Bombay Juma Masjid introduces Al Islaah app to remind devotees of Azaan
India Today
The Juma Masjid of Bombay Trust has launched a mobile app that will alert devotees about five-time prayers. The app will be available on both iOS and Android.
The Juma Masjid of Bombay Trust has launched a mobile app, Al Islaah, which will not only live-stream the calls for prayer but also notify users about the namaaz timings. The app was introduced after the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) objected to the use of loudspeakers that called for prayers five times a day.
The trust said that earlier there were apps but only recorded Azan could be played on those apps. The trust said that the call for prayers is an important part of Islam. Therefore, they used technology to reach a larger audience.
"The Supreme Court's guidelines on the use of loudspeakers are for all and not only for Azaan. But a political party has been targeting Muslims for political gains. After the Azaan controversy, we held a meeting and started to look for options. We first tried to get a radio frequency, but it needed a lot of clearance and paperwork," said Shuaib Khatib, chairman of the Mosque Trust.
"So we decided to develop an application. This app will help in listening to Azaan early in the morning, which is not allowed on loudspeakers," Khatib said.
When asked why such initiatives were not taken earlier, Khatib said, "Every religion has a set of beliefs. Earlier, they were not politicised. But now politicians are trying to create a rift between communities on these issues. So, we thought of this idea as we have to follow the SC's guidelines as well as our religion."
The app also has public address system provisions for the masjid authorities to send announcements to the community. In the next stage of development, the app will also allow users to send their queries to community leaders. The Al Islaah app will also be used for Friday prayers.
The name given to the app, ‘Al Islaah’ means ‘reform’. According to the mosque management, this app balances faith and law. The committee decided to develop it considering the restrictions and multiple litigations regarding the use of loudspeakers.
A Delhi court granted 10-day interim bail to activist Sharjeel Imam, an accused in the 2020 Delhi riots case. He walked out of jail on Friday after nearly six years in jail.
According to the police, the gang befriended individuals via a dating app called 'Grindr' and robbed them of cash, jewellery, and funds transferred through UPI. Since the first arrests on Monday, Lucknow Police have been tracking down other victims to dismantle the criminal network.
The police have taken Sohail Malik and Mehak (Sane Iram), the two masterminds, along with four others, into their custody.
A clip of devotees being pushed in the sanctum of Deoghar's Baidyanath Dham made BJP MP Nishikant Dubey slam the Hemant Soren government. However, it has triggered a larger debate on the treatment meted out to common people and the privilege given to VIPs.
The incident dates back to February 18, 2017, when Jitesh Kumar Gandhi attempted to withdraw Rs 10,000 from a State Bank of India ATM but received neither cash nor a transaction receipt. However, his account was debited.
The court imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on Chhatrapal, while sentencing him to life imprisonment. The case underlined the importance of decisive eyewitness accounts like the mother's testimony in securing timely convictions.
The case relates to the killing of Umesh Kolhe on June 21, 2022, allegedly in retaliation for social media posts supporting former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma following her controversial remarks. Initially registered as a murder case, the investigation was later transferred to the NIA.
A pregnant woman was allegedly strangled by her husband following a monetary dispute in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district. Three family members have been arrested as police investigate the case.
Gurugram's Uppal Southend society publicly names maintenance defaulters and warns of service bans. The move boosts payments, with daily recoveries rising, even as residents remain divided over strict enforcement.
Maharashtra has formed an SIT led by IPS Tejaswini Satpute to probe sexual abuse allegations against Ashok Kharat, with an extortion link emerging and assets worth Rs 200 crore under scrutiny.
The three friends were part of a group of 12 people, all from Pune, who were returning from a Jammu and Leh-Ladakh trip. The remaining friends were in two other cars and were at a toll plaza at the time of the incident.
People in Duna village of Jharkhand's Latehar district blamed the man for the death of a woman in a road accident, alleging that he had caused it through sorcery.