On Saturday, 15 February 2025, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih Vaa, met with the Al Islam team at Islamabad, Tilford, UK. Upon arrival, Huzooraa greeted everyone and called on Syed Labeeb Janood Sahib to recite a portion of the Holy Quran. He recited verses 8-11 of Surah al-Fath (Ch. 48).
Ayaat Search app
Following this, Bilal Ahmad Sahib was invited to introduce a new application, Ayaat Search (https://ayaatsearch.com/), developed for both iOS and Android devices. Explaining its key features, he mentioned that the app allows users to search for Quranic verses using voice input, leveraging artificial intelligence. Users can simply recite a few words from any verse, and the app will instantly identify the corresponding verse in the Holy Quran.
Bilal Ahmad Sahib also highlighted that Ayaat Search is integrated with the existing Quran App on Al Islam, ensuring a smooth user experience.
He humbly requested prayers for the success of the app and sought Huzoor’saa approval for its public launch. Chairman Al Islam, Dr Nasim Rehmatullah, then presented devices to Huzooraa, who graciously launched the app on both Android and iOS platforms.
Digital Library and Search Engine
Following this, Masood Nasir Sahib was invited to provide an update on Al Islam’s new Digital Library (https://new.alislam.org/), particularly regarding the works of the Promised Messiahas.
He explained that the Al Islam team had been working on this project for the past two years, during which 1,000 books had been uploaded. Last year, he had presented an update showing that some books of the Promised Messiahas had been added; now, the complete collection had been uploaded.
At this point, Huzooraa enquired whether the books were available only in Urdu or if translations were included. Masood Nasir Sahib responded that, so far, only Urdu and English versions had been added. Huzooraa instructed that other languages, such as Arabic and German, should also be included.
Masood Nasir Sahib further explained that all books could now be searched individually and as part of various collections. He mentioned that, in a previous mulaqat, Huzooraa had drawn attention to the need for an indexed system and cross-referencing between works. This had now been developed, allowing users to navigate between different language versions of the same text. For instance, when reading The Essence of Islam in English, users would have the option to click a link in the table of contents and be directed to the corresponding text in Mirza Ghulam Ahmad: Apni Tahriron Ki Ru Se in Urdu, and vice versa.
He then demonstrated improvements made to Al Islam’s search engine, highlighting the use of artificial intelligence to enhance accessibility. He noted that many users do not have Urdu keyboards installed, making it difficult for them to search Urdu texts. Now, the system allows searches in Roman Urdu – if a user types dua, results for دعا (prayer) will appear in Urdu books. Similarly, searches using English words such as prayer will also yield relevant results from Urdu works.
Huzooraa instructed that these features should be promoted so that people become aware of them.
Further enhancements to the Digital Library
Following the update on the Al Islam Digital Library, Qamar Suleiman Sahib was invited to present further enhancements to the platform. He explained that a dedicated section had now been developed for the Holy Quran, featuring 53 different translations (https://new.alislam.org/library/quran). Additionally, a section for tafasir had been included, comprising all major Jamaat commentaries, which were now fully searchable.
He highlighted that the search function had been designed to take users directly to the exact page in the printed book where their query appeared. Furthermore, the relevant text could be copied in Unicode format, making it easier for users to reference and share passages accurately.
In addition to the Quran section, a dedicated page for Hadith (https://new.alislam.org/library/ahadith) had also been introduced, featuring the complete volumes of Sahih al-Bukhari along with other Hadith books. These, too, were fully searchable using the enhanced system.
Qamar Suleiman Sahib further elaborated on improvements made to how Anwar-ul-Ulum, the collection of writings and addresses of Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra, was presented on Alislam.org. All volumes had now been consolidated onto a dedicated page, and a comprehensive topics index had been created. By selecting a topic, users could instantly access related content from Anwar-ul-Ulum (https://new.alislam.org/library/volumes/anwarul-uloom), making research and study more efficient. These enhancements, he noted, had all been designed to improve accessibility and usability for researchers and general users alike.
Alislam.ai and the integration of artificial intelligence
Following the updates on the Al Islam Digital Library, Faraz Ahmed Sahib presented the latest developments in the integration of artificial intelligence within Alislam.org. He explained that, in line with Huzoor’saa instructions, the team had been actively researching AI and had implemented further enhancements to their embedding-based AI systems.
Demonstrating an internal version of the system, he showcased how users could input a question, and the AI would intelligently understand the query and retrieve relevant answers from Jamaat literature. He further shared that, in addition to books, answers from various Jamaat platforms were also being integrated, along with a dedicated tab displaying relevant Quranic verses related to the user’s query.
