Qibla Finder
The new Qibla Finder is a complete direction-finding system built into Al Islam as part of the Tools section. It is not designed as a simple compass screen that only points in one direction. Instead, it has been built as a full Qibla guidance environment that combines live compass sensors, map-based geographic direction, augmented reality, solar and shadow-based verification, astronomy data, geomagnetic diagnostics, calculation model comparison, and deep user customization.
The feature is designed for both normal users and advanced users. A normal user can open the Qibla Finder, select their location, hold the phone flat, and immediately see where the Qibla is. At the same time, a more technical user can inspect the bearing model, magnetic declination, field strength, sensor reliability, Great Circle direction, WGS-84 calculation, Rhumb Line comparison, sun alignment times, moon position, and several other diagnostic values. The goal is to make the experience extremely easy on the surface while keeping a powerful scientific layer available underneath.
The Qibla Finder is available from the Tools section of the app. Once opened, the user is shown a dedicated Qibla interface with a location selector at the top, followed by the main view tabs: Compass, Map, AR, Sun, and Insights. These views allow the user to find and verify the Qibla through different independent methods instead of relying on only one source of direction.
Location Integration
The Qibla Finder is directly connected with the app’s existing location system used for Prayer Times. This means the tool can use the user’s already saved prayer-time location profiles instead of forcing the user to manually configure a separate Qibla location again.
For example, if a user has saved Islamabad, Pakistan as their Prayer Times location, the Qibla Finder can use that same location profile automatically. The selected location is displayed clearly at the top of the screen, so the user always knows which location is being used for the Qibla calculation. This also makes the feature consistent with the rest of the app because Prayer Times, location profiles, and Qibla direction are all part of the same location-aware Islamic utility system.
Users can select from their saved locations, follow the currently active Prayer Times location, or use location detection depending on their configuration. The customization screen also includes settings such as Auto-locate on open and Follow prayer times location, giving users control over whether the Qibla tool should automatically start location detection or simply follow the location already selected for prayer calculations.
This matters because Qibla direction is not universal across all places. The bearing changes depending on where the user is standing on Earth. A user in Islamabad, London, Jakarta, New York, or Cape Town will each have a different Qibla bearing. By connecting the Qibla Finder with saved location profiles, Al Islam avoids repeated setup and keeps the tool practical for daily use.
Multi-Method Qibla Finding
The Qibla Finder is built around multiple methods of finding and verifying the Qibla. The user is not locked into a single compass-based method. Instead, they can move between Compass, Map, AR, Sun, and Insights views. These views can be accessed through the tab layout at the top of the screen, and the interface is designed to be swipeable and easy to move through.
This is important because Qibla direction can be affected by different practical issues. A phone compass can be affected by magnetic interference. A flat map can visually mislead users because Earth is spherical. AR can be convenient but still depends on sensors. The sun method can verify direction without relying on magnetic sensors. The Insights section can explain the mathematics and sensor environment behind the result.
Because of this, the Qibla Finder does not treat Qibla direction as a single number only. It treats it as a complete direction system that can be calculated, displayed, cross-checked, verified, and customized.
Compass Mode
The Compass mode is the primary and most immediate way to find the Qibla. It shows a large live compass dial with the current heading, Qibla marker, cardinal directions, degree markings, and visual alignment feedback. The user can hold the device flat and rotate until the Qibla marker aligns correctly.
The compass screen shows the Qibla bearing in degrees and direction format. In the example shown from Islamabad, the Qibla direction is around 255.9° WSW, and the live heading updates in real time as the user rotates the phone. When the phone is correctly aligned, the screen displays a confirmation such as “Facing the Qibla”, making it clear that the user is facing the correct direction.
The compass is not only a plain needle. It contains multiple live visual elements. It can show the Qibla marker, the current heading, the Sun position, the Moon position, the North marker, East, West, South, degree numbers, tick marks, and direction labels such as NE, NW, SE, and SW. This allows the compass to behave like a detailed physical instrument while still looking modern and clean.
The Compass mode also includes a sensor accuracy indicator. The user can see whether the sensor quality is high or whether there may be reliability issues. In the screenshots, the screen shows a Sensor: High chip, which tells the user that the phone’s sensor reading is currently considered reliable. This is important because many Qibla apps only show a direction without explaining whether the sensor reading is trustworthy.
