Robots Are Being Used In Makkah’s Grand Masjid For Recitation And Sermon

Saudi Arabia has decided to use technology in religion and introduced robots that are going to recite the Holy Qur’an and provide information to visitors at Islam’s holiest site following the latest technology rollout by the Presidency of the Two Holy Masjids reported Arab News. Helping Muslim visitors during their visit to Makkah, the Grand Masjid has officially launched new robots that will recite the holy Qur’an, and provide sermons and adhan to visitors of The Kaba.

The smart robots will display barcodes on their screens which when scanned will enable users to download services on smartphones. Additionally, users can also press commands on the robots to access information on prayers, imams, muezzins, and weekly schedules, including the names of clerics delivering Friday sermons. The launch of the robots by the management is the start of a series of smart technology projects dedicated to the Two Holy Masjids to provide improved services to visitors.

Sheikh Abdulrahman Al-Sudais is the Chief of the Presidency that is responsible for all the managmental acts of the Two Holy Masjids said that the launch is part of a “big strategic plan” to implement the smart Haramain project, according to Vision 2030 and the strategic 2024 plan of the presidency to provide improved services to visitors.

The aim of the recitations, sermons, and azan robot is to convey the messages of imams and muezzins of the Two Holy Mosques to visitors. Al-Sudais has launched other smart robots that work without human intervention, including a disinfectant and sterilization robot, a fatwa robot, a smart disinfectant robot, and a Holy Kaaba surface cleaning robot. The Presidency of the Two Holy Mosque is keen to provide high-quality services, leadership, and the latest administrative practices at the Grand Mosque to millions of Muslim visitors from around the world.

Al-Sudais added that the presidency is determined to move forward and keep pace with digital transformation, support technological development, provide a strategy to create task forces, and ensure the sustainability of creative culture. This modern tech system isn’t the first to be installed in the Grand Mosque in Makkah.

Earlier this year, the Grand Mosque officially introduced a guiding robot to help Muslim pilgrims and answer their questions in 11 languages. Last year, mosque officials introduced robots to distribute Zamzam water. Other robots were also on the ground to provide sterilization and epidemic control. Makkah’s Grand Mosque also introduced an electronic Qur’an to help blind and visually-impaired Muslim worshippers in December 2021. These steps come as part of the Kingdom’s comprehensive development plan 2024 to use modern technologies in the service of the Two Holy Mosques