The most ancient traditions of Islam are going high-tech, with a slew of modern offerings for those observing the holy month of Ramadan, which begins this week. Cell phone applications such as “iPray” or “iQur'an” offer a beeping reminder of requisite prayer times, while the “Find Makkah” and “mosque finder” programs help the Muslim traveler in an unfamiliar city find the nearest place to pray. “When I saw these applications for the first time, I thought: this is amazing,” said James Otun, who has several Islamic applications on his Apple iPhone and iPad. The applications aren't just for Ramadan; there are Islamic-themed programs that help users find the nearest Costco offering foods prepared according to Islamic dietary rules, learn the correct Arabic pronunciations in a daily prayer, or count how many pages of the Qur'an they've read that day – all on a mobile phone. The first time Sumeyye Kalyoncu heard the Adhan through surround-sound speakers on her iPhone dock, she was overcome with nostalgia for her native Turkey. “These are traditions and these have been in our lives for ages, like almost 15 centuries, so they seem very old,” Kalyoncu said. Kalyoncu uses an iPhone app called iPray Lite, keeping track of requisite daily prayers with a program that simulates the clicking sound of prayer beads or metal counter. Using headphones, the 24-year-old says she can now fulfill her daily spiritual obligations by counting prayers on her iPhone on the commuter bus to Manhattan. Nokia also has a Ramadan suite for its cell phones that consolidates everything worshippers need to know to observe Islam's holiest month. Some apps are free. Those that are not generally range from about 99 cents to $2.99, although some are more expensive. Otun says the apps he uses on his iPhone and iPad make him a more observant Muslim. From the beeping reminder to stop and pray to an app that tells him which nearby restaurants serve halal food, Otun's favorite application, called Find Makkah, is a compass-like program with an electronic indicator that changes from red to green when you've reached the requisite prayer angle to ensure you're facing Makkah.
