The Prayer Guide platform: A digital service in 7 languages for visitors to the Two Holy Mosques
In a pioneering step reflecting the rapid development of services provided to visitors of the Two Holy Mosques, the General Authority for the Care of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque launched the "Prayer Guide" electronic platform. This initiative aims to enrich the religious and cultural experience of pilgrims and facilitate their access to reliable religious content in multiple languages, in line with the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 to enhance the experience of visitors and Umrah performers.
Comprehensive digital services in international languages
The new platform features a comprehensive suite of interactive services easily accessible via QR code scanning. To ensure widespread accessibility, content is available in seven major international languages, covering the largest segment of visitors to the Two Holy Mosques: Arabic, English, Indonesian, Malay, French, Turkish, and Urdu. This linguistic diversity aims to break down language barriers and enable visitors of all nationalities to perform their religious rites with ease, tranquility, and a deep understanding of the rituals.
Comprehensive faith-based content
The "Guide for the Worshipper" contains a rich collection of materials needed by pilgrims, Umrah performers, and visitors on their spiritual journey, including:
- The Holy Quran: An approved and easy-to-navigate digital version.
- Supplications and remembrances: A collection of authentic and transmitted remembrances.
- Description of acts of worship: Simplified explanations of how to perform prayers and rituals.
- Friday Sermons: An archive of sermons and their translations to benefit from the lessons and morals.
- Prayer Times: Accurate updates of prayer times in the Two Holy Mosques.
The context of digital transformation and Vision 2030
The launch of this platform is not an isolated event, but rather an integral part of the comprehensive digital transformation strategy adopted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Through these technologies, the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques seeks to leverage artificial intelligence and digital solutions to serve millions of Muslims. This step supports the "Serving the Guests of God" program, one of the Vision 2030 programs, which aims to facilitate the hosting of pilgrims to the Two Holy Mosques and provide them with the best possible services, with a focus on enriching their religious journey and cultural experience.
Expected impact and importance
This guide is of paramount importance given the millions of pilgrims who flock to Mecca and Medina annually. By converting printed books and pamphlets into a digital platform, the Authority contributes to environmental preservation, ensures the rapid updating of information, and provides a reliable source of Islamic legal rulings, free from erroneous interpretations. Furthermore, its easy accessibility via smartphones makes the guide a constant companion for worshippers throughout their stays and travels within the Two Holy Mosques.
In conclusion, the General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque affirms that this platform is an extension of the keenness of the wise leadership - may God support it - to harness all human and technical capabilities to serve Islam and Muslims, and to ensure that the guests of God perform their rituals in an atmosphere full of spirituality and tranquility.
