Hajj: S/Arabia introduces electronic Qur’an for the blind

The Presidency for Religious Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques in Saudi Arabia has introduced an electronic braille Quran to assist visually impaired pilgrims in reading the Holy Qur’an with the aim to alleviate the challenges posed by traditional braille copies with multiple volumes.

The Saudi Press Agency said that copies of the Holy Quran in braille had been placed in strategic areas of the two holy mosques, facilitating easy access for pilgrims.

“This innovative technology utilises a dynamic display, converting fixed braille characters into electronically formed moving letters corresponding to the Qur’anic verses.

“This design facilitates navigation, allowing blind pilgrims to effortlessly access specific pages, surahs, and sections of the Qur’an,” the Saudi presidency said.

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The presidency has also established dedicated prayer halls within the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque for elderly individuals and people with disabilities.

“These prayer halls are equipped with designated spaces and cabinets containing additional religious resources, including translations of the meanings of the Qur’an in various languages, with those in English, Urdu and Indonesian featuring most prominently,” it explained.

It said the efforts underscored its commitment to fostering inclusivity and ensuring the dissemination of the Holy Qur’an among all pilgrims, including those with disabilities.