# A question about the direction of prayer in Islam **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 14, 2012, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-the-direction-of-prayer-in-islam/609518 "2012-01-14T18:16:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2012, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-the-direction-of-prayer-in-islam/609518/1 "2012-01-14T18:16:04Z")
I’ve read that when Muslims pray they face the direction of Mecca. One item said that mosques have a “sign”(for lack of a better word on my part) that lets worshippers know what direction Mecca is. I would assume the direction differs depending on one’s geographic location. You could face south, or west, or whatever? Is that how it’s done? From whatever point you are at, to Mecca, by the shortest line? ---
**Author:** ![Desert\_Nomad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desert_nomad/32/177_2.png) [@Desert\_Nomad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desert_Nomad)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2012, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-the-direction-of-prayer-in-islam/609518/2 "2012-01-14T18:19:45Z")
The “sign” is called a mirhab - it is a half circle recess in the wall. The direction is the shortest path - great circle - so in New York for example mosques face north east. In Iran they face west. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2012, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-the-direction-of-prayer-in-islam/609518/3 "2012-01-14T18:20:35Z")
Yep. It gets very confusing for Muslim astronauts. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Downtown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Mr\_Downtown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Downtown)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2012, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-the-direction-of-prayer-in-islam/609518/4 "2012-01-14T18:28:20Z")
At least in American Islamic Centers, one sometimes sees strips of alternating colors of carpet to direct worshipers. A couple of years ago I looked at such a (recently vacated) space for my office. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2012, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-the-direction-of-prayer-in-islam/609518/5 "2012-01-14T18:31:01Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > Yep. It gets very confusing for Muslim astronauts. They have to keep swiveling in the space station for long prayers. Just kidding. I understand there are exceptions. ---
**Author:** ![florez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b9e5f3/32.png) [@florez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/florez)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2012, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-the-direction-of-prayer-in-islam/609518/6 "2012-01-14T20:07:46Z")
From Alaska, we face North. ---
**Author:** ![Toucanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3bc359/32.png) [@Toucanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toucanna)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2012, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-the-direction-of-prayer-in-islam/609518/7 "2012-01-14T20:20:39Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > Yep. It gets very confusing for Muslim astronauts. Not if they’re still on the ground. 😃 Here’s how Malaysia’s _National Fatwa Council_ addressed the question in 2007: [http://www.wired.com/science/space/news/2007/09/mecca\_in\_orbit](http://www.wired.com/science/space/news/2007/09/mecca_in_orbit). ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2012, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-the-direction-of-prayer-in-islam/609518/8 "2012-01-14T21:04:14Z")
Islam is actually pretty practical about issues like these. For example, if a Muslim is locked inside a room and doesn’t know which direction is which, he can just pray in whatever direction is available. His prayers won’t be invalidated if he guesses the wrong direction. Allah will understand he made the best effort he could under the circumstances. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2012, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-the-direction-of-prayer-in-islam/609518/9 "2012-01-14T21:10:01Z")
Astronauts just need to face downwards. It’d get even easier as you got out of low Earth orbit. ---
**Author:** ![Toucanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3bc359/32.png) [@Toucanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toucanna)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2012, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-the-direction-of-prayer-in-islam/609518/10 "2012-01-14T22:39:43Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Astronauts just need to face downwards. It’d get even easier as you got out of low Earth orbit. Would that it was that simple. The article I linked to, and the linked article (.pdf) within it, explain the issue better than I can. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2012, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-the-direction-of-prayer-in-islam/609518/11 "2012-01-14T22:53:01Z")
I would be interested in studies that show how Muslim prayer works. If facing Mecca is important, prayers made to the wrong direction should show a marked difference in their efficacy. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2012, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-the-direction-of-prayer-in-islam/609518/12 "2012-01-14T23:04:52Z")
Astronauts in space don’t need to pray at all. Travellers are exempted from the requirements for daily prayer. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2012, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-the-direction-of-prayer-in-islam/609518/13 "2012-01-14T23:16:48Z")
But an astronaut at the ISS is not exactly on a journey. Sure, they are moving in orbit, but they themselves are “at work” aren’t they? As the OP I want to thank those responding with answers to my question. And that article about the Malaysian astronaut was fantastic. That was one aspect of Muslim prayer I’d not thought of. It’s interesting how the changes of technology change how religion is practiced. ---
**Author:** ![Toucanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3bc359/32.png) [@Toucanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toucanna)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2012, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-the-direction-of-prayer-in-islam/609518/14 "2012-01-15T00:26:39Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > I would be interested in studies that show how Muslim prayer works. If facing Mecca is important, prayers made to the wrong direction should show a marked difference in their efficacy. Most Muslim scholars say that, as long as one makes a sincere attempt to face the proper direction, the prayer counts. Whether the prayer will be efficacious, granted, acted upon, or even noted by Allah, is decided by factors other than the direction the supplicant is facing. Whether any prayer to any deity is at all efficacious is probably more of a “Great Debates” topic than a “GQ” one. ---
**Author:** ![kaltkalt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bb73d2/32.png) [@kaltkalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaltkalt)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-the-direction-of-prayer-in-islam/609518/15 "2012-01-16T06:19:48Z")
When they are IN mecca, what direction do they face? I assume there is some temple there that they face? What if they’re praying in that temple? ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-the-direction-of-prayer-in-islam/609518/16 "2012-01-16T06:23:34Z")
In Mecca they face the [Kaaba](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaaba). Interesting point: anyone who has flown Emirates will note that the direction of Mecca is intermittently indicated on screens throughout the flight. ---
**Author:** ![Desert\_Nomad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desert_nomad/32/177_2.png) [@Desert\_Nomad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desert_Nomad)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-the-direction-of-prayer-in-islam/609518/17 "2012-01-16T06:28:54Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > In Mecca they face the [Kaaba](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaaba). > > Interesting point: anyone who has flown Emirates will note that the direction of Mecca is intermittently indicated on screens throughout the flight. And lots of other airlines too… even Delta on flights from Atlanta to Dubai. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-the-direction-of-prayer-in-islam/609518/18 "2012-01-16T06:35:53Z")
> [@Desert\_Nomad](#): > > And lots of other airlines too… even Delta on flights from Atlanta to Dubai. Better not tell the people who were [boycotting Butterball Turkeys](http://www.jihadwatch.org/2011/11/got-a-butterball-turkey-for-thanksgiving-youre-eating-halal.html) - unless you want to short-sell some Delta shares. ---
**Author:** ![straykat23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@straykat23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/straykat23)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-the-direction-of-prayer-in-islam/609518/19 "2012-01-16T06:38:13Z")
In a Hilton Hotel in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia (suburb of Kuala Lumpur), there was an unabtrusive arrow on my room ceiling pointing to the direction of Mecca. ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-the-direction-of-prayer-in-islam/609518/20 "2012-01-16T06:50:17Z")
> [@kaltkalt](#): > > When they are IN mecca, what direction do they face? I assume there is some temple there that they face? What if they’re praying in that temple? > [@jjimm](#): > > In Mecca they face the [Kaaba](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaaba). I have no idea if anyone’s ever actually performed ritual prayers inside the Kaaba. I thought that the actual, precise direction of prayer was to the Black Stone, which is set in the cornerstone of the Kaaba itself, but I can’t find a cite for that, so it may be untrue. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-the-direction-of-prayer-in-islam/609518.md?page=2)