Qibla direction in Alchevs'k

How to face the Qibla in Alchevs'k

Stand where you will pray and find north first. Then turn towards south and move a further 2.1° towards east: the result is the bearing of 177.9°. The direction is close to due south, which makes it easy to remember.

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 Alchevs'k, 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 Alchevs'k to Mecca points to 178.2°, only 0.4° away from the true Qibla. Here the two methods practically agree, so a map gives a usable first idea, although the 177.9° bearing remains the exact one.

The value of 177.9° is the direction in which the shortest route from 48.4691° N, 38.7974° 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 Alchevs'k to Mecca and Medina

Mecca is 3,009 km from Alchevs'k as the crow flies, and Medina, the city of the Prophet ﷺ, is 2,670 km away. A direct flight would take roughly 4 h 02 min, although most pilgrims from Alchevs'k connect through Jeddah or Medina airport.

Clocks in Alchevs'k run 1 hour behind Mecca in winter and the same time as Mecca in summer, because of daylight saving time. Prayer times, however, depend on the sun at your own location, so always use the prayer times of Alchevs'k rather than those of Mecca.

Finding the Qibla with the sun in Alchevs'k

On 365 days of 2027, the sun passes exactly through the Qibla direction of Alchevs'k while it is well above the horizon. At that moment, facing the sun means facing Mecca. The effect is most frequent in January (31 days); for example, on 1 January 2027 it happens at 11:20 local time.

The sun is never opposite the Qibla of Alchevs'k during daylight, so the shadow method does not apply here; the left-hand column is the one to use.

Twice a year the sun passes directly over the Kaaba, on 28 May 2027 and 16 July 2027. Both moments are in daylight in Alchevs'k: at 12:18 and 12:27 local time, face the sun and you face the Qibla exactly, anywhere in the city.

Alchevs'k compared with other cities

Compared with Kyiv, 637 km away, the Qibla in Alchevs'k is turned 15.4° further clockwise (177.9° against 162.5°), and Mecca is 320 km closer. The nearest city with its own Qibla page, Luhansk (39 km), prays towards 178.9°, a difference of 1.0°.

Across the 40 cities in Ukraine on this site, the Qibla ranges from 146.6° in Uzhhorod to 178.9° in Luhansk, a spread of 32.4°. That is too large to use one national direction, so each city has its own bearing.

See all cities on the Qibla page for Ukraine.

Qibla in cities near Alchevs'k

• Luhansk178.9° · 39 km
• Horlivka176.3° · 61 km
• Donetsk175.8° · 89 km
• Kramatorsk175.4° · 95 km
• Mariupol175.1° · 179 km
• Pavlohrad171.9° · 216 km