The screen also displays magnetic declination, such as 2.9° E. Declination is the difference between magnetic north and true north at the user’s location. Since phone compasses often interact with magnetic readings, declination is important for correcting and understanding the final direction. The Qibla Finder exposes this value to the user instead of hiding it.
The compass also warns the user when the phone is not positioned correctly. A tilt warning can appear when the phone is not held flat, because an uneven phone angle can reduce compass reliability. A small bubble-level style indicator can also be shown, helping the user hold the phone in a more accurate position. The screen may also show guidance such as holding the phone flat for an accurate reading.
Below the main compass, the tool displays supporting information cards. These can include the distance to the Kaaba, the user’s own coordinates, and solar verification information such as Shadow along the Qibla. For example, the distance card can show that the Kaaba is approximately 3,520 km away from the selected location, and it can also describe the journey as a Great Circle fraction of Earth, such as around 8.8% of Earth. The coordinates card shows the user’s latitude and longitude, such as 33.64218° N, 72.97643° E for Islamabad.
The Compass mode therefore works on two layers. The first layer is simple: rotate your phone until you face the Qibla. The second layer is technical: inspect the heading, accuracy, declination, distance, coordinates, solar verification, and live astronomical markers.
Magnetic Environment and Compass Reliability
One of the major strengths of this Qibla Finder is that it does not blindly trust the phone compass. Phone magnetometers can be affected by metal objects, electronics, cases with magnets, speakers, vehicles, furniture, reinforced concrete, and other environmental interference. Because of this, the app includes a full geomagnetic diagnostics layer.
The system can show the expected Earth magnetic field strength according to the Earth model and compare it with the measured field strength from the device. If the measured value deviates too much from the expected value, the app can indicate strong magnetic interference. For example, the screenshot shows a field deviation of around 66–68%, marked as Strong interference. This tells the user that the compass direction may not be reliable in that environment.
The app also provides information about the World Magnetic Model environment. It can show values such as magnetic declination, magnetic inclination/dip, expected field strength, measured field strength, and field deviation. The declination value explains the offset between true north and magnetic north, while the inclination value describes the downward or upward angle of Earth’s magnetic field at the user’s location.
A visual declination diagram is also included. It can show True North, Magnetic North, and the Qibla direction together, helping the user understand why magnetic and true north references may differ. In the example, the magnetic north line is slightly offset from true north by about 2.9° E, while the Qibla marker appears separately on the dial.
This diagnostic layer is very important because it makes the Qibla Finder more transparent. Instead of pretending that every compass reading is perfect, the app shows when the device environment may be interfering with the reading and encourages the user to move away from metal objects or magnetic disturbance.
Map Mode
The Map mode provides a geographic view of the Qibla direction. Instead of showing only a compass dial, it places the user and the Kaaba on a map and draws the path between them.
This mode is especially useful because Qibla direction on a globe can be unintuitive when viewed on a flat map. The shortest path on Earth is not always the line that visually looks most obvious on a flat rectangular map projection. Because Earth is curved, the actual shortest path is a Great Circle path.
The Map mode displays both the Great Circle shortest path and the Rhumb Line fixed-bearing path. The Great Circle line represents the shortest path across the surface of Earth. The Rhumb Line represents a constant-bearing path, which can look different because it follows a fixed compass bearing rather than the shortest geodesic route. In the map legend, the Great Circle line and Rhumb Line are visually distinguished, allowing users to understand the difference between them.
The map also displays the user’s marker and the Kaaba marker. The user can visually see where they are, where the Kaaba is, and how the Qibla direction is projected across the map. In the example from Islamabad, the map draws the direction from Pakistan toward Makkah, showing both the shortest path and the fixed-bearing comparison.
Below the map, the app shows the initial bearing and distance. The initial bearing can be shown as approximately 255.9° WSW using the Great Circle model. The distance card shows the Great Circle distance, such as 3,520 km, and can also compare it with the Rhumb distance, such as around 3,531 km.
