QR codes at Dubai mosques to give info on Prophet's companions

The Islamic Affairs and Charitable activities Department in Dubai (IACAD) is adding a digital feature in certain mosques where visitors can read the biography of the companions of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) through a QR code printed on the mosques signboards.

The mosques that will have this feature are the ones that have been named after the companions of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) such as Abu Bakr Al Siddique, Al Farooq Omar Bin Al Khattab and Khadija Bint Khuwailid among others.

Ammar Ali, senior chief programming developer at the IACAD, said: "A new feature has been launched to introduce the biographies of the prophet's companions through the QR Code. The customer can view the biography of the companion when scanning the QR code. This will instantly give the visitor a brief account on the life of the companion, saving the effort of going online and searching about him and also about the mosque."

The information technology section of the IACAD has embedded the QR code in the signboards of the mosques and once scanned they will provide details such as full name of the companion, a brief account of his life which will include details like his birth date and death dates, information about the mosque like when the mosque was built and its salient features. "The IACAD is adopting the best global practices by providing various smart and digital services. The move aims to highlight the strides the emirate is accelerating digital transformation and adopting smart technologies to enhance customer satisfaction," said Ali Salem Al Kharousi, head of the smart services section.

The IACAD is working to make a qualitative leap in adopting a set of sustainable digital and smart initiatives that contribute to enhancing the UAE's competitiveness globally, in line with the leadership directions, he added.