Qibla · Kaolack Region
Qibla direction in Kaolack
To face the Kaaba in Kaolack, turn to 73.6° measured clockwise from true north, which is east (16.4° north of east). The Sacred Mosque in Mecca lies 5,945 km away along the shortest path over the globe, and this is the direction the mihrabs of the mosques in Kaolack should follow.
The compass rose shows the Qibla of Kaolack as a needle at 73.6°. With a phone app set to true north, simply turn until it reads 74°. 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 Kaolack
Stand where you will pray and find north first. Then turn towards east and move a further 16.4° towards north: the result is the bearing of 73.6°. A small error of a few degrees is forgiven by most scholars, but aiming simply at east would leave you about 16° 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 Kaolack, aims at its direction as well as he reasonably can. Comparing with the mihrab of one of the mosques of Kaolack 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 Kaolack to Mecca points to 82.2° (east), 8.6° away from the correct 73.6°. That map line is a rhumb line: it keeps the same compass heading all the way, but it is 24 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 73.6° is the direction in which the shortest route from 14.1520° N, 16.0726° 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 Kaolack to Mecca and Medina
Mecca is 5,945 km from Kaolack as the crow flies, and Medina, the city of the Prophet ﷺ, is 5,917 km away. A direct flight would take roughly 7 h 30 min, although most pilgrims from Kaolack connect through Jeddah or Medina airport.
Clocks in Kaolack run 3 hours behind Mecca all year. Prayer times, however, depend on the sun at your own location, so always use the prayer times of Kaolack rather than those of Mecca.
Finding the Qibla with the sun in Kaolack
On 60 days of 2027, the sun passes exactly through the Qibla direction of Kaolack while it is well above the horizon. At that moment, facing the sun means facing Mecca. The effect is most frequent in May (28 days); for example, on 1 May 2027 it happens at 12:48 local time.
On 158 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 March (31 days), for instance on 15 February 2027 at 18:15.
| 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 | — | 18:15 |
| 1 March 2027 | — | 17:13 |
| 15 March 2027 | — | 16:13 |
| 1 April 2027 | — | 15:00 |
| 15 April 2027 | — | 13:59 |
| 1 May 2027 | 12:48 | — |
| 15 May 2027 | 07:39 | — |
| 1 June 2027 | — | — |
| 15 June 2027 | — | — |
| 1 July 2027 | — | — |
| 15 July 2027 | — | — |
| 1 August 2027 | 07:33 | — |
| 15 August 2027 | — | 13:11 |
| 1 September 2027 | — | 14:17 |
| 15 September 2027 | — | 15:08 |
| 1 October 2027 | — | 16:06 |
| 15 October 2027 | — | 16:59 |
| 1 November 2027 | — | 18:11 |
| 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 Kaolack: at 09:18 and 09:27 local time, face the sun and you face the Qibla exactly, anywhere in the city.
Kaolack compared with other cities
The Qibla here is practically the same as in Dakar (73.9°), and Mecca is 125 km closer. The nearest city with its own Qibla page, Diourbel (58 km), prays towards 74.0°, a difference of 0.3°.
Across the 13 cities in Senegal on this site, the Qibla ranges from 72.5° in Ziguinchor to 74.9° in Saint-Louis, a spread of 2.4°. The difference is small, yet each city should still use its own bearing.
See all cities on the Qibla page for Senegal.
Qibla in cities near Kaolack
Qibla in Kaolack: questions and answers
What is the Qibla direction in Kaolack?
It is 73.6° from true north, which is east: 16.4° north of east.
How far is Kaolack from Mecca?
5,945 km in a straight line over the globe, and 5,917 km to Medina.
When does the sun show the Qibla in Kaolack?
On 60 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 Kaolack not the direction shown on a map?
Flat maps distort directions. The line on a map points to 82.2°, but the shortest route on the globe leaves Kaolack at 73.6°, and that is the Qibla.
Does the Qibla change during the year?
No. The direction of 73.6° is fixed; only the times when the sun lines up with it change from day to day.