Qibla · Amhara
Qibla direction in Debre Berhan
To face the Kaaba in Debre Berhan, turn to 1.3° measured clockwise from true north, which is north (1.3° east of north). The Sacred Mosque in Mecca lies 1,306 km away along the shortest path over the globe, and this is the direction the mihrabs of the mosques in Debre Berhan should follow.
The compass rose shows the Qibla of Debre Berhan as a needle at 1.3°. With a phone app set to true north, simply turn until it reads 1°. 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 Debre Berhan
Stand where you will pray and find north first. Then turn towards north and move a further 1.3° towards east: the result is the bearing of 1.3°. The direction is close to due north, which makes it easy to remember.
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 Debre Berhan, aims at its direction as well as he reasonably can. Comparing with the mihrab of a local mosque 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
On a flat (Mercator) map, the straight line from Debre Berhan to Mecca points to 1.4°, only 0.0° away from the true Qibla. Here the two methods practically agree, so a map gives a usable first idea, although the 1.3° bearing remains the exact one.
The value of 1.3° is the direction in which the shortest route from 9.6795° N, 39.5326° 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 Debre Berhan to Mecca and Medina
Mecca is 1,306 km from Debre Berhan as the crow flies, and Medina, the city of the Prophet ﷺ, is 1,644 km away. The distance is short enough that many pilgrims from Debre Berhan travel to the Hijaz by road.
Clocks in Debre Berhan run the same time as Mecca all year. Prayer times, however, depend on the sun at your own location, so always use the prayer times of Debre Berhan rather than those of Mecca.
Finding the Qibla with the sun in Debre Berhan
On 134 days of 2027, the sun passes exactly through the Qibla direction of Debre Berhan 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 12:19 local time.
On 229 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 12:28.
| Date | Sun in the Qibla direction (face the sun) | Sun opposite (shadows point to the Qibla) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January 2027 | — | 12:28 |
| 15 January 2027 | — | 12:34 |
| 1 February 2027 | — | 12:38 |
| 15 February 2027 | — | 12:38 |
| 1 March 2027 | — | 12:36 |
| 15 March 2027 | — | 12:32 |
| 1 April 2027 | — | 12:26 |
| 15 April 2027 | — | — |
| 1 May 2027 | 12:19 | — |
| 15 May 2027 | 12:17 | — |
| 1 June 2027 | 12:18 | — |
| 15 June 2027 | 12:21 | — |
| 1 July 2027 | 12:24 | — |
| 15 July 2027 | 12:27 | — |
| 1 August 2027 | 12:27 | — |
| 15 August 2027 | 12:26 | — |
| 1 September 2027 | — | 12:22 |
| 15 September 2027 | — | 12:18 |
| 1 October 2027 | — | 12:13 |
| 15 October 2027 | — | 12:09 |
| 1 November 2027 | — | 12:08 |
| 15 November 2027 | — | 12:09 |
| 1 December 2027 | — | 12:14 |
| 15 December 2027 | — | 12:20 |
Twice a year the sun passes directly over the Kaaba, on 28 May 2027 and 16 July 2027. Both moments are in daylight in Debre Berhan: at 12:18 and 12:27 local time, face the sun and you face the Qibla exactly, anywhere in the city.
Debre Berhan compared with other cities
Compared with Addis Ababa, 113 km away, the Qibla in Debre Berhan is turned 3.3° further anticlockwise (1.3° against 4.7°), and Mecca is 77 km closer. The nearest city with its own Qibla page, Addis Ababa (113 km), prays towards 4.7°, a difference of 3.3°.
Across the 28 cities in Ethiopia on this site, the Qibla ranges from 1.0° in Dessie to 350.8° in Dire Dawa, a spread of 349.8°. That is too large to use one national direction, so each city has its own bearing.
See all cities on the Qibla page for Ethiopia.
Qibla in cities near Debre Berhan
Qibla in Debre Berhan: questions and answers
What is the Qibla direction in Debre Berhan?
It is 1.3° from true north, which is north: 1.3° east of north.
How far is Debre Berhan from Mecca?
1,306 km in a straight line over the globe, and 1,644 km to Medina.
When does the sun show the Qibla in Debre Berhan?
On 134 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.
Is the Qibla the same everywhere in Ethiopia?
No. It ranges from 1.0° to 350.8° across the country, so each city has its own bearing.
Does the Qibla change during the year?
No. The direction of 1.3° is fixed; only the times when the sun lines up with it change from day to day.