This mode helps users who want visual geographical confirmation instead of relying purely on a rotating compass. It also makes the difference between mathematical direction models easier to understand.
AR Mode
The AR mode gives users an augmented reality way to find the Qibla. Instead of looking only at a compass interface, the user can point the phone camera in the real world and see Qibla guidance overlaid on top of the camera view.
The AR interface displays a live bearing readout, such as the current direction and the Qibla target direction. It can show a marker on the screen when the user is aligned with the Qibla, and it can display a confirmation such as Facing the Qibla when alignment is achieved.
A bearing ruler can appear across the AR horizon. This gives the user a graduated compass scale while looking through the camera, allowing them to understand how far they are from the Qibla direction. The AR marker helps the user visually turn toward the correct direction in the physical environment.
This mode is helpful in practical real-life situations. For example, a user may be standing in a room, office, mosque, hotel, airport, or outdoor place and may want to visually identify the wall, corner, or object that aligns with the Qibla. AR mode provides that real-world reference.
The AR system also includes customization options. The user can enable or disable the bearing ruler and adjust the AR marker size. The Insights section can also show camera-axis heading diagnostics, including values related to the AR frame, elevation, and heading.
Because AR still depends on device sensors, the feature benefits from the same sensor diagnostics and magnetic interference checks used elsewhere in the Qibla Finder. This keeps the AR experience more transparent and reliable.
Sun Mode
The Sun mode is one of the most advanced parts of the Qibla Finder. It provides a sensor-free way to verify the Qibla using solar position and shadows. This is important because compass readings can be affected by magnetic interference, but the sun and shadow method can provide a physical verification method independent of the phone’s magnetometer.
The Sun mode shows what is happening in the sky right now. It displays the current position of the Sun and Moon using azimuth and altitude. For example, it can show the Sun as being below the horizon with a certain azimuth, while also showing the Moon’s direction, illumination percentage, and age. In the screenshot, the Moon is shown in the Last Quarter phase with illumination and age information.
The screen also includes a sky altitude chart for the day. This chart shows the Sun’s path and the Moon’s path across time, with altitude plotted over the day. It can indicate the current moment, the Sun’s movement, the Moon’s movement, and special Qibla-related solar crossing points. This allows the user to see not just where the Sun is right now, but how it moves throughout the day relative to the Qibla direction.
The Sun mode includes solar Qibla times. These are exact times when the sun or shadow can be used to verify the Qibla. One type is Shadow along the Qibla. At this time, if the user places a vertical stick on flat ground or hangs a weighted string, the shadow will lie along the Qibla line. The app can show a time such as 06:52 AM and explain that the user can follow the shadow to verify the Qibla direction.
Another type is Sun over the Qibla. At this time, facing the sun directly means the user is facing the Qibla, and the user’s shadow points directly away from it. In the screenshot, this appears as a time such as 02:19 PM, with a note explaining that the user can face the sun at that exact time to face the Qibla.
The Sun mode also includes Global Kaaba sun events. These events refer to moments when the sun is directly over the Kaaba, or aligned in such a way that users around the world can use the sun as a direct Qibla reference, if the sun is above their horizon at that moment. The screen can show upcoming events such as “Sun directly over the Kaaba” in a certain number of days, with exact date and time entries.
The tool explains how the shadow method works. The user can plant a stick vertically on flat ground or hang a weighted string. At the listed time, the sun stands exactly on the Qibla azimuth or exactly opposite it, so the stick’s shadow lies precisely along the Qibla line. This gives the user a classical, sensor-free method that is immune to magnetic interference and can be accurate to a very fine degree when performed carefully.
This mode makes the Qibla Finder much stronger than a normal compass tool because it provides an independent verification method. Even if the user’s phone sensors are unreliable, the Sun mode can help confirm the direction physically.
Moon and Sky Information
The Qibla Finder also includes Moon and sky-related information. The compass can show the Moon marker on the dial, and the Sun mode can show the Moon’s azimuth, altitude, phase, illumination, and age. The sky chart can optionally include the Moon’s arc alongside the Sun’s path.
The Moon phase disc is not treated as a simple decorative emoji. It is described as a physically rendered lunar terminator, meaning the visual representation reflects the illuminated and shadowed portions of the Moon more realistically. Users can enable or disable the Moon phase disc in customization.
