliar location.
- Built-in digital compass — no separate app needed. The Qibla compass is integrated directly into SalahLock, combining prayer times and direction finding in one seamless experience.
- Device magnetometer and GPS — SalahLock uses your iPhone's magnetometer to detect magnetic north and your GPS coordinates to compute the precise Qibla bearing for your exact location in real time.
- Beautiful Islamic-themed design — the compass features an elegant interface inspired by traditional Islamic geometric patterns, making the experience of finding the Qibla both functional and spiritually resonant.
- Works offline — once SalahLock has your GPS fix, the Qibla compass functions without an internet connection. This is essential for travel, outdoor prayer, and areas with limited connectivity.
Get a Real-Time Qibla Compass
Download SalahLock for a precise, GPS-powered Qibla compass with a beautiful Islamic design that works anywhere — even offline.