Qibla · Madeira
Qibla direction in Funchal
To face the Kaaba in Funchal, turn to 87.6° measured clockwise from true north, which is east (2.4° north of east). The Sacred Mosque in Mecca lies 5,692 km away along the shortest path over the globe, and this is the direction the mihrabs of the mosques in Funchal should follow.
The compass rose shows the Qibla of Funchal as a needle at 87.6°. With a phone app set to true north, simply turn until it reads 88°. 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 Funchal
Stand where you will pray and find north first. Then turn towards east and move a further 2.4° towards north: the result is the bearing of 87.6°. The direction is close to due east, 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 Funchal, 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
A straight line drawn on a flat (Mercator) map from Funchal to Mecca points to 102.6° (east), 14.9° away from the correct 87.6°. That map line is a rhumb line: it keeps the same compass heading all the way, but it is 53 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 87.6° is the direction in which the shortest route from 32.6657° N, 16.9255° W 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 Funchal to Mecca and Medina
Mecca is 5,692 km from Funchal as the crow flies, and Medina, the city of the Prophet ﷺ, is 5,533 km away. A direct flight would take roughly 7 h 12 min, although most pilgrims from Funchal connect through Jeddah or Medina airport.
Clocks in Funchal run 3 hours behind Mecca in winter and 2 hours 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 Funchal rather than those of Mecca.
Finding the Qibla with the sun in Funchal
On 166 days of 2027, the sun passes exactly through the Qibla direction of Funchal 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 April 2027 it happens at 08:22 local time.
On 188 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 May (31 days), for instance on 1 April 2027 at 19:25.
| 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 | — | — |
| 1 March 2027 | — | — |
| 15 March 2027 | — | — |
| 1 April 2027 | 08:22 | 19:25 |
| 15 April 2027 | 08:52 | 18:48 |
| 1 May 2027 | 09:26 | 18:08 |
| 15 May 2027 | 09:55 | 17:38 |
| 1 June 2027 | 10:24 | 17:12 |
| 15 June 2027 | 10:39 | 17:02 |
| 1 July 2027 | 10:40 | 17:08 |
| 15 July 2027 | 10:28 | 17:25 |
| 1 August 2027 | 09:58 | 17:56 |
| 15 August 2027 | 09:27 | 18:24 |
| 1 September 2027 | 08:43 | 18:59 |
| 15 September 2027 | — | 19:27 |
| 1 October 2027 | — | — |
| 15 October 2027 | — | — |
| 1 November 2027 | — | — |
| 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 Funchal: at 10:18 and 10:27 local time, face the sun and you face the Qibla exactly, anywhere in the city.
Funchal compared with other cities
Compared with Lisbon, 972 km away, the Qibla in Funchal is turned 10.2° further anticlockwise (87.6° against 97.9°), and Mecca is 671 km farther away. The nearest city with its own Qibla page, Lisbon (972 km), prays towards 97.9°, a difference of 10.2°.
Among the 8 cities in Portugal on this site, Funchal has the smallest Qibla bearing; the largest is 101.2° in Braga. Across the country the direction varies by 13.6°.
See all cities on the Qibla page for Portugal.
Qibla in cities near Funchal
Qibla in Funchal: questions and answers
What is the Qibla direction in Funchal?
It is 87.6° from true north, which is east: 2.4° north of east.
How far is Funchal from Mecca?
5,692 km in a straight line over the globe, and 5,533 km to Medina.
When does the sun show the Qibla in Funchal?
On 166 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 Funchal not the direction shown on a map?
Flat maps distort directions. The line on a map points to 102.6°, but the shortest route on the globe leaves Funchal at 87.6°, and that is the Qibla.
Does the Qibla change during the year?
No. The direction of 87.6° is fixed; only the times when the sun lines up with it change from day to day.