This astronomy layer gives the Qibla Finder a richer scientific context. It helps users understand the sky above them, the relative position of the Sun and Moon, and how these bodies relate to Qibla verification methods.
Insights Mode
The Insights mode provides a deep technical explanation of the Qibla calculation and the user’s geographic relationship to the Kaaba. This mode is designed for users who want to see the calculations, models, distances, geometry, magnetic environment, and sensor details behind the main Qibla direction.
At the top, the Insights view can show a 3D-style Earth globe. This globe visualizes Earth from above the path’s midpoint and shows the Great Circle arc from the user’s location to the Kaaba. It can also display the live day/night terminator, showing which side of Earth is currently in daylight and which side is in night. This makes the Qibla direction feel connected to actual Earth geometry rather than only a flat compass number.
The Position section shows the selected user location, the user coordinates, the Kaaba coordinates, and the journey midpoint. For example, it can show the user location as Islamabad, Pakistan, the user coordinates as approximately 33.64218° N, 72.97643° E, and the Kaaba coordinates as approximately 21.42252° N, 39.82618° E. It can also show the midpoint between the user and the Kaaba.
The bearing calculation section compares different models. The active model can be Great Circle, and the app can also show Ellipsoidal / WGS-84 and Rhumb Line bearings. This is important because these models are not mathematically identical. Great Circle gives the shortest path on a spherical model, WGS-84 accounts for Earth’s ellipsoidal shape, and Rhumb Line gives a constant-bearing path. In the screenshot, Great Circle and WGS-84 appear very close, while the Rhumb Line value differs more significantly.
The Insights mode can also show an Adhan library cross-check, allowing the app’s Qibla result to be compared against another calculation reference. It can show model spread, which tells the user how much the different calculation models differ from each other. It can show the selected magnetic bearing as well, especially when Magnetic North is being used.
A bearing comparison ruler can visually place the different calculation models on one sub-degree scale. This helps users see how close or far apart the Great Circle, WGS-84, Rhumb Line, and other references are. Instead of showing isolated numbers only, the app visually explains the spread.
The Journey section explains the path from the user to the Kaaba. It can show the initial bearing and final bearing, such as a transition from around 256.0° to 240.3°, because a Great Circle path does not maintain the same compass bearing throughout the entire journey. It can show the bearing drift along the path, such as around 15.8°. It can show distances according to different models: Great Circle distance, WGS-84 ellipsoidal distance, and Rhumb Line distance. It can also show the distance as a fraction of Earth’s girth, such as around 8.79%.
The Journey section also includes educational comparisons. It can estimate how long a non-stop flight would take at a sample speed, such as 900 km/h. It can estimate how long walking would take at a sample pace, such as 5 km/h for 8 hours per day. It can even show how long light would take to travel the distance, such as around 11.8 ms. These values are not needed for basic Qibla finding, but they make the feature informative and distinctive.
The Insights mode also includes the user’s antipode, which is the point on the opposite side of Earth from the user. It also explains the special case of the Kaaba’s own antipode. From the Kaaba’s exact antipode in the South Pacific, every direction on Earth is mathematically a Qibla direction, making the bearing undefined. This is a subtle but important mathematical detail, and including it shows that the system handles edge cases conceptually rather than only basic use cases.
Sensor Fusion and Device Heading
The Qibla Finder can use sensor fusion to improve the heading experience. The sensor section can show the fusion source, such as a fused rotation vector using gyroscope + accelerometer + magnetometer. This means the app is not only reading a raw compass value; it can combine multiple device sensors to produce smoother and more useful orientation data.
The sensor section can show the reported accuracy, live heading relative to True North, and camera-axis heading for AR mode. For example, the Insights screen can display a live heading value and a camera-axis heading value with elevation. These values help explain what the device is currently reporting internally.
This is especially useful for debugging or advanced use. If the compass seems wrong, the user can inspect whether the sensor accuracy is high, whether there is magnetic interference, whether the field strength is abnormal, and whether the heading source is being fused from the expected sensors.
