We all know technology has impacted all facets of our lives, but we mostly think that it has touched the secular part of our existence — profession, entertainment, communication, and so forth. However, it is increasingly working its way to the religious and spiritual part of life as well and, in the process, shaping the way we pray and connect with God.
Digital tools were already marking their presence in the realm of religion, but the pandemic hastened the process. With religious institutions forced to appeal to their congregations to stay away from places of worship and say their prayers at home, it was technology and digital tools that came to the rescue. When the necessity arose, worshippers discovered ways to meet virtually on online platforms. Video conferencing tools made a world of difference to the lives of people during the pandemic lockdowns, and they continued to reach out to communities even after the restrictions were lifted.
The utility of digital tools and apps is not just limited to virtual congregations — Muslims in the region are increasingly digitising their rituals. Especially during the month of Ramadan, many leveraged technologies to adhere to the schedule. From taking recourse to Alexa, the voice-controlled virtual assistant, to set prayer times, to using smartphones to stream Quran recitals, there are many use cases, a report revealed. Mosques in the Gulf are becoming more and more open to embracing digital tools to broadcast adhan (call to prayer) timings.
Likewise, smart products and technologies are getting integrated into the lives of worshippers around the world. People use digital tools to set prayer timings on their phones when they travel to countries in different time zones. Digital support is turning out to be very useful for people in countries where places of worship like mosques are not permitted to announce prayer times via loudspeakers. An app-based alert comes in handy there.
When Muslims find themselves in a situation where they cannot figure out which direction to turn to in order to recite the namaaz, apps with high-precision compasses can indicate the qiblah, the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca. They can even perform tasbeeh, or repeated supplications to God, through a smart ring instead of the traditional prayer beads. Yet another aspect of religion that has gone digital is the Eidyah, one of the most important practices for Muslim children celebrating Eid.
While children still want to experience the joy of cash gifts being handed to them in person, the tech-savvy prefer to have the Eidyah sent to their digital wallets, which makes it convenient for them to carry it around, as all they have to do is use their smartphone. Then there are apps that teach religion and its rituals to children in a very engaging and interesting way. From video games to religious sermons delivered in a modern way with simple words, digital tools are doing it all.
In fact, technology is not just changing the way Muslims pray and practice their religion in the region; people of other faiths are also taking the digital route. Be it Sunday Mass being streamed live for Christians, or poojas and aartis telecast on smartphones for Hindus, the very nature of the practice of religion and recital of prayers (regardless of which religion it is) is undergoing a sea change.