Addressing concerns regarding AI-generated misinformation, often referred to as hallucinations, he referenced Huzoor’saa earlier guidance, given in a previous mulaqat, where Huzooraa had emphasised that “answers generated by AI must be verified” before publication. Acting on this instruction, the team ensured that only verified answers were displayed.
At this point, Huzooraa enquired about how potential AI hallucinations would be managed if they occurred. Faraz Ahmed Sahib responded that the system was currently designed to display only verified answers or restrict AI-generated responses by limiting the output to references from published Jamaat books.
He further mentioned that, while the team was exploring the use of commercially available AI models, they were also working on fine-tuning their own model. This approach aimed to enhance accuracy, improve relevance, and ultimately reduce dependence on external AI models.
Expansion of e-books and audiobooks
Following the discussion on AI integration, Asim Malik Sahib provided an update on Al Islam’s efforts in publishing e-books and audiobooks. He shared that 38 new e-books had been published, consisting of 31 in English and 7 in Urdu, bringing the total number of available e-books on Al Islam to 246. These e-books were also accessible on professional e-book platforms and could be downloaded from Alislam.org.
At this point, Huzooraa noted that only a limited number of Urdu e-books had been added and remarked that many more have already been published in print format. It was explained that the process of preparing Urdu e-books required significant effort in re-typesetting before they could be added to the platform.
Huzooraa instructed that if a new team was required to manage the Urdu typesetting work, it should be arranged accordingly.
Asim Malik Sahib further stated that the team was collaborating with the Tasneef Department to ensure that final files from InDesign were formatted in a way that would allow for easier conversion into e-book format. This, he said, would help expedite the process of making more Urdu e-books available.
Moving on to audiobooks, he reported that 11 new audiobooks had been published in the past year, bringing the total number of English audiobooks to 60. Meanwhile, 179 audiobooks were available in Urdu. Looking ahead, they planned to collaborate with Jamia Ahmadiyya UK to record additional books from Ruhani Khazain in Urdu.
He also mentioned that AI was being tested to assist with the quality review of English audiobooks. At this point, Huzooraa enquired how errors would be managed if the AI itself made mistakes. He further asked whether there was anyone in the team responsible for verifying the AI-generated quality checks.
It was explained that, while AI provided additional assistance in identifying possible errors, all flagged issues were manually reviewed and cross-checked by the team before finalising the audiobooks.
Data and marketing strategies
Following the discussion on audiobooks and e-books, Salaam Bhatti Sahib provided an update on data and marketing efforts for Al Islam, focusing on apps, website engagement, and promotional strategies.
He first highlighted the performance of the Quran App, which was launched for Android in April 2024 and had since been downloaded by a significant number of users. The iOS version, which had been available for around five years, had also gained a substantial user base. He mentioned that the app would be heavily promoted during the month of Ramadan to further increase its reach.
Moving on to the Salat App, he shared that it had been launched on both platforms in October 2024. Noting the download trends, he pointed out a notable rise in user engagement, particularly in early 2025, attributing this increase to marketing efforts carried out through Al Islam’s X account.
Regarding website engagement, Salaam Bhatti Sahib reported that millions of users had visited Alislam.org over the past year. However, while many new visitors accessed the platform, the number of returning users remained an area for growth.
To increase returning visitors, a new marketing initiative would soon be launched. First-time visitors would be encouraged to subscribe to a newsletter, which would provide updates on newly released books, apps, website features, and user tips. Given the high number of new visitors during Ramadan, this effort would be rolled out ahead of the blessed month to maximise sign-ups and, in turn, improve the retention of returning users.
He expressed the hope that by the next year, this strategy would lead to a positive trend in user engagement and retention.
Furthermore, Salaam Bhatti Sahib explained that Al Islam was collaborating with other Jamaat platforms to promote its content more effectively. He noted ongoing partnerships with:
- Al Hakam to promote the Salat App through English-language media,
- Al Fazl to share Urdu-language promotional materials,
- MTA International to promote Al Islam content on television and social media platforms.
Concluding his presentation, he played a promotional video for the AyaatSearch App, produced in collaboration with MTA USA, which would soon be released and shared by MTA.
Redesign and future developments
Following the updates on data and marketing, Salman Sajid Sahib presented the future plans for Al Islam, highlighting the upcoming enhancements and improvements across various platforms.
