The Qibla in North America

Question: Could you please shed some light on the Qiblah direction in North America according to Hanafi fiqh. Most of the masajid in southern California, where I live pray northeast. 

Walaikum assalam,

The correct position for the Qibla in North America is the North East, for the simple reason that the world is round and that the "direction" between two point is necessarily the shortest distance between them.

For an excellent discussion of this issue, and how to apply fiqh to solve contemporary problems, check Sheikh Nuh Keller's Port in a Storm: A Fiqh Solution to the North American Qibla.

It is available through http://www.alrashad.com and elsewhere.

Wassalam,
Faraz Rabbani.