Qibla · Far North
Qibla direction in Maroua
To face the Kaaba in Maroua, turn to 63.0° measured clockwise from true north, which is north-east (27.0° north of east). The Sacred Mosque in Mecca lies 2,975 km away along the shortest path over the globe, and this is the direction the mihrabs of the mosques in Maroua should follow.
The compass rose shows the Qibla of Maroua as a needle at 63.0°. With a phone app set to true north, simply turn until it reads 63°. A traditional magnetic compass also works, provided you allow for the local difference between magnetic and true north.
Find the Qibla with your phone
How to face the Qibla in Maroua
Stand where you will pray and find north first. Then turn towards east and move a further 27.0° towards north: the result is the bearing of 63.0°. A small error of a few degrees is forgiven by most scholars, but aiming simply at east would leave you about 27° off.
The scholars distinguish two cases: the one who sees the Kaaba aims at the building itself, while the one who cannot see it, as anywhere in Maroua, aims at its direction as well as he reasonably can. Comparing with the mihrab of one of the mosques of Maroua is a quick way to confirm the result. If you travel or move house, check the angle again, since it changes from place to place.
Why a flat map shows a different direction
A straight line drawn on a flat (Mercator) map from Maroua to Mecca points to 66.1° (north-east), 3.2° away from the correct 63.0°. That map line is a rhumb line: it keeps the same compass heading all the way, but it is 2 km longer than the true shortest route. The Qibla follows the great circle, the shortest path on the curved Earth, which is why the bearing differs.
The value of 63.0° is the direction in which the shortest route from 10.5910° N, 14.3159° E sets off towards the Kaaba at 21.4225° N, 39.8262° E. Every accurate Qibla calculator, and the plans of well-oriented mosques, arrive at the same angle for this point.
Distance from Maroua to Mecca and Medina
Mecca is 2,975 km from Maroua as the crow flies, and Medina, the city of the Prophet ﷺ, is 3,085 km away. A direct flight would take roughly 4 h, although most pilgrims from Maroua connect through Jeddah or Medina airport.
Clocks in Maroua run 2 hours behind Mecca all year. Prayer times, however, depend on the sun at your own location, so always use the prayer times of Maroua rather than those of Mecca.
Finding the Qibla with the sun in Maroua
On 130 days of 2027, the sun passes exactly through the Qibla direction of Maroua while it is well above the horizon. At that moment, facing the sun means facing Mecca. The effect is most frequent in May (31 days); for example, on 1 May 2027 it happens at 11:22 local time.
On 235 days the sun stands exactly opposite the Qibla: then the shadow of any vertical object, a pole, a door frame or a plumb line, points straight towards Mecca. This is most frequent in January (31 days), for instance on 1 January 2027 at 16:46.
| Date | Sun in the Qibla direction (face the sun) | Sun opposite (shadows point to the Qibla) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January 2027 | — | 16:46 |
| 15 January 2027 | — | 16:29 |
| 1 February 2027 | — | 15:51 |
| 15 February 2027 | — | 15:12 |
| 1 March 2027 | — | 14:30 |
| 15 March 2027 | — | 13:46 |
| 1 April 2027 | — | 12:53 |
| 15 April 2027 | — | 12:09 |
| 1 May 2027 | 11:22 | — |
| 15 May 2027 | 10:45 | — |
| 1 June 2027 | 10:11 | — |
| 15 June 2027 | 09:57 | — |
| 1 July 2027 | 10:03 | — |
| 15 July 2027 | 10:25 | — |
| 1 August 2027 | 11:04 | — |
| 15 August 2027 | 11:39 | — |
| 1 September 2027 | — | 12:21 |
| 15 September 2027 | — | 12:55 |
| 1 October 2027 | — | 13:35 |
| 15 October 2027 | — | 14:11 |
| 1 November 2027 | — | 14:57 |
| 15 November 2027 | — | 15:36 |
| 1 December 2027 | — | 16:17 |
| 15 December 2027 | — | 16:42 |
Twice a year the sun passes directly over the Kaaba, on 28 May 2027 and 16 July 2027. Both moments are in daylight in Maroua: at 10:18 and 10:27 local time, face the sun and you face the Qibla exactly, anywhere in the city.
Maroua compared with other cities
Compared with Yaoundé, 809 km away, the Qibla in Maroua is turned 8.0° further clockwise (63.0° against 55.0°), and Mecca is 652 km closer. The nearest city with its own Qibla page, Ngaoundéré (372 km), prays towards 58.1°, a difference of 4.8°.
Among the 14 cities in Cameroon on this site, Maroua has the largest Qibla bearing; the smallest is 54.1° in Bertoua. Across the country the direction varies by 8.9°.
See all cities on the Qibla page for Cameroon.
Qibla in cities near Maroua
Qibla in Maroua: questions and answers
What is the Qibla direction in Maroua?
It is 63.0° from true north, which is north-east: 27.0° north of east.
How far is Maroua from Mecca?
2,975 km in a straight line over the globe, and 3,085 km to Medina.
When does the sun show the Qibla in Maroua?
On 130 days of 2027 the sun stands in the Qibla direction; the table on this page gives the exact time for the 1st and 15th of each month.
Why is the Qibla in Maroua not the direction shown on a map?
Flat maps distort directions. The line on a map points to 66.1°, but the shortest route on the globe leaves Maroua at 63.0°, and that is the Qibla.
Does the Qibla change during the year?
No. The direction of 63.0° is fixed; only the times when the sun lines up with it change from day to day.