A review of Android-based mobile applications with Quranic ‎themes in Iran

The widespread use of smartphones has led individuals, ‎companies, and religious institutions in many Islamic countries, including Iran, to ‎launch develop Quranic-themed applications. This study aimed to identify ‎Android-based mobile applications with Quranic themes in Iran, also study ‎their structure and content. ‎

This was a cross-sectional study. The population of the study ‎consisted of all Android apps related to the Holy Quran in Iran. First, by ‎searching Google, Google Play (Google App Store‏ ‏‎ ‎) and Bazaar (Persian app ‎store) Quranic applications were identified and the applications downloaded, ‎installed and evaluated. The application‏ ‏evaluation tool was a researcher-made ‎checklist. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. ‎

‎‏ ‏In total, 297 Iranian Quran apps for Android were identified. Most of ‎these apps were design to display the verses of the Quran along with the ability ‎to play their recitation (49.8%). The use of most Quran apps was completely free ‎‎(62.3%). 26.6% of the applications had not been updated since the initial release. ‎

Although most Quran applications for Android in Iran had ‎acceptable usability, the capabilities of these applications were not used. The ‎study of Quran applications in Iran also showed strengths and weaknesses that ‎should be of interest to developers of Quran applications and other similar ‎religious applications in Iran. ‎