How to Find the Qibla with a Compass: Step-by-Step Guide

To find the qibla with a compass, first learn the qibla angle of your city. It is measured clockwise from north: about 152° for Istanbul, 247° for Almaty, 240° for Tashkent. You can find your city's angle on our city pages.

Step by step

1) Look up your city's qibla angle. 2) Hold the compass flat, away from metal objects. 3) Wait for the needle to settle on north (N). 4) Find the degree on the dial matching your qibla angle; that direction is the qibla. For example, if your angle is 152°, turn 152° clockwise from north — roughly southeast.

What is magnetic declination?

A compass needle points to magnetic north, not true north; the difference is called magnetic declination. It varies by region — in Türkiye and Central Asia it is typically 4-7° east. If you want high precision, account for your local declination. That said, a few degrees of difference is not a problem in Islamic law; facing the general direction (jihah) is sufficient for those far from the Kaaba.

Things to watch out for

Keep the compass away from phones, speakers, cars and metal tables — they deflect the needle. If you use a phone compass, calibrate it by drawing a figure-eight in the air. When unsure, cross-check with a mosque mihrab, the position of the sun, or our map view — the dashed line shows the true direction from your location to the Kaaba.