Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 5: Using the sun
• Method 2 of 5: Using a sundial
• Method 3 of 5: Using a watch
• Method 4 of 5: Using a compass
• Method 5 of 5: Using advanced technology
• Tips
• Warnings

For Muslims it is very important to know the qibla, or the direction of prayer. This direction is to the Ka'abah in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. There are several ways you can determine the correct prayer direction when you are in an unknown place.

To step

1. Know where in the world you are in relation to Mecca. The common misconception is that Muslims always pray eastward, but this is only true when you are west of Mecca.In America, the direction of prayer is roughly to the northeast, in Japan to the west-northwest, and in South Africa to the north-northeast.

Method 1 of 5: Using the sun

1. Use the sun. Seafarers have relied on the sun for millennia to set their course. By simply knowing where the sun rises and sets, you can already know in which direction Mecca lies.

Method 2 of 5: Using a sundial

1. Make a sundial. Find a flat surface and place a stick or other vertical object about 1m high on it before noon.
2. Make a mark on the ground at the end of the shadow.
3. Measure the length of the shadow and draw a circle around the stick, using the length of the shadow axis radius.
4. As the day progresses, the shadow will shorten and move away from the circle. Eventually the shadow will lengthen again and hit the circle again. When this is done, create another marker and draw a line between the two markers you made.
   • The line runs from west to east, with the first point indicating west and the second point east.
5. Draw a line perpendicular to the west-east line. This line is the north-south line.

Method 3 of 5: Using a watch

1. Use a watch. By using an analog watch with an hour and minute hands, you can determine your direction.
   • In the Northern Hemisphere. Hold the watch level and point the hour hand towards the sun.
   • The direction centered between the hour hand and 12 o'clock on your watch is south. From there you can easily determine the other directions.
   • In the southern hemisphere. Hold the watch level and point the number 12 towards the sun.
   • The direction in the middle between 12 o'clock and the hour hand is north.

Method 4 of 5: Using a compass

1. Use a compass. This tried and true method will not tell you where the qibla is, but if you know where you are relative to Mecca, it is much more accurate than a stick in the ground. More detailed instructions on how to find the qibla using a compass can be found here, or you can follow this:
   • Take a qibla compass.
   • Determine the direction to Mecca from your location.
     1. Hold the compass horizontally in front of you and wait for the pointer to stop. Turn to the direction of Mecca to determine your location.

Method 5 of 5: Using advanced technology

1. Use advanced technology.
   • There are many different iPhones and iPads that have a built-in GPS or compass to point you in the right direction wherever you are in the world.
   • On the internet you can find websites that calculate which direction is shortest from the qibla. For example, from Portland, Oregon, 17 degrees north-northeast is a shorter distance than if you were facing south-southeast.

Tips

• The exact geographic coordinates of the Ka'abah are 21 ° 25′21.15 ″ N 39 ° 49′34.1 ″ E.
• If you are traveling to an unfamiliar location or somewhere outdoors, try to find your location in advance and then use one of the mentioned techniques to find the correct direction to Mecca.
• If you have a PDA (personal digital assistant), there are a number of free Islamic software applications that can show you the qibla during the day or at night based on your location.
• There are prayer mats for sale that contain a compass to help you find the qibla.
• You can use a service such as QiblaFinder to find the qibla from different places in the world.
• You can visit a local mosque. The mosque is normally built towards Mecca or has lines on the ground showing you where to stand.
• If a Muslim is not sure in which direction the qibla is, he is obliged to make a "best estimate". A person who is unsure of how to apply the above complex or technical methods should therefore use a compass if it is easily accessible, for example in the mobile phone, car, or in a nearby budget store. However, in the event that a compass is not available, the other methods can be used to make an estimate.

Warnings

• Depending on the time of year (summer vs. winter) and your location on the globe, the sun rises and sets in different places. In addition, determining your direction with the help of the sun is less reliable the closer you are to the equator.