Ramadan is a month where every Muslim strives to be better by committing more time to performing religious activities and doing good deeds. Thankfully, technology has made it easier and hassle-free to fulfil the obligations during the holy month.
1. Track Your Obligations during Ramadan
There is a wide range of apps suitable for Muslims worldwide, such as Muslim Guide, Ramadan Checklist, and Muslim Pro. These apps allow one to set daily goals such as Zikr (Islamic meditation), additional prayers, and contributions to charity that will help one get through Ramadan smoothly. They also include reminders for obligations such as Taraweeh prayers (night prayers) and access to digital Quran. These apps provide reliable information about the holy month and even a list of prayers one should recite throughout the day.
2. Making a Donation
Donating to charity is one of the most virtuous deeds required during Ramadan. However, the pandemic has made it more difficult for charitable organisations to carry out their outreach during this time. Nevertheless, technology has made it easier for anyone to donate from the comfort of their homes.
In Malaysia, platforms such as SimplyGiving and NGOhub are some of the most trusted charity funds one can donate to. For Zakat, Muslims can also visit any E-Zakat Online Systems based on their home state location to discharge the mandatory duty. There are also charity apps that automatically deduct a pre-determined amount from one’s bank account at a regular interval as a donation towards a chosen fund.
3. Religious Knowledge at Your Fingertips
Ramadan is a month that not only helps Muslims to better themselves but encourage them to better understand their religion. One of the best ways to gain knowledge is to listen to podcasts by religious scholars. Popular apps, from Spotify to YouTube, are often a resource. Examples of Islamic podcasts available on Spotify include The Deenspiration Podcast, Mindful Muslimah Speaks and SoulFood FM. These podcasts are ideal for those who are busy, as they can listen while on the road or doing other activities.
4. Alarm & Reminders for Prayers
One of the most difficult aspects of Ramadan is getting up at 3 am for Tahajjud prayers. Some even skipped Sahur (the meal eaten before fasting) because they overslept, leading them to suffer from hunger pangs all day. Galarm and WakeMe are apps that allow one to “send” an alarm to a loved one in order to help wake up and prepare for fasting. Voices, music, and even videos can be used to customise the alarm tone.
5. Easy Access to Cooking Ideas
With food apps such as Kuali, Ramadan Dishes Recipes, and Kitchen Stories, one can dive into thousands of recipes—both local and international—to suit his or her taste and cravings. Search for everything from simple, quick Sahur recipes to elaborate and filling recipes for main breaking fast savoury dishes and desserts. The Kuali app has a ‘smart artificial intelligence camera’ whereby one can take photos of ingredients, and the app will match them with the right recipes based on ingredients available.
Smart mobile apps have definitely made life a lot simpler and more productive, especially for Muslims who lead a busy lifestyle. Such apps help with effective time management, thus allowing users to focus on the greater purpose and deeper meaning of Ramadan.
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