Google Gives Gift In Ramadan : Launches An App To Give Direction To Pray

This Ramadan, the search giant Google has a gift for their Muslims users. The search giant is making it easier to search for Qibla- the direction in which Muslims turn to pray by simply launching a Qibla Finder app. Equipped with augmented reality, the app helps the user in the direction towards the Kaaba- holy shrine located at Al-Masjid-al-Haram, in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

The Qibla Finder app uses the phone’s camera and location settings to show a clear blue line directing towards Qibla. Google uses the GPS locations of the shrine and a digital compass to give the direction in form of a blue painted line running towards the direction of Kaaba.

“When people search for the Qibla-the direction Muslims turn to at prayer they often look for a website or an app to point them in the right direction. Which explains why the word “compass” often pops up when we look at Qibla-related search results over the past five years,” reads Google’s blog post. The Qibla Finder is accessible through the browser and is available across all devices except iOS.

Using the Qibla Finder App is really easy and simple. To start getting the direction, download the app from here and launch the app. Now move your phone’s camera until the symbol of Kaaba is seen.

“Every Ramadan, we notice a spike in searches for websites and apps that help point people to the right direction to face the Kaaba. Last year, we realised that many were using apps that still look like a compass and that don’t function well,” Najeeb Jarrar, Google’s product marketing manager in the Middle East and North Africa, told Step feed.