Qibla · Western Darfur
Qibla direction in Geneina
To face the Kaaba in Geneina, turn to 61.9° measured clockwise from true north, which is north-east (28.1° north of east). The Sacred Mosque in Mecca lies 2,043 km away along the shortest path over the globe, and this is the direction the mihrabs of the mosques in Geneina should follow.
The compass rose shows the Qibla of Geneina as a needle at 61.9°. With a phone app set to true north, simply turn until it reads 62°. 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 Geneina
Stand where you will pray and find north first. Then turn towards east and move a further 28.1° towards north: the result is the bearing of 61.9°. A small error of a few degrees is forgiven by most scholars, but aiming simply at east would leave you about 28° 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 Geneina, 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 Geneina to Mecca points to 64.3° (north-east), 2.4° away from the correct 61.9°. That map line is a rhumb line: it keeps the same compass heading all the way, but it is not 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 61.9° is the direction in which the shortest route from 13.4526° N, 22.4473° 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 Geneina to Mecca and Medina
Mecca is 2,043 km from Geneina as the crow flies, and Medina, the city of the Prophet ﷺ, is 2,178 km away. A direct flight would take roughly 2 h 54 min, although most pilgrims from Geneina connect through Jeddah or Medina airport.
Clocks in Geneina 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 Geneina rather than those of Mecca.
Finding the Qibla with the sun in Geneina
On 113 days of 2027, the sun passes exactly through the Qibla direction of Geneina 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 May 2027 it happens at 12:15 local time.
On 251 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 17:08.
| Date | Sun in the Qibla direction (face the sun) | Sun opposite (shadows point to the Qibla) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January 2027 | — | 17:08 |
| 15 January 2027 | — | 16:54 |
| 1 February 2027 | — | 16:21 |
| 15 February 2027 | — | 15:46 |
| 1 March 2027 | — | 15:08 |
| 15 March 2027 | — | 14:27 |
| 1 April 2027 | — | 13:38 |
| 15 April 2027 | — | 12:58 |
| 1 May 2027 | 12:15 | — |
| 15 May 2027 | 11:42 | — |
| 1 June 2027 | 11:12 | — |
| 15 June 2027 | 11:01 | — |
| 1 July 2027 | 11:07 | — |
| 15 July 2027 | 11:26 | — |
| 1 August 2027 | 11:59 | — |
| 15 August 2027 | 12:30 | — |
| 1 September 2027 | — | 13:08 |
| 15 September 2027 | — | 13:39 |
| 1 October 2027 | — | 14:16 |
| 15 October 2027 | — | 14:48 |
| 1 November 2027 | — | 15:30 |
| 15 November 2027 | — | 16:05 |
| 1 December 2027 | — | 16:41 |
| 15 December 2027 | — | 17:03 |
Twice a year the sun passes directly over the Kaaba, on 28 May 2027 and 16 July 2027. Both moments are in daylight in Geneina: at 11:18 and 11:27 local time, face the sun and you face the Qibla exactly, anywhere in the city.
Geneina compared with other cities
Compared with Khartoum, 1,110 km away, the Qibla in Geneina is turned 13.3° further clockwise (61.9° against 48.6°), and Mecca is 1,035 km farther away. The nearest city with its own Qibla page, Nyala (307 km), prays towards 54.8°, a difference of 7.1°.
Among the 18 cities in Sudan on this site, Geneina has the largest Qibla bearing; the smallest is 27.8° in Ad-Damazin. Across the country the direction varies by 34.1°.
See all cities on the Qibla page for Sudan.
Qibla in cities near Geneina
Qibla in Geneina: questions and answers
What is the Qibla direction in Geneina?
It is 61.9° from true north, which is north-east: 28.1° north of east.
How far is Geneina from Mecca?
2,043 km in a straight line over the globe, and 2,178 km to Medina.
When does the sun show the Qibla in Geneina?
On 113 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 Sudan?
No. It ranges from 27.8° to 61.9° across the country, so each city has its own bearing.
Does the Qibla change during the year?
No. The direction of 61.9° is fixed; only the times when the sun lines up with it change from day to day.