What is a Qibla finder?

A Qibla finder is an online tool that tells you the exact direction of the Kaaba in Makkah from wherever you are standing. The Qibla is the sacred direction every Muslim faces in Salah — commanded in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:144): "So turn your face toward al-Masjid al-Haram. And wherever you may be, turn your faces toward it." When you travel, move to a new city in Europe, or simply have no mihrab to guide you, a Qibla finder gives you that direction in seconds.

How the Qibla direction is calculated

This tool uses the great-circle bearing formula on a spherical earth model, with the Kaaba fixed at 21.4225°N, 39.8262°E:

  1. Your location (GPS, city preset or manual coordinates) gives your latitude and longitude.
  2. The formula computes the initial bearing — the angle measured clockwise from true north — along the shortest path to the Kaaba.
  3. The Haversine formula gives your distance to Makkah in kilometres.
🕌 Why it is the great-circle, not a flat map line: on a flat map a straight line from London to Makkah looks like it goes southeast, but the shortest real path across the globe gives 119.0° — the math on this page matches the values used by prayer-time authorities.

Qibla bearings for major European cities

Preloaded in the tool above — the exact degrees your compass should read:

CityQibla bearingDistance to Makkah
🇩🇪 Berlin136.7°4,130 km
🇫🇷 Paris119.2°4,496 km
🇬🇧 London119.0°4,794 km
🇳🇱 Amsterdam125.6°4,553 km
🇧🇪 Brussels123.5°4,489 km
🇪🇸 Madrid104.0°4,598 km
🇮🇹 Rome123.3°3,419 km
🇦🇹 Vienna136.7°3,637 km
🇵🇱 Warsaw147.6°3,788 km
🇸🇪 Stockholm148.2°4,554 km
🇮🇪 Dublin114.1°5,257 km
🇵🇹 Lisbon97.9°5,020 km

Tips for an accurate reading

  • Step away from metal: indoor compasses drift near fridges, radiators, lifts and reinforced concrete — check on a balcony or by a window if the needle feels jumpy.
  • Calibrate: wave your phone in a figure-eight a few times to recalibrate the magnetometer.
  • Hold flat: hold the phone level for the steadiest live-compass reading.
  • Cross-check: at home, compare once with a real compass app — they should agree within a few degrees.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a free Qibla finder online that needs no app?

Yes — this page is a free online Qibla finder that runs entirely in your browser. Allow location access (or pick your city) and the compass shows your exact prayer direction toward the Kaaba. Nothing to install, no account needed.

How accurate is an online Qibla finder?

The bearing math is exact to within a fraction of a degree using the great-circle formula on a spherical earth model. Real-world accuracy then depends on your phone's GPS and compass sensors: GPS gives your position within a few metres, and the device compass can drift a few degrees indoors near metal or electronics. Calibrate by moving your phone in a figure-eight, away from magnets.

Do I need GPS to find the Qibla direction?

No. GPS is just the fastest way. You can select your European city from the list above or type your latitude and longitude manually — the bearing to the Kaaba is then calculated instantly without any sensor access.

What is the Qibla angle for my city in Europe?

From most of Europe the Qibla points roughly southeast — for example Berlin 136.7°, Paris 119.2°, London 119.0°, Madrid 104.0°, Rome 123.3°. See the full table above. Use the tool to get the exact figure for your street, not just your city.

Why does my phone need compass permission for the Qibla finder?

Knowing the bearing (e.g. 119°) is only half the job — your phone also needs to know which way YOU are facing so the needle can rotate live as you turn. That requires the device-orientation sensor. On iPhone, enable Motion & Orientation Access in Settings → Safari first.

Why does the Qibla direction differ between countries?

Because the earth is a sphere. The Qibla is the shortest (great-circle) path from your location to the Kaaba, so the bearing changes with every place — roughly southeast from Europe, northeast from North America, northwest from Australia.

🔗 See also