No matter where your travels take you, you will always want to know the Qibla direction to pray. In such an instance, you would often wonder, ‘How can I know the direction?’, ‘Which way is Mecca?’ and ultimately, ‘Which way do you pray?’ But with the advent of advanced technologies, you can easily get Qibla direction anywhere by using various online methods. As your trusted travel partner, HalalTrip offers you convenient ways to find the Qibla direction through our website and even our mobile Qibla finder app.
HalalTrip’s Qibla direction feature is a great solution for Muslim travelers who face the problem of finding prayer directions when traveling. How do you use a Qibla compass? Here's how you can use the Qibla direction arrow feature and the prayer calculator feature on HalalTrip to figure out accurate prayer times and directions when traveling.
The definition of Qibla is the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. As a Muslim, the Qibla direction is a very important direction, as the Qibla will be the direction that Muslims need to face in a prayer. It’s important for a Muslim to stand facing the Qibla during the prayers, as ‘man is helpless as he has a body’ and therefore a Muslim needs a clear direction, facing somewhere during the prayer.
The Kaaba was built by Prophet Ibrahim and Ismail (PBUH) and is hence deemed a sacred site for Muslims. During the second year of the Hijri, the Kaaba would then be ordained as the Qibla by Allah through the Holy Quran to Muhammad, changing the direction of the Qibla from Masjid Al-Aqsa.
The answer is yes. While the Qibla always refers to the direction of the Kaaba, the direction you should face depends on where you are in the world. The Qibla direction does not simply refer to a compass point like North, South, East, or West.
In earlier days, various methods for estimating the direction of Qibla included using the sun. The Mihrab – the semi-circular structure located in the mosque, is used to indicate the direction of the Qibla. Alternatively, a Qibla compass could be used, where the compass needle is set to point to a specific number allocated to the city (according to the reference booklet) and a prayer direction can be obtained. This method often has its drawbacks, as the accuracy reduces indoors.
With the Qibla compass being hard to use and presenting its own drawbacks in certain conditions, there are chances that the general Muslim might not be able to use it. In places where mosques are harder to locate, it may even be impossible to locate the mihrab. However, with growing technology and digitalization, you can now find out Qibla's direction simply by using your mobile phone and web browser.
Therefore, it will be very useful to have a trusted Qibla app or website in hand so you can find the Qibla direction anywhere. Therefore, one of the best ways to adjust your direction before you start your prayer is to use HalalTrip’s website or the HalalTrip app. All you need is access to the internet and to have your location services enabled, and you can easily get an accurate reading of where Qibla is now.
Using a normal browser? You simply need to enter your location, and the distance and direction to Mecca will be shown to you within seconds. Once you align yourself with a nearby landmark or road shown on the map, you can use this Qibla direction finder to tell you which direction to face when you pray. In addition, you can also use our website to get other useful information, like prayer times and mosques nearby.
Similar to the website, the app offers the same reliable Qibla finder with added features and methods to choose from. The app features three direction finders – Dynamic, Static, and Map. Once location services are activated and your compass is calibrated, you will be pointed towards the Qibla direction in the Dynamic setting. The static feature points to Ka’abah relative to the north and is a good method to use when you already know which way is north. The Map feature, which is most similar to our website llink, is the most accurate method available to find the direction of Qibla, especially when you are indoors. Here's a detailed explanation and how to use them:
Enable the location detection, click on the "Dynamic" tab, and place the phone on a flat surface. The online compass Ka’abah pointer will then show the direction of Qibla. The Online compass may not be accurate when used inside buildings, such as hotel rooms, due to other magnetic interfaces.
You can use this feature if you know the direction of the north. To use this feature, enable location detection, click on the "Static" tab, and place the phone on a flat surface. The device will show the Qibla direction from "North". If you know the North, then align the "North" pointer to the north, the Ka’abah pointer will then be in the direction of Qibla.
This is the most accurate way to find the Qibla direction, especially inside buildings. Simply have your location service switched on, and the app will detect the direction. Zoom in, and you will see a green arrow pointing in the direction of Mecca. Align the device with a nearby landmark or road, and you are good to go.
You can also find your Qibla direction from your location online. Just input your location and follow the Map Qibla Direction method instructions. So you’ve got your Qibla direction down. Now onto your prayer time! The HalalTrip App also has a Prayer Times and Mosques feature for you to locate these aspects at your convenience. Make sure to have your location service and internet connection on, and the app will detect the times accordingly. It will also display your nearby mosques, and you can add in your accommodation location under the traveler tab if you have to pray back there.
With today’s convenient technology, it is a matter of effort when it comes to prayers. HalalTrip’s free app (now on Apple and Android!) covers everything a Muslim traveler needs, from nearby Halal food to travel duas to finding Salat times, nearby mosques, and prayer spaces!
