Islamic Computing: A Research Agenda

Explore how Greentech Apps Foundation (GTAF) is pioneering Islamic Computing — a new field blending technology and faith to make Islamic knowledge more accessible, engaging, and impactful.

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Introduction

Greentech Apps Foundation (GTAF) began in 2015 with a simple vision: help Muslims get closer to Allah ﷻ through authentic and accessible Islamic apps. Over the last 10 years, our work has reached 13+ million users in more than 150 countries.

Now, we’re entering a new phase — moving beyond development and into research. We’re formalising a growing discipline we call Islamic Computing.

What is Islamic Computing?

Islamic Computing is an emerging interdisciplinary field focused on building digital tools that align with Islamic values and serve the spiritual, educational, and lifestyle needs of Muslims. It blends computer science, Islamic studies, design, and pedagogy.

Examples include: mobile Qur’an apps, AI-powered tafsir search, and digital Islamic learning tools.

🌙 Our Vision and Mission

Vision: To bring people closer to Allah ﷻ.

We imagine a world where Muslims strive for ihsan — excellence in action, knowledge, speech, and devotion. Our products support that journey.

Mission: To help Muslims better understand Islam.

We focus deeply on two groups:

Practising Muslims – who live by core Islamic practices and want to deepen their understanding.
Students of Knowledge – those studying Islam in depth and teaching others.

Why a Research Agenda?

Despite the boom in Islamic tech — from edtech to fintech — there’s a lack of coordinated research. We believe it’s time to:

Understand how Muslims use digital tools to grow in their faith
Design better, inclusive, pedagogically sound learning systems
Bridge Islamic tradition and modern computing through ethical innovation

GTAF R&D: A New Chapter

In 2023 we launched GTAF R&D — our dedicated Research & Development unit — to lead this effort. We aim to:

Produce original research that benefits the ummah
Test and implement innovative ideas
Turn research into real-world tools and platforms

“We explore, research, and develop innovative educational tools and methodologies, prioritizing accessibility and inclusivity, to advance Islamic education through emerging technologies.”

🎯 Core Goals of GTAF R&D

Educational Innovation: New methods to improve Islamic learning (e.g. word-by-word learning, spaced repetition).
Technology Integration: Use of AI, machine learning, and automation to enrich Islamic products (e.g. Tajweed correction, topic modelling).
Accessibility & Inclusion: Inclusive content for all learners — through digitisation, translations, and better UX.

📚 Key Research Questions

How can machine learning improve access to Islamic texts for non-Arabic speakers?
How can gamification enhance learning in Islam?
Can AI-powered speech tools help Muslims improve Tajweed?
How do Muslims currently use apps for Quran memorisation?
What role can chatbots and semantic search play in Islamic learning?
Can intelligent notifications promote habits like Salah and Dhikr?
How can topic modelling summarise and link complex Islamic content?

🧪 Technologies We’re Exploring

Artificial Intelligence: LLMs, speech correction, summarisation, voice Q&A
Human-Computer Interaction (HCI): Accessibility and design for diverse Muslim users
Educational Technology: Spaced repetition, interconnected content (Qur’an ↔ Hadith ↔ Seerah)

📈 Our North Star Metric

We measure our success through:

Weekly Engaged Users: How many people actively return to learn
Engagement Time: How long they spend with our educational content

🕊️ Guiding Principles

We Are One Ummah: Our work serves the global Muslim community.
Akhirah Is the Goal: Everything we build must have benefit in this life and the next.
Remind with Purpose: Our tools should always help users draw closer to Allah ﷻ.

🤝 Join Us

We’re actively looking to collaborate with:

Academics in computing, Islamic studies, and pedagogy
Developers & Designers passionate about Muslim-centred tech
Donors & Institutions who want to invest in long-term impact

Learn more at gtaf.org or reach out via our contact page. Together, let’s build the future of Islamic Computing — insha’Allah.

🧡 Acknowledgements

We thank our team, donors, volunteers, and community who’ve shaped this journey. May Allah accept this as sadaqah jariyah and allow it to benefit generations to come.