Assalamu Alaikum

Problem

Phones ring during Salah. This is distracting, especially when praying in congregation at the Masjid.

Potential Solutions

1. When the MasjidBox app detects the phone is at any masjid, the app silences the phone ringer.

2. Silence the phone ringer after Athan and restore the previous ringer settings 30 minutes after Iqamah

Solution #1 Details

The solution assumes:

1. MasjidBox is already keeping a record of the address/location of a Masjid when it enrolls into the program

2. Asking the user for their location and managing the ringer settings is within company policy

3. The user approves the necessary permission requests.

To determine if the phone is at a masjid, the app could compare the location of the phone and the location of the masajid in it’s database. If they’re close to each other, say within a 100ft radius, the app would silence the phone. Once the phone is outside of that radius, the phone ringer would be restored to its previous state.

The location comparison can be done on a regular and reasonable interval, maybe every 15 minutes.

Solution #2 Details

The solution assumes:

1. Asking the user to manage the ringer settings is within company policy

2. The user approves the necessary permission requests.

An event is already processed at Athan time (the notification). Process another event to mute the ringer. Schedule a second event 30 minutes after Iqama to restore the ringer settings.

Suggested Solution

Solution #2

1. requires less permissions (no location)

2. more straightforward calculation (no comparison with the list of all masajid)

3. more performative (no code execution at regular intervals)

4. uses the existing pattern of event processing at athan time

5. broader solution (the phone is silenced even if the user prays at home)

Failed Solutions

1. Remind attendees before salah to mute their phones. The reminder is ignored

JazakAllahu Khairan