Question 1

What is Qibla and why does direction matter?

Accepted Answer

Qibla (قِبْلَة) is the direction Muslims face during ṣalāh (the five daily prayers) — specifically toward the Kaaba in Mecca. Facing the Qibla is a condition for the validity of prayer according to all four Sunni schools of jurisprudence.

Question 2

How does Quran Daily calculate Qibla direction?

Accepted Answer

The Qibla page uses the great-circle bearing formula on the WGS-84 ellipsoid, from your device's geolocation (latitude/longitude) to the Kaaba (21.4225°N, 39.8262°E). This gives the shortest true-north-referenced bearing across the surface of the Earth — the same math used by nautical navigation.

Question 3

Does the compass work in the browser?

Accepted Answer

Yes on most modern smartphones. The compass uses the DeviceOrientationEvent Web API — on iOS Safari you'll be prompted to grant motion permission; on Android Chrome permission is implicit. On desktop browsers without a magnetometer, the arrow shows the true bearing but does not rotate with the device.

Question 4

Why does the arrow drift or lag slightly?

Accepted Answer

Smartphone magnetometers are affected by nearby metal, magnets, and phone cases with magnetic clasps. The compass smooths readings using a shortest-arc filter over multiple frames; the residual drift you see is real magnetic-field noise, not a software bug. Calibrate by moving the phone in a figure-8 pattern.

Question 5

Can I use the AR camera mode?

Accepted Answer

Yes on browsers with getUserMedia + WebXR support. Tap the AR button on the Qibla page and grant camera access to overlay a Qibla marker on the live camera feed. Works best in landscape mode with the phone held level.

Question 6

Does the Qibla direction ever change?

Accepted Answer

The physical direction from a fixed location to the Kaaba does not change. Historical sources describe how the Qibla was initially toward Jerusalem (Bayt al-Maqdis) during the early Meccan period and was changed to Mecca in the second year of Hijrah (Surah al-Baqarah, ayah 144).

Face Makkah.

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