International Shia News Agency

App to guide Muslims during Mecca pilgrimage launched

SHAFAQNA - Multi-language app developed to guide followers and ‘convey Islamic teachings to common people’

A pair of new multi-language Hajj pilgrimage applications have been launched in Saudi Arabia, local newspaper the Saudi Gazette reported Wednesday.

The mobile apps are available for use in Urdu, English and Hindi and were created by Dr. Najeeb Qasmi, and renowned scholar of Hadith (sayings of Prophet Muhammad) and King Faisal award laureate Dr. Muhammad Mustafa Azmi.

The Hajj pilgrimage is the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, in Saudi Arabia, made by followers of Islam. The pilgrimage is made between the 8th and 12th days of the last month of the Islamic calendar and is considered to be the largest public gathering in the world. All adult Muslims are expected to make the pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime.

The first app, called “Haj e Mabroor” contains three books on the Hajj and act of Umrah, or a pilgrimage made during the remainder of the year, nine speeches, a Hajj & Umrah presentation and 21 articles. This app is intended to be a guide for pilgrims, making the books and articles available at all times, even without an internet connection.

The second app “Deen e Islam,” consists of seven book, 75 speeches and 175 articles dealing with facets of life.

The apps are the first in the world to hold such a vast religious library in three languages.

The apps also include additional information about religious topics and a FAQ section.

“Today, anti-Islamic elements are criticizing Islam and striving hard to create doubts in the minds of Muslims about the origin and authenticity of the Qur’an and Hadith. Since theses conspiracies by Orientalists against Islam and the Qur’an are being carried out in different European languages, our Islamic scholars are unaware of them and are not able to counter them. About 70 organizations in Germany alone have collated and are working on a 20-year project of creating doubt in the minds of Muslims about the compilation of the Qur’an and weakening their faith in the authenticity of the Islamic resources,” Dr. Azmi told reporters.

The Saudi Gazette also quoted Dr. Shafatullah Khan, Founding member of Jamia Millia Islami Alumni Association as saying “[The] Internet today is an effective tool for disseminating information. It can be used for educational purpose, for preaching Islam and removing misconception regarding Islam and Muslims etc. It will continue to affect our day to day life until it is replaced by other new technology. We need to make maximum use of it in conveying Islamic teachings to the common people.”

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