Qibla · Grand Est
Qibla direction in Strasbourg
To face the Kaaba in Strasbourg, turn to 125.3° measured clockwise from true north, which is south-east (35.3° south of east). The Sacred Mosque in Mecca lies 4,145 km away along the shortest path over the globe, and this is the direction the mihrabs of the mosques in Strasbourg should follow.
The compass rose shows the Qibla of Strasbourg as a needle at 125.3°. With a phone app set to true north, simply turn until it reads 125°. 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 Strasbourg
Stand where you will pray and find north first. Then turn towards east and move a further 35.3° towards south: the result is the bearing of 125.3°. Because the angle sits far from the cardinal points, a rough guess such as “east” would be off by more than 30°, which is why a measured bearing matters in Strasbourg.
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 Strasbourg, aims at its direction as well as he reasonably can. Comparing with the mihrab of one of the mosques of Strasbourg 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 Strasbourg to Mecca points to 136.5° (south-east), 11.2° away from the correct 125.3°. That map line is a rhumb line: it keeps the same compass heading all the way, but it is 19 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 125.3° is the direction in which the shortest route from 48.5839° N, 7.7455° 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 Strasbourg to Mecca and Medina
Mecca is 4,145 km from Strasbourg as the crow flies, and Medina, the city of the Prophet ﷺ, is 3,860 km away. A direct flight would take roughly 5 h 23 min, although most pilgrims from Strasbourg connect through Jeddah or Medina airport.
Clocks in Strasbourg run 2 hours behind Mecca in winter and 1 hour behind Mecca in summer, because of daylight saving time. Prayer times, however, depend on the sun at your own location, so always use the prayer times of Strasbourg rather than those of Mecca.
Finding the Qibla with the sun in Strasbourg
On 303 days of 2027, the sun passes exactly through the Qibla direction of Strasbourg while it is well above the horizon. At that moment, facing the sun means facing Mecca. The effect is most frequent in March (31 days); for example, on 1 February 2027 it happens at 08:50 local time.
The sun is never opposite the Qibla of Strasbourg during daylight, so the shadow method does not apply here; the left-hand column is the one to use.
| Date | Sun in the Qibla direction (face the sun) | Sun opposite (shadows point to the Qibla) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January 2027 | — | — |
| 15 January 2027 | — | — |
| 1 February 2027 | 08:50 | — |
| 15 February 2027 | 09:03 | — |
| 1 March 2027 | 09:15 | — |
| 15 March 2027 | 09:26 | — |
| 1 April 2027 | 10:38 | — |
| 15 April 2027 | 10:48 | — |
| 1 May 2027 | 10:59 | — |
| 15 May 2027 | 11:09 | — |
| 1 June 2027 | 11:20 | — |
| 15 June 2027 | 11:27 | — |
| 1 July 2027 | 11:30 | — |
| 15 July 2027 | 11:27 | — |
| 1 August 2027 | 11:17 | — |
| 15 August 2027 | 11:04 | — |
| 1 September 2027 | 10:44 | — |
| 15 September 2027 | 10:26 | — |
| 1 October 2027 | 10:04 | — |
| 15 October 2027 | 09:46 | — |
| 1 November 2027 | 08:28 | — |
| 15 November 2027 | 08:17 | — |
| 1 December 2027 | — | — |
| 15 December 2027 | — | — |
Twice a year the sun passes directly over the Kaaba, on 28 May 2027 and 16 July 2027. Both moments are in daylight in Strasbourg: at 11:18 and 11:27 local time, face the sun and you face the Qibla exactly, anywhere in the city.
Strasbourg compared with other cities
Compared with Paris, 397 km away, the Qibla in Strasbourg is turned 6.1° further clockwise (125.3° against 119.2°), and Mecca is 351 km closer. The nearest city with its own Qibla page, Mulhouse (98 km), prays towards 123.9°, a difference of 1.4°.
Among the 37 cities in France on this site, Strasbourg has the largest Qibla bearing; the smallest is 111.4° in Brest, Brittany Region, France. Across the country the direction varies by 13.8°.
See all cities on the Qibla page for France.
Qibla in cities near Strasbourg
Qibla in Strasbourg: questions and answers
What is the Qibla direction in Strasbourg?
It is 125.3° from true north, which is south-east: 35.3° south of east.
How far is Strasbourg from Mecca?
4,145 km in a straight line over the globe, and 3,860 km to Medina.
When does the sun show the Qibla in Strasbourg?
On 303 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 Strasbourg not the direction shown on a map?
Flat maps distort directions. The line on a map points to 136.5°, but the shortest route on the globe leaves Strasbourg at 125.3°, and that is the Qibla.
Does the Qibla change during the year?
No. The direction of 125.3° is fixed; only the times when the sun lines up with it change from day to day.