Different Methods for locate the Qibla

Use the Sun

The Sun rises from the East and sets in the west across. If you know where you are in relation to Makkah, then you can easily gauge your directions by observing where the Sun rises from and sets at in your immediate area.

For example, if you know that Makkah is north of your country and the Sun sets to your exact left, then you are already facing the Qiblah. On the other hand if the sun is setting on your right, then you need to be facing the opposite direction.

Make a sundial

• Wherever you are, get to level ground and place a vertical object, approximately 3 feet in length, on the ground just before noon
• Mark the place on the ground at the tip of the shadow
• Now make a circle which has a radius that is equal to the length of the shadow
• As the day progresses, the shadow will get shorter moving away from the circle. Eventually the shadow will start getting longer in a different direction and finally will touch the circle again.
• Make another point at this intersection of the circle and the shadow.
• Now draw a line between the two marks you made.
• The direction is west to east. The first point is west and the second east.
• Draw a line which is perpendicular to this line. The line you just drew is the north-south line.
• Now keeping in mind where you are in the world you will able to get a rough idea of where the Qibla is.

Use a Watch

An analog watch with hours and minutes hands can help you find directions too!
• If you are in the northern hemisphere, then hold your watch horizontally such that the hour hand points to the sun.
• The point which is midway between the hour hand and 12-marker on the watch is south. Once you know where south is you can easily determine the other directions.
• If you are in the southern hemisphere you will need to hold the watch horizontally such that the twelve o’clock mark points towards the sun.
• The direction that is right in the middle of the 12 marker and the hour hand will be north. You can then easily determine the other directions.
• Now keeping in mind where you are in the world you will able to get a rough idea of where the Qibla is

Use a Compass

The Compass is the easiest way to determine your directions. If you know where you are in relation to the Ka’bah this is a much more accurate method as compared with a stick in the ground.

Software Apps and the Internet

Technology today has made it much easier to determine the exact location of the Qibla. We can easily download apps onto our smartphones that point to the exact direction of the Qibla. Some regular mobile phones also come with built-in applications for locating the direction of the Qibla.

You can also go online to determine the direction of the Qibla using various websites by entering your current location.