Qibla Customization
The Qibla Finder includes a dedicated Qibla Customization screen. This screen is a major part of the feature because it allows the user to control calculation behavior, compass behavior, visual design, AR display, scientific visuals, and default content.
The customization system makes the Qibla Finder flexible for different kinds of users. A simple user may want a clean compass with minimal extra information. A technical user may want every scientific overlay enabled. Another user may prefer magnetic north instead of true north, miles instead of kilometers, or a specific dial style. The customization screen allows the same tool to serve all of those preferences.
Calculation Customization
The Calculation section controls how the Qibla direction is computed and displayed.
The Bearing method setting allows users to choose between Great Circle, Ellipsoidal / WGS-84, and Rhumb Line. Great Circle is the shortest path over Earth’s surface. Ellipsoidal / WGS-84 uses a more geodetically precise Earth model. Rhumb Line keeps a constant compass bearing, which is useful for comparison but may differ from the shortest route. Giving users access to these models makes the feature transparent and technically strong.
The North reference setting allows users to choose between True North and Magnetic North. True North refers to geographic north, while Magnetic North refers to the direction indicated by Earth’s magnetic field at the user’s location. Since the difference between them varies by location, the app also calculates and displays declination.
The Manual declination override lets the user replace the World Magnetic Model declination value. This is useful for advanced cases where a user wants to manually correct or test a declination value. The app normally uses the Earth model, but the override gives the user manual control.
The Heading offset / sun-check setting allows calibration of the heading using a slider. This can be used when the user has verified the Qibla through the sun or another reliable method and wants to apply a small offset correction to the live heading.
The Coordinate format setting allows users to choose how latitude and longitude are displayed. Supported formats include decimal degrees, degrees-minutes-seconds, and degrees with decimal minutes. This is helpful because different users, maps, and GPS tools use different coordinate formats.
The Distance unit setting allows the user to display distances in kilometers, miles, or nautical miles. This affects distance cards and journey-related values.
The Bearing decimal places setting controls how precise bearing values appear. Users can display fewer decimals for a cleaner interface or more decimals for a more technical presentation.
Compass Behaviour Customization
The Compass Behaviour section controls how the compass moves, feels, and responds.
The Needle smoothing setting controls how quickly or smoothly the needle reacts to sensor changes. Options include instant, fast, balanced, and smooth. Instant movement gives the fastest response but may feel jumpy. Smooth movement reduces jitter but may react more slowly. Balanced provides a middle ground.
The Alignment window setting controls how close the user must be to the Qibla direction before the app considers them aligned. For example, a setting such as ±5° means the user can be within five degrees of the target direction and still receive alignment confirmation.
The Haptic feedback setting allows the user to choose feedback strength, including off, light, medium, and strong. This gives physical feedback while aligning with the Qibla.
The Haptic detents option adds a tactile tick on every 30 degrees, like a machined compass bezel. This makes rotation feel more physical and instrument-like.
The Keep screen on option keeps the display awake while the Qibla screen is open. This is useful because users may spend time adjusting direction, checking the map, using AR, or waiting for a solar alignment moment.
The Tilt warning option warns the user when the phone is not flat. This helps prevent inaccurate readings caused by poor device posture.
The Bubble level option shows a miniature spirit-level style indicator near the compass. This helps the user physically hold the phone in a better position for compass accuracy.
Appearance Customization
The Appearance section controls the visual style of the Qibla compass.
The Dial skin setting lets the user choose between styles such as Classic, Minimal, Ornate, and Night. This changes the look of the compass dial and allows the user to choose between a detailed traditional feel, a cleaner minimal interface, a more decorative style, or a darker night-focused design.
The Dial motion setting controls how the compass behaves visually. The dial can rotate like a physical compass where the world turns around the user, or the dial can stay fixed while the needle moves. This is important because users have different expectations from compass apps; some prefer a rotating dial, while others prefer a fixed dial with a moving pointer.
The Needle style setting controls the visual representation of the Qibla needle or marker. In the screenshot, the selected style is a Kaaba marker, which makes the Qibla direction visually distinct and thematically appropriate.
The Tick density setting controls how many tick marks appear on the compass dial. Low density makes the dial cleaner, medium gives a balanced amount of detail, and high density makes it more instrument-like.
