Why we built it
Finding the Qibla should be simple: provide a location, receive a direction, and understand what that direction means. We built Qibla Finder to do that one job carefully, without requiring an account, installing an app, or sending coordinates to an application server.
The result is presented as a bearing from true north, a familiar compass point, and the distance to the Kaaba. On supported phones, the live compass can turn the dial as the device moves. The map then draws the same great-circle route over real terrain.
Grounded in geodesy
The bearing is the initial forward azimuth along the shortest path over a spherical Earth. That is why it can differ from a straight line on a flat map, especially over long distances.
Private by default
The calculation runs in your browser. The site has no accounts, advertising pixels, or analytics. The map's tiles come from OpenStreetMap, which necessarily sees the area being viewed, and the page says so beside the map.
Honest about limits
The mathematics is dependable; phone sensors are less so. Metal, cases, nearby electronics, GPS accuracy, and the difference between true and magnetic north can all affect what a device reports.
Made to be usable
The interface supports keyboard navigation, screen-reader announcements, reduced motion, dark mode, manual coordinate entry, and both metric and imperial distance units.
How the calculation works
Qibla Finder uses the observer's latitude and longitude and the Kaaba's coordinates at approximately 21.4225° N, 39.8262° E. A standard spherical forward-azimuth formula calculates the initial direction, clockwise from true north. A haversine calculation provides the great-circle distance.
The calculation is deterministic: the same coordinates produce the same result. It does not depend on a remote direction service or a proprietary location database. For a closer look at the practical explanation, visit How it works or read the formula answer.
What Qibla Finder is—and is not
This is an independent utility, not a religious authority and not a replacement for trusted local knowledge. A known mosque direction, established mihrab, or local scholar can account for circumstances a browser cannot.
Qibla Finder is not affiliated with Masjid al-Haram, any mosque, government, mapping provider, device manufacturer, or browser company. References to those places and services are descriptive only.