How do Muslims know which Mecca is?

Question

I mean they dont just say hey lets point south-east today or they dont whip out a GPS system that says which way Mecca is either.

Answer 1

There are lots of ways to know, firstly you can go check out this site

http://islamicfinder.org

Download the Athan (call to prayer) program, it automatically updates the prayer times (all 5) and plays sound files of the Call to prayer from different places you can choose (mecca, egypt, Medinah etc..)

It also tells you the direction of Mecca after you type in your city and makes an arrow that points in the direction you are supposed to pray.

If you are traveling and praying in a car, train, airplane, etc... then you simply have to have the intention that you are praying towards the Kabah.

Answer 2

At the mosque, the carpets usually have lines. Sometimes they don't, but a regular visitor at that mosque can tell you in which direction Makkah is unless you've already been going to that mosque for the past several years. When people usually move to new house, they figure out the direction using a compass during the first few days there and then get used to it.

However, when I'm going somewhere, say on a trip, and I have no idea where a mosque is and there are no local Muslims around, I determine the qiblah, or direction to Makkah, by the setting of the sun.

When I started going to the University in NJ, my first reaction was to ask the Muslims (who were already attending) where the qiblah, or direction to Makkah, was. However, the few Muslims I asked had no idea. Then, I realized that living in NJ, I should be able to determine an estimate of where the direction is by the setting of the sun. Being that Makkah is East of NJ and that the sun sets in the West, after pointpointing an estimate of the location where the sun sets on a clear day, I should face the opposite way exactly. After a few days, I get used to knowing exactly where the direction is and I don't have to keep checking the sun to make sure.

One should note, though, that in the N. Hemisphere, only on Spring and Fall does the Sun rise exactly from the East and set exactly in the West. During the Winter, the Sun sets South of West and during the Summer, the sun sets North of West. In accordance with these timetables, during the Summer (if I was taking summer classes), I would first pinpoint the lcoation fo where the sun sets, then face excalty the opposite way, and then shift slightly to the left and in the Winter, I would do the same, except I would shift slightly to the right.

My suggestion, take a compass. I used to have one, but every since I lost it, I just got lazy and didn't buy a new one. Now, I'm used to do doing it without a compass.

However, sometimes, there is a really cloudy day and you're not familiar with the area. In this case, where the Muslim has exhausted all methods which are reasonably possible, there is nothing wrong with praying in any direction.

Answer 3

Same way Jews know where Jerusalem is. It's not that hard. If you're in the West, Mecca is East. If you are in the East, Mecca is West. It's more the spiritual aspect of praying towards Mecca than being in the exact GPS direction.

Answer 4

"which"? there is only 1 mecca.you should put "which direction".

there are a lot of way to find out direction of mecca,refer to compass or just look the direction people pray in mosque.all mosque in the world pray directly to kaabah in mecca.

Answer 5

what do you mean by "which Mecca"? is there more than one Mecca?

Have you ever heard of a very old invention called compass?

Answer 6

they bend over to maccas not mecca and order a mc suk on my mc nob

Answer 7

There are many resources to locate it. There are locator's on the Internet too.

Answer 8

because Mecca is popular...

Answer 9

Have you heard of a compuse

Answer 10

they follow