Qibla · Jalal-Abad Region
Qibla direction in Manas
To face the Kaaba in Manas, turn to 245.2° measured clockwise from true north, which is south-west (24.8° south of west). The Sacred Mosque in Mecca lies 3,793 km away along the shortest path over the globe, and this is the direction the mihrabs of the mosques in Manas should follow.
The compass rose shows the Qibla of Manas as a needle at 245.2°. With a phone app set to true north, simply turn until it reads 245°. 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 Manas
Stand where you will pray and find north first. Then turn towards west and move a further 24.8° towards south: the result is the bearing of 245.2°. A small error of a few degrees is forgiven by most scholars, but aiming simply at west would leave you about 25° 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 Manas, aims at its direction as well as he reasonably can. Comparing with the mihrab of one of the mosques of Manas 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 Manas to Mecca points to 235.2° (south-west), 10.0° away from the correct 245.2°. That map line is a rhumb line: it keeps the same compass heading all the way, but it is 15 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 245.2° is the direction in which the shortest route from 40.9450° N, 72.9931° 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 Manas to Mecca and Medina
Mecca is 3,793 km from Manas as the crow flies, and Medina, the city of the Prophet ﷺ, is 3,589 km away. A direct flight would take roughly 4 h 58 min, although most pilgrims from Manas connect through Jeddah or Medina airport.
Clocks in Manas run 3 hours ahead of Mecca all year. Prayer times, however, depend on the sun at your own location, so always use the prayer times of Manas rather than those of Mecca.
Finding the Qibla with the sun in Manas
On 271 days of 2027, the sun passes exactly through the Qibla direction of Manas 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 15 February 2027 it happens at 17:51 local time.
On 54 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 June (30 days), for instance on 1 June 2027 at 06:15.
| 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 | — | — |
| 15 February 2027 | 17:51 | — |
| 1 March 2027 | 17:29 | — |
| 15 March 2027 | 17:05 | — |
| 1 April 2027 | 16:34 | — |
| 15 April 2027 | 16:10 | — |
| 1 May 2027 | 15:46 | — |
| 15 May 2027 | 15:29 | — |
| 1 June 2027 | 15:16 | 06:15 |
| 15 June 2027 | 15:12 | 06:24 |
| 1 July 2027 | 15:16 | 06:26 |
| 15 July 2027 | 15:26 | 06:21 |
| 1 August 2027 | 15:42 | — |
| 15 August 2027 | 15:57 | — |
| 1 September 2027 | 16:16 | — |
| 15 September 2027 | 16:31 | — |
| 1 October 2027 | 16:49 | — |
| 15 October 2027 | 17:06 | — |
| 1 November 2027 | 17:27 | — |
| 15 November 2027 | — | — |
| 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 Manas: at 15:18 and 15:27 local time, face the sun and you face the Qibla exactly, anywhere in the city.
Manas compared with other cities
Compared with Bishkek, 252 km away, the Qibla in Manas is turned 0.7° further clockwise (245.2° against 244.6°), and Mecca is 210 km closer. The nearest city with its own Qibla page, Osh (49 km), prays towards 245.6°, a difference of 0.3°.
Across the 3 cities in Kyrgyzstan on this site, the Qibla ranges from 244.6° in Bishkek to 245.6° in Osh, a spread of 1.0°. The difference is small, yet each city should still use its own bearing.
See all cities on the Qibla page for Kyrgyzstan.
Qibla in cities near Manas
Qibla in Manas: questions and answers
What is the Qibla direction in Manas?
It is 245.2° from true north, which is south-west: 24.8° south of west.
How far is Manas from Mecca?
3,793 km in a straight line over the globe, and 3,589 km to Medina.
When does the sun show the Qibla in Manas?
On 271 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 Manas not the direction shown on a map?
Flat maps distort directions. The line on a map points to 235.2°, but the shortest route on the globe leaves Manas at 245.2°, and that is the Qibla.
Does the Qibla change during the year?
No. The direction of 245.2° is fixed; only the times when the sun lines up with it change from day to day.