Questions
Frequently asked questions
Using the finder and understanding its results
What is the Qibla?
The Qibla is the direction of the Kaaba in Makkah, which Muslims face during prayer. Google describes it the same way in its Qibla Finder help article.
How does qiblah.si calculate the direction?
It computes the great-circle initial bearing from your coordinates to the Kaaba using the standard spherical formula with atan2, and the distance with the haversine formula.
Is the bearing relative to true north or magnetic north?
True north. A magnetic compass points to magnetic north, which can differ by several degrees depending on where you are. Phones that report true heading correct for this automatically.
Why does the Qibla from North America point north-east?
Because the shortest path over a sphere is a great circle, not a straight line on a flat map. From New York or Toronto that path heads north-east over the Atlantic.
Is my location sent anywhere?
No. The calculation runs in your browser. Your coordinates and compass readings are not transmitted to or stored by qiblah.si.
My phone compass seems wrong. What should I do?
Move away from metal and electronics, remove magnetic cases, and move the phone slowly in a figure eight to recalibrate. Google gives similar calibration advice.
What Kaaba coordinates does the site use?
qiblah.si uses its own reference point of 21.422487° N, 39.826206° E. Other tools may use slightly different coordinates; the effect on the bearing from distant cities is tiny.
Does the site work without JavaScript?
These information pages and city pages do. The live finder, which reads your location and compass, needs JavaScript.
Sources: Movable Type Scripts, Calculate distance and bearing; Google, Qibla Finder help.