Studio note: what do we leave out of a prayer app?
In a prayer app, the real design decision is what you leave off the screen. In Mümin 360 — our prayer-times, qibla and dhikr app for Muslim users — we show no ads on the screens where the Qur’an is read, the qibla is found, dhikr is counted or the tahajjud guide is read. The app also has no nagging notifications, no religious text of uncertain source, no ranking that compares users with one another and no dark patterns that push people into buying.
In this note we explain how we made these decisions and what each one costs us. The reason we built the app is written on its case page: a prayer app meets its user five times a day. At that frequency, every needless element becomes a weight.
Why do we keep a list of what we leave out?
Because in a prayer app, a mistake is never only a technical fault. A wrong prayer time, a saying of doubtful origin or an advert sitting next to a verse goes straight to the user’s trust. So we write down what we won’t add as clearly as what we will.
The list is the first thing we check for every new feature. If an idea runs into one of its items, it stays out of the design, however tempting it is.
What we deliberately left out of Mümin 360
We keep the decisions in this table:
| Left out | What we do instead | The cost |
|---|---|---|
| Ads on the Qur’an, qibla, dhikr counter and tahajjud screens | Ads only on list and tool screens, as a small banner | Less advertising space |
| Ads targeted at the individual | We request non-personalised ads from the ad network | Lower ad revenue |
| Notifications that chase | Notifications are opt-in and few | Fewer people coming back |
| Unsourced religious text | Guidance content prepared from Diyanet sources | Slower content production |
| Rankings that compare users | The habit record belongs to the user alone | No shareable “competitive” moment |
| Fake countdowns, “last chance” screens | Clear price and renewal terms on the purchase screen | Lower conversion |
Where don’t we show ads?
Mümin 360 is free and kept going by a small ad banner; we don’t hide that. But the rule for where an advert may appear is strict: the screen where the Qur’an is read, the qibla compass, the dhikr counter and the tahajjud screen carry no ads.
What these screens share is that the user is in the middle of worship. An advert appearing under a verse, however small, breaks that moment. We keep ads to screens where people look things up — the prayer-times list, the dua library or the calendar.
The second decision concerns what the adverts contain. With personalised ads, ad networks can show products that don’t fit the app’s context. So we request non-personalised ads from the network. That lowers revenue; it is a cost we accept knowingly.
For anyone who wants the ads gone entirely, there’s a paid option. Prayer times, the qibla, the Qur’an and dhikr are not behind it — they are open to everyone.
What don’t we do with notifications?
Notifications are the easiest tool to misuse in a prayer app. The principle on our case page still holds: notifications are opt-in and few; the app reminds, it does not chase.
We turn that into a few concrete rules:
- Permission is the user’s call. Prayer reminders can be switched on and off; turning them off doesn’t trigger a warning screen.
- No blaming language. We never write anything like “You missed your prayer!”. No exclamation marks, no emoji — the tone is one of invitation.
- A single return reminder. If the app isn’t opened for two days, we send one gentle reminder. We don’t turn it into a series.
- Respectful sound. Notification sounds are limited to a handful of calm options the user can choose from.
The quickest way to raise return rates is to send more notifications. We see that as a path that contradicts the reason the app exists.
What don’t we write in religious content?
We don’t put any religious text into the app unless we can show its source. It is the rule that takes the most effort.
A verse goes in with its surah and verse number; a piece of guidance goes in with the source it rests on. The 26 prayer guides added in the latest update are based on Diyanet sources — Diyanet being Türkiye’s official Presidency of Religious Affairs. We don’t add a saying of unverifiable origin as a “well-known saying”. On points of Islamic law we don’t issue firm rulings, and where needed we direct people to consult a mufti.
Prayer times get the same care. In Türkiye they come from the data published by the Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet). Abroad they are calculated with the Diyanet method, and the user can choose MWL, ISNA or Umm al-Qura instead. Without a connection, times are calculated on the phone.
Why is there no comparison?
We don’t want to turn worship into a race. The habit record in Mümin 360 belongs to the user alone; there are no tables comparing them with other users, no leaderboards, no badge contests.
On a missed day, the app’s tone is simply “start again”. The line between keeping a quiet record of a habit and measuring a user against others is, for us, the most sensitive part of the product. We keep thinking about it, and we’re working on a new version in the studio.
How do these decisions carry over to other products?
A similar “what we leave out” list suits any product in a sensitive field: health, children, finance or faith. When drawing one up, we suggest asking:
- On which screen is the user most vulnerable, or most focused?
- Which notification exists only for our own measurement, not for the user?
- Which content claim can’t we source?
- Is there anything on the purchase screen the user would later be surprised by?
Guideline 5.6 of Apple’s App Review Guidelines explicitly bars tricking users into unwanted purchases and other manipulation. We gathered the other store rules in why the App Store rejects apps, and we explain where keeping data on the device fits in products like this in what is a local-first app.
Frequently asked questions
Is Mümin 360 paid?
It’s free to download. Prayer times, the qibla, the Qur’an and dhikr are open to everyone. There is an optional paid tier for comfort features such as removing ads and extra adhan sounds.
Are there ads in Mümin 360?
Yes. A small ad banner keeps the app going. We show no ads on the Qur’an reading, qibla, dhikr counter and tahajjud screens, and we request non-personalised ads from the ad network.
Can I turn notifications off?
Yes. Prayer reminders and other notifications are opt-in. If you turn them off, the app doesn’t pressure you to come back; you can still see prayer times inside the app.
Which method are prayer times calculated with?
In Türkiye, times come from the data Diyanet publishes. Abroad the Diyanet method is the default, and MWL, ISNA or Umm al-Qura can be chosen instead. Without a connection, times are calculated on the phone.
If you’re planning an app in a sensitive field that puts its users’ trust first, see how we work on our mobile app development page or get in touch. The stages an app goes through are covered in commissioning a mobile app.
