Qibla · Cabo Delgado Province
Qibla direction in Pemba
To face the Kaaba in Pemba, turn to 358.9° measured clockwise from true north, which is north (1.1° west of north). The Sacred Mosque in Mecca lies 3,825 km away along the shortest path over the globe, and this is the direction the mihrabs of the mosques in Pemba should follow.
The compass rose shows the Qibla of Pemba as a needle at 358.9°. With a phone app set to true north, simply turn until it reads 359°. 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 Pemba
Stand where you will pray and find north first. Then turn towards north and move a further 1.1° towards west: the result is the bearing of 358.9°. 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 Pemba, aims at its direction as well as he reasonably can. Comparing with the mihrab of one of the mosques of Pemba 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 Pemba to Mecca points to 358.9°, only 0.0° away from the true Qibla. Here the two methods practically agree, so a map gives a usable first idea, although the 358.9° bearing remains the exact one.
The value of 358.9° is the direction in which the shortest route from 12.9740° S, 40.5178° 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 Pemba to Mecca and Medina
Mecca is 3,825 km from Pemba as the crow flies, and Medina, the city of the Prophet ﷺ, is 4,164 km away. A direct flight would take roughly 5 h, although most pilgrims from Pemba connect through Jeddah or Medina airport.
Clocks in Pemba run 1 hour behind Mecca all year. Prayer times, however, depend on the sun at your own location, so always use the prayer times of Pemba rather than those of Mecca.
Finding the Qibla with the sun in Pemba
On 255 days of 2027, the sun passes exactly through the Qibla direction of Pemba 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 11:32 local time.
On 110 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 11:20.
| Date | Sun in the Qibla direction (face the sun) | Sun opposite (shadows point to the Qibla) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January 2027 | — | 11:20 |
| 15 January 2027 | — | 11:27 |
| 1 February 2027 | — | 11:31 |
| 15 February 2027 | 11:32 | — |
| 1 March 2027 | 11:31 | — |
| 15 March 2027 | 11:28 | — |
| 1 April 2027 | 11:23 | — |
| 15 April 2027 | 11:20 | — |
| 1 May 2027 | 11:17 | — |
| 15 May 2027 | 11:17 | — |
| 1 June 2027 | 11:19 | — |
| 15 June 2027 | 11:21 | — |
| 1 July 2027 | 11:25 | — |
| 15 July 2027 | 11:27 | — |
| 1 August 2027 | 11:27 | — |
| 15 August 2027 | 11:25 | — |
| 1 September 2027 | 11:20 | — |
| 15 September 2027 | 11:15 | — |
| 1 October 2027 | 11:08 | — |
| 15 October 2027 | 11:04 | — |
| 1 November 2027 | — | 11:01 |
| 15 November 2027 | — | 11:02 |
| 1 December 2027 | — | 11:06 |
| 15 December 2027 | — | 11:12 |
Twice a year the sun passes directly over the Kaaba, on 28 May 2027 and 16 July 2027. Both moments are in daylight in Pemba: at 11:18 and 11:27 local time, face the sun and you face the Qibla exactly, anywhere in the city.
Pemba compared with other cities
Compared with Maputo, 1,666 km away, the Qibla in Pemba is turned 10.2° further anticlockwise (358.9° against 9.1°), and Mecca is 1,501 km closer. The nearest city with its own Qibla page, Cidade de Nacala (178 km), prays towards 358.6°, a difference of 0.2°.
Across the 16 cities in Mozambique on this site, the Qibla ranges from 0.9° in Nampula to 359.9° in Angoche, a spread of 359.0°. That is too large to use one national direction, so each city has its own bearing.
See all cities on the Qibla page for Mozambique.
Qibla in cities near Pemba
Qibla in Pemba: questions and answers
What is the Qibla direction in Pemba?
It is 358.9° from true north, which is north: 1.1° west of north.
How far is Pemba from Mecca?
3,825 km in a straight line over the globe, and 4,164 km to Medina.
When does the sun show the Qibla in Pemba?
On 255 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 Mozambique?
No. It ranges from 0.9° to 359.9° across the country, so each city has its own bearing.
Does the Qibla change during the year?
No. The direction of 358.9° is fixed; only the times when the sun lines up with it change from day to day.