He began by discussing the redesign of Al Islam.org, noting that the website’s original design was created 20 years ago, in 2005. This ongoing redesign has been a multi-stage effort, and three of the eight main sections have already been developed: the Books section, the Search Engine, and the Holy Quran section.
Salman Sajid Sahib mentioned that, in a previous mulaqat, Huzooraa had emphasised the importance of focusing on topics. In response, the team plans to extract topics from the Holy Quran, book indexes, and other directories to create a unified Al Islam topic index that will be integrated throughout the website.
This unified topic index will also be featured on a redesigned Friday Sermon page, where users can access a list of topics at the top. By clicking on a topic, users will be directed to the Topic Explorer, which will contain references to related Quranic verses, question-and-answer content, articles, and books, along with links to a full topic page for deeper exploration.
Another upcoming feature on the new Friday Sermon page will allow users to be notified as soon as the sermon is available in their preferred language.
He then spoke about plans to unify all question-and-answer content across various Al Islam platforms under a redesigned Ask Islam app, which will serve as a centralised Q&A library.
Salman Sajid Sahib also discussed future enhancements to the various mobile and web Quran apps offered by Al Islam. He explained that one such app, Open Quran, was designed for Quranic research. To further enhance its utility, they plan to add the Dictionary of the Holy Quran by Malik Ghulam Fareed Sahib, in addition to Lane’s Lexicon.
He added that, based on feedback from app users, the team plans to introduce advanced memorisation or hifz support features. This will enable users to configure the app to play specific verses repeatedly for memorisation purposes. For example, a user working on memorising verses 5 to 9 of Surah al-Mu’minun could set the app to repeat each verse twice. Users will also be able to save presets and receive regular reminders to listen to the Holy Quran. For instance, they could configure the app to remind them to listen to the first and last ten verses of Surah al-Kahf every Friday.
Concluding his presentation, Salman Sajid Sahib expressed the team’s ongoing commitment to follow Huzoor’saa guidance and directives, humbly seeking further guidance.
In response, Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa remarked, “If you can simply achieve what you have already planned, that in itself will be a great accomplishment.”
Further introductions and guidance
As the mulaqat drew to a close, the Chairman of Al Islam requested Huzoor’saa permission for some team members who had not made any presentations to briefly introduce themselves. Huzooraa graciously permitted this, and they did so.
During this session, a member asked about audiobooks. In response, Huzooraa instructed that only those books that had been finalised and published should be converted, ensuring that the audio version aligns precisely with the final printed text.
Another team member enquired about the primary target audience for Al Islam’s content, asking whether it should be marketed mainly to Ahmadis or non-Ahmadis. Huzooraa emphasised that both audiences should be considered, as non-Ahmadis also engage with Jamaat content. At the same time, he highlighted the importance of educating Ahmadis themselves, noting that while they possess sincerity, increasing their knowledge is equally essential.
Conclusion
At the conclusion of the meeting, Huzooraa wrote a brief prayer for the Al Islam team on a piece of paper. The members then requested a group photo, which Huzooraa graciously granted. He also distributed pen gifts among the team members before taking leave, thus bringing the mulaqat to an end.
Reflections from the Al Islam team
In the wake of this blessed mulaqat, we reached out to the Al Islam team to hear their personal sentiments. They described their time at Islamabad from 11 to 17 February 2025 as a “week of Heaven on earth,” where offering congregational prayers behind Huzooraa every day brought immeasurable spiritual blessings.
The team especially cherished the moment when Huzooraa launched the Ayaat Search app (with the blessed words “اَلۡحَمۡدُ لِلّٰہِ رَبِّ الۡعٰلَمِیۡنَ”) and expressed his pleasure upon hearing updates about the new Digital Library, AI research, and wider Tafasir and Hadith sections. The Al Islam team also fondly recalled the prayer Huzooraa wrote on their agenda paper:
اللّٰہ تعالیٰ علم و عرفان میں بڑھائے
“May Allah increase you in knowledge and wisdom.”
They stated that this heartfelt prayer from Huzooraa will continue to guide and inspire them as they strive to serve Islam and humanity through technological advancement and knowledge dissemination.
“All year round, the Al Islam team yearns and clamours for Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa and anxiously awaits our yearly visit to Islamabad to quench our thirst,” they said. “For an entire week, we had the immense blessing of offering congregational prayers behind Huzooraa.”
The team hopes these combined efforts will be a lasting source of guidance for Ahmadis and non-Ahmadis alike, by continually expanding Al Islam’s content, refining its AI capabilities, and ensuring that all Jamaat literature is easily accessible worldwide.
(Summary prepared by Al Hakam)