Qibla direction in Winejok

How to face the Qibla in Winejok

Stand where you will pray and find north first. Then turn towards north and move a further 42.2° towards east: the result is the bearing of 42.2°. Because the angle sits far from the cardinal points, a rough guess such as “north” would be off by more than 40°, which is why a measured bearing matters in Winejok.

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 Winejok, 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

On a flat (Mercator) map, the straight line from Winejok to Mecca points to 43.6°, only 1.4° away from the true Qibla. Here the two methods practically agree, so a map gives a usable first idea, although the 42.2° bearing remains the exact one.

The value of 42.2° is the direction in which the shortest route from 9.0122° N, 27.5708° 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 Winejok to Mecca and Medina

Mecca is 1,904 km from Winejok as the crow flies, and Medina, the city of the Prophet ﷺ, is 2,141 km away. A direct flight would take roughly 2 h 44 min, although most pilgrims from Winejok connect through Jeddah or Medina airport.

Clocks in Winejok 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 Winejok rather than those of Mecca.

Finding the Qibla with the sun in Winejok

On 139 days of 2027, the sun passes exactly through the Qibla direction of Winejok 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 15 April 2027 it happens at 12:07 local time.

On 225 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 14:14.

Twice a year the sun passes directly over the Kaaba, on 28 May 2027 and 16 July 2027. Both moments are in daylight in Winejok: at 11:18 and 11:27 local time, face the sun and you face the Qibla exactly, anywhere in the city.

Winejok compared with other cities

Compared with Juba, 640 km away, the Qibla in Winejok is turned 17.1° further clockwise (42.2° against 25.0°), and Mecca is 142 km closer. The nearest city with its own Qibla page, Wau (153 km), prays towards 38.5°, a difference of 3.6°.

Among the 5 cities in South Sudan on this site, Winejok has the largest Qibla bearing; the smallest is 25.0° in Juba. Across the country the direction varies by 17.1°.

See all cities on the Qibla page for South Sudan.

Qibla in cities near Winejok

• Wau38.5° · 153 km
• Malakal32.5° · 453 km
• Juba25.0° · 640 km
• Yei26.4° · 645 km