Qibla · Sughd
Qibla direction in Isfara
To face the Kaaba in Isfara, turn to 243.7° measured clockwise from true north, which is south-west (26.3° south of west). The Sacred Mosque in Mecca lies 3,573 km away along the shortest path over the globe, and this is the direction the mihrabs of the mosques in Isfara should follow.
The compass rose shows the Qibla of Isfara as a needle at 243.7°. With a phone app set to true north, simply turn until it reads 244°. 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 Isfara
Stand where you will pray and find north first. Then turn towards west and move a further 26.3° towards south: the result is the bearing of 243.7°. A small error of a few degrees is forgiven by most scholars, but aiming simply at west would leave you about 26° 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 Isfara, 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 Isfara to Mecca points to 234.5° (south-west), 9.1° away from the correct 243.7°. That map line is a rhumb line: it keeps the same compass heading all the way, but it is 12 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 243.7° is the direction in which the shortest route from 40.1265° N, 70.6253° 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 Isfara to Mecca and Medina
Mecca is 3,573 km from Isfara as the crow flies, and Medina, the city of the Prophet ﷺ, is 3,369 km away. A direct flight would take roughly 4 h 42 min, although most pilgrims from Isfara connect through Jeddah or Medina airport.
Clocks in Isfara run 2 hours ahead of Mecca all year. Prayer times, however, depend on the sun at your own location, so always use the prayer times of Isfara rather than those of Mecca.
Finding the Qibla with the sun in Isfara
On 287 days of 2027, the sun passes exactly through the Qibla direction of Isfara while it is well above the horizon. At that moment, facing the sun means facing Mecca. The effect is most frequent in March (31 days); for example, on 1 February 2027 it happens at 17:08 local time.
On 33 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 June (25 days), for instance on 15 June 2027 at 05:23.
| 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 | 17:08 | — |
| 15 February 2027 | 16:50 | — |
| 1 March 2027 | 16:28 | — |
| 15 March 2027 | 16:04 | — |
| 1 April 2027 | 15:34 | — |
| 15 April 2027 | 15:10 | — |
| 1 May 2027 | 14:46 | — |
| 15 May 2027 | 14:29 | — |
| 1 June 2027 | 14:16 | — |
| 15 June 2027 | 14:12 | 05:23 |
| 1 July 2027 | 14:17 | 05:26 |
| 15 July 2027 | 14:26 | — |
| 1 August 2027 | 14:42 | — |
| 15 August 2027 | 14:57 | — |
| 1 September 2027 | 15:16 | — |
| 15 September 2027 | 15:31 | — |
| 1 October 2027 | 15:49 | — |
| 15 October 2027 | 16:06 | — |
| 1 November 2027 | 16:27 | — |
| 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 Isfara: at 14:18 and 14:27 local time, face the sun and you face the Qibla exactly, anywhere in the city.
Isfara compared with other cities
The Qibla here is practically the same as in Dushanbe (243.8°), and Mecca is 221 km farther away. The nearest city with its own Qibla page, Konibodom (25 km), prays towards 243.2°, a difference of 0.5°.
Across the 7 cities in Tajikistan on this site, the Qibla ranges from 242.0° in Istaravshan to 246.0° in Kŭlob, a spread of 4.0°. The difference is small, yet each city should still use its own bearing.
See all cities on the Qibla page for Tajikistan.
Qibla in cities near Isfara
- Konibodom243.2° · 25 km
- Khujand242.2° · 87 km
- Istaravshan242.0° · 140 km
- Dushanbe243.8° · 238 km
- Kŭlob246.0° · 256 km
- Kurgan-Tyube244.9° · 301 km
Qibla in Isfara: questions and answers
What is the Qibla direction in Isfara?
It is 243.7° from true north, which is south-west: 26.3° south of west.
How far is Isfara from Mecca?
3,573 km in a straight line over the globe, and 3,369 km to Medina.
When does the sun show the Qibla in Isfara?
On 287 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 Isfara not the direction shown on a map?
Flat maps distort directions. The line on a map points to 234.5°, but the shortest route on the globe leaves Isfara at 243.7°, and that is the Qibla.
Does the Qibla change during the year?
No. The direction of 243.7° is fixed; only the times when the sun lines up with it change from day to day.