Illumine

Allah u Abha

I have a question regarding prayer that may seem a little foolish, but please bear with me! Although I have not declared, I would like to incorporate the Baha'i prayers into my life. I am a bit confused about how to face the Qiblih. How do I know which direction to face? I am going to buy a compass, but I still don't know how to work it out.

If anyone can understand this question and can help, I would appreciate it very much.

Essence of GOD

since you're from england, face east to southeast. (isreal)
if no compass?
just wake up early morning, point your right hand towards the sunrise and your left hand pointed the opposite direction.
now you are facing north, behind you is south, to your right is east and to your left is west.

Zhang

Here's a link, takes the guesswork out of it. Good luck!

Qiblih Compass

aji

Illumine - If you're ever without a compass or sun, do your best to face the right direction - but if you're accidentally facing a slightly different direction, don't worry too much, God knows your intentions.

What's important is your approach to your prayer. When you face the Point of Adoration, you are facing the Shrine of Baha'u'llah. Rest assured that when you pray with openness and humility in your heart, God will hear your words.

"He is the prayer-hearing, prayer-answering God!"

BruceDLimber

There's a trivial solution to the problem:

Stretch a string or a rubber band from your position on the globe to Akka.

Whichever direction it departs from your location is the great-circle direction to Akka, and hence is the correct direction to face. :-)

Regards,

Bruce

Illumine

Thank you for all your replies, they were very helpful. I think I will be able to work out the right direction now.

GenuineSeeker

The Baha'is in my study group told me which direction to face from our location, so you might ask some local Baha'is which direction they face when they pray. I have not declared either but have been praying the prayers for over a year and have been getting many answers, positive answers, since praying this way.

Illumine

I seem to have got the hang of it now as long as I only pray in two places (my living room and a cupboard at work). I'm glad to hear that you have found praying so beneficial, I'm hoping that it will be a good, solid foundation for building a Baha'i life and faith on.

Aquedita

Dear Illumine,

I am happy you incorporate the beautiful prayers in your daily life and trust they will benefit you immensely.

Did you know that there is an app that you can use for your Android instead of a compass? It can be downloaded for free and I use it whenever praying at a new place.
Also, there is another handy app for counting your 95 repetition instead of using prayer beads. I can post links to both if you wish.

Just as I have mentioned in my previous post:
If you don't mind me asking, may I know what is the reason you did not officially declare yet? And remember, there are no foolish questions, just foolish answers

Enjoy your day!

Illumine

Unfortunately I don't have an Android phone - it is not something that I would be able to afford.

I haven't declared because my domestic situation is not as it should be - I live with my fiancé and although we are planning to marry, I do not know when this will be. I am aware that this is not an ideal situation. If I was married I would declare tomorrow. As it is I shall declare after my wedding. In the meantime, I have a long way to go in improving my life to raise it to the standards asked of us by God.

Aquedita

I know how it is, normally I wouldn't be able to afford this fancy pants phone on my own either. It was a gift from my dad, so I feel blessed.

My best wishes to your fiancée and yourself in your life. Hope you are happy together. I appreciate your respect for the laws, other people might have declared and than continue to live together conveniently since they are going to get married one day anyway. When the time is right, feel free to join. How does she feel about the faith, if that is fine with you to share?

Have a nice day!

Illumine

I am the girl, and he is the guy

He is quite open minded and has read a bit about The Faith but doesn't think that organized religion is for him. We have discussed it at length and he is happy for any future children to be raised in a Baha'i environment, so that is great.

I want to start off my official Baha'i life properly, not introducing compromises straight away, if that makes sense!

arthra

Your question isn't foolish at all..We turn to Bahji.

There is a online site provided already by Zhang above where you can determine the proper direction:

Qiblih.com - Find the direction to Bahji

Simply enter your address and the site does the rest.

Prior to reciting the obligatory prayer.. You have a choice of three ... especially for the medium and long obligatory prayers ablutions are indicated..so wash your hands and face prior to prayer and find a clean place to recite them.

Here are the obligatory prayers:

Short Obligatory Prayer

Each prayer has directions/instructions.