Qiam Institute ("we," "us," or "our") operates the Qiam Institute mobile application (the "App"). This Privacy Policy explains what information the App collects, how it is used, with whom it is shared, and the choices available to you. By using the App you agree to the practices described below.
With your permission, the App accesses your device's GPS coordinates (latitude and longitude) to provide location-dependent features such as prayer time calculations, Qibla compass direction, and local weather. Location data is:
You may revoke location permission at any time through your device's system settings. If you do, location-dependent features will use your last cached location or default settings.
The App does not contain an in-app volunteer or feedback form and does not collect your name, email address, phone number, date of birth or mailing address. The "Volunteer With Us" and "Send Feedback" buttons open forms hosted by Microsoft Forms in a browser window. Anything you enter there is submitted directly to Microsoft Forms and received by Qiam Institute in its Microsoft 365 account; the App itself never sees, stores or transmits that information. Microsoft's privacy statement is available at privacy.microsoft.com/privacystatement.
The App uses Firebase Analytics (provided by Google) to understand which features are most valuable to our community and to improve the App. Firebase Analytics automatically collects certain device and usage information, including:
Firebase Analytics does not collect personally identifiable information. Google's privacy policy is available at policies.google.com/privacy.
The App also uses Firebase Crashlytics (provided by Google) to automatically detect and report app crashes so we can fix them. When the App crashes, Crashlytics collects a crash report containing the stack trace and the device's state at the time of the crash (device model, operating system version, available memory). Crashlytics reports do not include your name, email address, or any other personally identifiable information, and the App does not attach custom identifiers or user IDs to crash reports. Crash reporting is disabled automatically in development builds.
The App uses Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) to deliver push notifications (e.g., prayer time reminders, community announcements). When you grant notification permission, a device token is generated and sent to Google's servers. The App subscribes to notification topics relevant to the content you use. No personal information is included in the token.
The App stores the following data on your device only (never transmitted to any server):
This data is not accessible to us or any third party.
| Data | Purpose | Legal Basis |
|---|---|---|
| GPS coordinates | Calculate prayer times, Qibla direction, and display local weather | Your consent (location permission) |
| Device/usage analytics | Understand app usage patterns to improve features | Legitimate interest |
| FCM device token | Deliver push notifications | Your consent (notification permission) |
| Local preferences | Persist your settings and reading progress across sessions | App functionality |
We do not use your data for advertising, profiling, or automated decision-making.
The App communicates with the following third-party services. Each service receives only the minimum data necessary to provide its function.
| Service | Provider | Data Shared | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firebase Analytics | Google LLC | Device info, usage events, approximate location (from IP) | App analytics |
| Firebase Cloud Messaging | Google LLC | Device token, topic subscriptions | Push notifications |
| Firebase Crashlytics | Google LLC | Crash reports (stack trace, device state at time of crash) | Crash reporting / app stability |
| OpenWeatherMap | OpenWeather Ltd | GPS coordinates | Local weather data |
| Nominatim | OpenStreetMap Foundation | GPS coordinates | Reverse geocoding (location name) |
| Quran.com API | Quran Foundation | None (authenticated with app credentials only) | Quran text and audio content |
| Flickr Public Feed | SmugMug / Flickr | None | Public photo gallery |
| Qiam Institute events & iqamah service | Qiam Institute (hosted on Google Firebase Cloud Functions) | None | Community events (from the Institute's SharePoint list) and iqamah times (from Masjidal) |
| EveryAyah.com / Islamic Network CDN | EveryAyah / Islamic Network | None | Quran recitation audio |
| quran.app CDN / jsDelivr | Quran.app / jsDelivr | None | Mushaf page images |
| YouTube | Google LLC | Standard YouTube interaction data | Embedded/linked video content |
| Google Maps | Google LLC | Standard Maps interaction data | Directions to the Islamic center |
| Microsoft Forms | Microsoft Corporation | External link only; data entered on Microsoft's platform | Volunteer sign-up and feedback forms |
We encourage you to review the privacy policies of these third-party services. We are not responsible for their data practices.
The App may request the following device permissions:
| Permission | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Internet | Access online content, APIs, and services |
| Fine / Coarse Location | Determine your position for prayer times, Qibla, and weather |
| Post Notifications | Display prayer reminders and community announcements |
| Schedule Exact Alarm / Use Exact Alarm | Trigger prayer time notifications at precise times |
| Receive Boot Completed | Reschedule alarms after device restart |
| Wake Lock | Keep the device awake during audio playback |
| Foreground Service / Media Playback | Continue Quran audio playback when the App is in the background |
| Vibrate | Haptic feedback for tasbih counter and notifications |
All permissions are optional. You can manage them at any time in your device's Settings.
We do not:
We may share data only as described in Section 3 (third-party service providers that help operate the App) or if required by law, regulation, or legal process.
You have the following rights regarding your data:
We will respond to data requests within 30 days. There is no charge for exercising these rights.
The App is a general-audience app for the Qiam Institute community and is not directed at children under 13. The Quran reader, duas, tasbih, prayer times and 99 Names of Allah work entirely on the device and do not collect any personal information from any user, including children.
We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided personal information through one of the external forms, contact us at info@qiaminstitute.org and we will promptly delete it.
The App is operated from the United States. If you access the App from outside the United States, please be aware that your data may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States and other countries where our third-party service providers operate. By using the App, you consent to such transfers.
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make material changes, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page and may notify you through the App. Your continued use of the App after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.
If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy, please contact us:
Qiam Institute Privacy Policy — Last updated April 1, 2026