KUALA LUMPUR — Seeking to use modern technology to bond young Muslims to their holy book, a Malaysian student of digital media has created a software to read the Qur'an on the handheld PlayStation portables (PSPs).
"This application can help younger people to read the Qur'an," Ikhwan Nazri Mohamad Asran told Agence France Presse (AFP) on Tuesday, May 8.
The program will make it possible for the first time to use the PSPs -- well-known devices usually used for surfing the internet via WIFI connections, listening to MP3s and viewing movies -- to read the Qur'an.
People could simply download an English-language version of the Qur'an, with displays in Arabic script from the internet and then read it with the help of illustrations on their PSPs.
"People have to download all the files, put it into their memory stick and then they can read it," said Ikhwan, a final-year student at Malaysia's Multimedia University (MMU).
"All the instructions are included."
The Malaysian high-tech savvy was inspired by a similar version designed for the Bible.
"They did the Bible, so why not do the Qur'an."
With the help of 10 more enthusiast colleagues, Ikhwan started developing the software between his studies for about four months.
The PlayStation Qur'an will be available for free-of-charge download on Ikhwan's website, http://raise.flavert.com, after May 19
Play & Pray
The 21-year-old student hopes the new software would help younger Muslims, along with their parents, see the brighter side of modern technology.
"For some parents, when we talk about the Internet, all they see is porn, the bad things," he told AFP.
"When we talk about the PlayStation, all they see is gaming and spending too much time not studying."
Ikhwan wanted to show that modern technology could be used for more than just entertainment.
"A mother can say, 'Read the Qur'an first and then I'll let you play games.'"
Ikhwan and his team of animators and graphics designers are now working on the software to include Qur'an recitations.
They have already launched other projects aiming at connecting faith with the essence of high-technology including The Raise, an English-language magazine targeting PSP gamers and dedicated to spreading knowledge about Islam.
"We focus on giving information on Islam and clearing misconceptions that non-Muslims have about Muslims," Ikhwan said.
25:36 And the true servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk the earth with humility and when the ignorant address them, they respond with words of peace.
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inshaAllah i will get to put that software and try it./
My bro has a psp and both also usually get stuck to their PS3 etc :X MAN am i scared for em >.<
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