Qibla direction in Philipsburg

How to face the Qibla in Philipsburg

Stand where you will pray and find north first. Then turn towards east and move a further 24.4° towards north: the result is the bearing of 65.6°. A small error of a few degrees is forgiven by most scholars, but aiming simply at east would leave you about 24° 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 Philipsburg, 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

This is a place where maps mislead badly: a straight line on a flat map from Philipsburg to Mecca points to 88.0° (east), a full 22.4° away from the true Qibla of 65.6° (north-east). The map line keeps one compass heading and is 228 km longer than the great-circle route. Because the Earth is a sphere, the shortest way to Mecca from Philipsburg first heads north-east, and that is the direction to face.

The value of 65.6° is the direction in which the shortest route from 18.0260° N, 63.0458° 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 Philipsburg to Mecca and Medina

Mecca is 10,545 km from Philipsburg as the crow flies, and Medina, the city of the Prophet ﷺ, is 10,400 km away. A direct flight would take roughly 12 h 54 min, although most pilgrims from Philipsburg connect through Jeddah or Medina airport.

Clocks in Philipsburg run 7 hours behind Mecca all year. Prayer times, however, depend on the sun at your own location, so always use the prayer times of Philipsburg rather than those of Mecca.

Finding the Qibla with the sun in Philipsburg

On 81 days of 2027, the sun passes exactly through the Qibla direction of Philipsburg while it is well above the horizon. At that moment, facing the sun means facing Mecca. The effect is most frequent in July (31 days); for example, on 15 May 2027 it happens at 12:00 local time.

On 242 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 January 2027 at 17:26.

Twice a year the sun passes directly over the Kaaba, on 28 May 2027 and 16 July 2027. Both happen at night in Philipsburg (05:18 and 05:27 local time), so they cannot be used here. Instead, on 13 January 2027 at 17:29 and 28 November 2027 at 17:09 the sun is over the point opposite the Kaaba, and every vertical shadow in Philipsburg points straight to Mecca.

Philipsburg compared with other cities

See all cities on the Qibla page for Sint Maarten.