Now, technology has found application in religious rituals too. Some Muslims are making best use of the technological advancements in facilitating devotees during this Ramzan.
This was witnessed on the onset of the holy month of Ramzan that began on Sunday. For many Muslims, the Internet played an important role in beginning fasting.There was a time when people looked at the moon or called their local mosque to determine when the fasting month began and when it comes to an end. But increasingly these days, internet (a website in particular) is taking over that role.
Not only is the internet making inroads into the Muslim faith, but mobile phones, social networking sites and Whatsapp, text messaging and even satellite technology will soon be reminding more and more Muslims when to fast, when to pray and even how to find the direction of Mecca.A crescent moon signals the start of the holy month, but very often you can’t always see the moon through thick cloud. That is where this website comes in. The site even tells people in major cities when to fast, based on sunrise and sunset times.
Prayer alerts But it is not just the Internet, which is making its way into Muslim worship. A young computer buff logs on five times a day to send a mobile phone text message to five thousand subscribers, reminding them that it’s time to pray.His name is Bilaal Patel and his subscribers sign up to his prayer alerts, using his website. He says he wants to encourage smaller groups of people who worship at the same mosque to start their own prayer alert networks.
He calls these groups eMuezzins, the Muezzin being the Muslim official whose job is to summon people to prayer or Salaat through Azaan.It’s a common sound in any Muslim country, but in many countries the official call to prayer is not allowed. Bilaal’s eMuezzin is the more discreet modern version.Shariq Baseer a youth living in Koh e Fiza has recently signed up for the prayer alerts. “In today’s world it’s a bit more difficult to be a Muslim and for example to know exactly when the prayer times are going to be.” he said.
So in the absence of a real Muezzin, the mobile phone is clearly becoming a handy tool. Soon it could even point you towards the Holy City of Mecca, the direction Muslims should face to pray.Mobile phone companies are now developing the technology to make GPS, or satellite navigation, a standard feature on cellular phones.Dr Yousuf Khalil believes the technology is just around the corner.
“I can imagine holding a mobile phone and clicking a button and a dial appearing, giving me the direction of Mecca. So instead of hazarding a guess by looking at my bearings, or having to carry a compass, I know which direction to pray,” he added.
