Mumbai: Juma Masjid unveils live Azaan app after loudspeaker controversy

MUMBAI: The Juma Masjid of Bombay Trust has launched a live Azaan app named 'Al Islaah' which will provide live alerts to smartphone users at namaz time. This innovation was borne out of the political controversy over usage of loudspeakers in mosques during prayer time. Smartphone users on IoS and Android can be alerted to prayer timings on their devices.
'Islaah' means reform. The introductory version of the app offers namaz timings and has a provision by which Juma Masjid can relay announcements to the community. A 360 degree virtual tour of this beautiful, historic mosque is also embedded. In future, live Azaan from other mosques and a link to the college's counselling centre may be appended.
"There are similar apps of this nature already in existence, but those play pre-recorded Azaan. Our app relays live Azaan from Juma Masjid," said Shuaib Khatib, chairman of the mosque trust.
"We decided to develop this software after the strife over the use of loudspeakers between 10.00pm and 6.00am. Technology must adapt to suit changing laws and needs of society. This app is a way of striking a balance between faith and law."
The app was developed by MAHA CARE, which is the acronym for the Centre for Acceleration of Research and Entrepreneurship (CARE) at Maharashtra College of Arts Science and Commerce in Nagpada.
Its principal Sirajuddin Chougle said, "Four students of CARE centre developed the app over two and a half months. Ours is not an engineering or management college, yet we have an IT incubation centre. Jama Masjid approached us for this task, and we designed a suitable app. More features will be added subsequently."