The Cardinal letters toggle controls whether direction labels such as N, NE, E, S, W, and related labels appear on the dial.
The Degree numbers toggle controls whether numeric degree markings appear on the dial.
The Sun & moon on the dial toggle controls whether live ephemeris markers for the Sun and Moon appear on the compass rim.
The Dial size slider allows the user to change the compass size, such as making it larger or smaller depending on their screen preference.
The Needle color setting allows the user to choose the visual color of the needle or marker. The screenshot shows multiple color choices, including teal, yellow, green, red, blue, white, and an automatic/default style.
AR Mode Customization
The AR mode has its own customization controls.
The Bearing ruler toggle enables or disables the graduated compass scale along the AR horizon. When enabled, the user can see a horizontal bearing scale in the camera view, making it easier to line up with the Qibla direction.
The AR marker size slider controls the size of the Qibla marker shown in AR mode. This allows users to make the marker more visible or less intrusive depending on their camera view and preference.
These settings are important because AR can feel crowded if too much information appears on screen. The user can decide how much guidance they want.
Scientific Visual Customization
The Scientific Visuals section controls the advanced educational and diagnostic visuals.
The Earth globe toggle controls the 3D-style globe visualization that shows the Great Circle arc and live day/night terminator.
The Sky path chart toggle controls the Sun and Moon altitude chart shown in Sun mode.
The Moon arc on sky chart toggle controls whether the lunar path is drawn alongside the solar path.
The Moon phase disc toggle controls the physically rendered lunar phase display.
The Field strength gauge toggle controls the magnetometer field-strength visual, comparing measured field strength against the Earth model band.
The Bearing comparison ruler toggle controls the visual ruler that places calculation models such as Great Circle, WGS-84, and Rhumb Line on a shared scale.
The Declination rose toggle controls the true north versus magnetic north visualization with the declination correction wedge.
These visual toggles are valuable because not every user wants advanced scientific overlays visible all the time. The customization system allows them to keep the interface clean or enable deeper diagnostics as needed.
Screen and Content Customization
The Screen & Content section controls what the Qibla Finder shows when opened and which cards or chips appear in the interface.
The Default view on open setting allows the user to choose whether the Qibla Finder should open directly to Compass, Map, AR, Sun, or Insights. This is useful because different users may prefer different workflows. A normal user may want Compass by default. A traveler may prefer Map. A technical user may prefer Insights. A user who trusts solar verification may prefer Sun.
The Auto-locate on open toggle controls whether the app should start a GPS/location fix automatically when the Qibla screen opens.
The Follow prayer times location toggle controls whether the Qibla Finder should track the location selected for Prayer Times. This keeps Qibla and Prayer Times connected through the same location profile.
The Distance card toggle controls whether the distance-to-Kaaba card appears.
The Coordinates card toggle controls whether the user coordinate card appears.
The Declination chip toggle controls whether magnetic declination is shown near the compass.
The Sensor accuracy chip toggle controls whether the sensor reliability chip appears.
The Solar alignment card toggle controls whether solar verification information, such as shadow alignment time, appears in the main compass interface.
Finally, the Reset all to defaults button allows the user to restore the full Qibla Finder configuration back to the default state.
Overall Design Philosophy
The Qibla Finder has been designed as a complete system rather than a single screen. It combines religious utility with geographic calculation, sensor transparency, astronomy, and careful UI customization.
The feature is intentionally layered. The first layer is simple and user-friendly: open the tool, select location, follow the compass or AR marker, and face the Qibla. The second layer provides verification: map paths, sun and shadow times, sensor accuracy, and magnetic environment checks. The third layer provides scientific insight: Great Circle geometry, WGS-84 comparison, Rhumb Line drift, Earth globe visualization, Moon and Sun ephemeris, field strength diagnostics, and calculation-model comparison.
This makes the Qibla Finder suitable for daily use, travel, education, verification, and advanced inspection. It respects the fact that Qibla direction should be easy to find, but it also acknowledges that compass readings can be affected by real-world limitations. By combining multiple methods, the feature gives users several ways to confirm the direction with greater confidence.