Qibla direction in New York City

The Qibla direction from New York City is 58.5°. This calculation is based on the great-circle bearing from New York City's coordinates (40.7143°N, -74.006°E) to the Kaaba in Mecca (21.4225°N, 39.8262°E).

Mwelekeo wa Qibla kutoka New York City?

Kutoka New York City, mwelekeo wa Qibla ni 58.5° (NE). Umbali kutoka New York City hadi Makka ni takribani km 10,306 (maili 6,404).

Mwelekeo wa Qibla kwa miji mingine ya United States

Mwelekeo wa Qibla unaweza kutofautiana kidogo kati ya miji jirani. Hizi ni mwelekeo wa Qibla kwa miji karibu na New York City:

• Tribeca: 58.5°
• Financial District: 58.5°
• Chinatown: 58.5°

Jinsi ya kupata Qibla huko New York City

Ili kupata mwelekeo wa Qibla huko New York City, tumia dira na ugeuke 58.5° kutoka kaskazini. Hii ni takriban kuelekea NE. Misikiti mingi huko New York City tayari inaelekea Makka.

Why is the Qibla direction important?

Facing the Qibla is one of the essential conditions for the validity of salah (prayer) in Islam. The Quran explicitly instructs Muslims to turn their faces toward the Sacred Mosque (Masjid al-Haram) wherever they are (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:144). This unifying act means that over 1.8 billion Muslims around the world all face the same point when they pray, creating a powerful sense of spiritual unity. Beyond the five daily prayers, the Qibla direction is also observed when reciting the Quran, making dua (supplication), during the ritual slaughter of animals, and when burying the deceased.

Methods to find Qibla in practice

There are several practical ways to determine the Qibla direction in New York City. The most accurate is using a digital tool like Praay.org, which calculates 58.5° using the great-circle formula. A physical compass gives reliable results when properly calibrated — simply align the compass with north and rotate to the correct bearing. Smartphone compass apps work similarly and often include automatic magnetic declination correction. The sun can also help: twice a year, the sun passes directly overhead the Kaaba, and at that moment any shadow points exactly away from Qibla. Additionally, many hotels in Muslim-majority countries place Qibla direction stickers in their rooms.

Historical background of the Qibla

The concept of a prayer direction is deeply rooted in Abrahamic tradition. Early Muslims initially prayed towards Jerusalem (Bayt al-Maqdis) for approximately 16 months after the Hijra. The change of Qibla to the Kaaba in Mecca occurred around 624 CE, as recorded in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:142-150). This momentous event is known as the Tahwil al-Qibla and holds great theological significance. The Kaaba itself is believed to have been originally built by Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) and his son Ismail as the first house of worship dedicated to the One God. Today, the Kaaba stands in the center of Masjid al-Haram, the largest mosque in the world, which can accommodate over two million worshippers.

How geography affects Qibla from New York City

The Qibla bearing from New York City is influenced by its geographical position at latitude 40.71°. Cities at the same longitude but different latitudes will have different Qibla directions because the great-circle path curves differently. The distance of approximately 10,306 km to Mecca means the direction is roughly NE. Interestingly, following the Qibla bearing on a great-circle path from your location would take you directly to the Kaaba along the shortest surface route — the same route an airplane would fly.

The Qibla direction varies depending on your geographical position. Praay.org calculates the precise direction towards the Kaaba for over 151,725 cities worldwide using the great-circle method, which gives the shortest distance over the Earth's surface.

The Qibla direction varies dramatically across the globe. From Western Europe, it is southeast (around 120°–150°). From North America, it is northeast (around 50°–60°). From Southeast Asia and Australia, it is northwest (around 290°–320°). From sub-Saharan Africa, it is generally north to northeast. These large variations are a direct result of Earth's spherical geometry and demonstrate why using a precise calculation rather than a rough estimate is important.

Praay.org uses standard spherical trigonometry to compute the initial bearing from any point on Earth to the Kaaba's exact GPS coordinates (21.4225°N, 39.8262°E). This calculation is accurate to a fraction of a degree, far exceeding the practical accuracy of any compass. City coordinates are sourced from verified geographical databases, ensuring reliable results for every location. Whether you are at home, traveling, or moving to a new city, you can always find your precise Qibla direction here.