About Al-Minār
Al-Minār (المنار) means "The Lighthouse" — a beacon that guides. Our mission is to create a transparent, trusted global registry for masjids everywhere.
Why We Built Al-Minār
The idea for Al-Minār was born out of a common frustration: finding a trustworthy masjid in an unfamiliar city. Whether traveling for work, visiting family, or simply relocating, Muslims around the world face the same challenge — how do you know if a masjid you've found online is real, active, and reliable?
Existing directories were often outdated, unverified, or maintained by a single person. We envisioned a system where the community itself could vouch for a masjid's existence, while masjid administrators could officially verify their institutions. This dual-layer approach — community signals paired with admin verification — became the foundation of our Confidence System.
Al-Minār isn't just a directory. It's a living registry — one that grows, validates, and even self-corrects over time through trust decay. If a masjid is no longer active, its confidence naturally decreases, keeping the data honest and fresh.
Founder's Message
From the team behind Al-Minār"Assalamu Alaikum. Al-Minār started as a simple question: 'Why is there no reliable way to find a masjid I can trust?' We've all been there — opening a maps app and hoping the pin is accurate, the masjid is still there, and it's actually serving the community.
We built Al-Minār to solve this. Not just as a database, but as a trust infrastructure — one where the community validates from the ground up and administrators verify from the top down. Our confidence system is designed to be honest: trust is earned over time, maintained through activity, and decays when left unattended.
This is an open-source project, built for the Ummah, by the Ummah. We hope it becomes a lasting resource that serves Muslims around the world, wherever they may be."
Meet the Team
The people behind the lighthouse.
Lead Developer
Full-stack architect. Designed the confidence system, API layer, and frontend.
EngineeringUI/UX Design
Brand identity, visual design, and user experience across web and mobile.
DesignCommunity & Outreach
Masjid partnerships, community engagement, and verification processes.
OperationsThe Verification Process
How masjids earn and maintain trust, step by step.
Community Verification Path
signal in 30 days
verification
required
Community members can elevate a masjid from C0 to C1 by sending signals. Getting from C1 to C2+ requires a Masjid Admin to register and verify.
Masjid Admin Fast-Track Path Bypass C2
document (PDF)
Skips C2
Masjid Admins who upload a letterhead, registration certificate, or official document can bypass C2 entirely and go straight to C3 once the document is approved by our review team.
Confidence Decay & Maintenance
How Decay Works
Trust is not permanent. If a masjid's confidence is not maintained, it naturally decays over time:
- C3 → C2: Decays after 90 days (3 months) of no admin login
- C2 → C1: Decays after 180 days (6 months)
- C1 → C0: Decays after 365 days (1 year)
- C0: Does not decay further — remains in registry
How to Maintain C3
To keep a masjid at C3 (Actively Maintained), the Masjid Admin must:
- Log in at least once every 3 months — this confirms active management
- Optionally update prayer times or send admin signals to demonstrate ongoing engagement
- If 90 days pass without an admin login, the masjid drops from C3 to C2
- Further inactivity continues the decay chain: C2→C1→C0
Tip: Simply logging into Al-Minār every few months is enough to maintain C3 status.
What Makes Al-Minār Different
Confidence System
Multi-tiered trust levels (C0–C3) that improve over time with community and admin signals.
Verified Badges
Publicly verifiable badges with unique tokens that masjids can embed on their own websites.
Flexible Prayer Times
Admins can upload adhan, iqama, or both — no fixed format. Fill in what you know.
Signal System
Community members send signals that automatically upgrade a masjid's confidence level.
Document Verification
Masjid admins can upload official documents to fast-track straight to C3.
Open REST API
Full REST API with JWT authentication — build your own apps on top of the registry.
Ready to Explore?
Discover masjids in your area and see the trust system in action.