Qatari smart educational prayer rug Sajdah gets good response

Taking a cue from the good response it evoked in Qatar and outside, Sajdah, the innovative smart educational prayer rug, by Qatari start up Thakaa Technologies is set to ramp up production. Abdulrahman Saleh Khamis, CEO, and co-founder of Thakaa Technologies, told Gulf Times that the company is looking to fulfill the preorders soon while efforts are on to produce more units of the innovative rug. Described as the first of its kind, the rug helps new Muslims and children learn to pray with the help of technology while guiding prayer training and helping recite the Holy Qur'an. “The response during the crowd funding and preorder period was overwhelming. We could achieve the target within one hour and it doubled within 48 hours after the crowd funding was launched,” Khamis said. What is exciting, according to Khamis, is that 55% of the total pre orders were from outside Qatar, especially from the US, the UK, Singapore and Australia. With a built-in LED display Sajdah supports Arabic, English, and Transliterated Arabic. The text of the Holy Qur'an is displayed while a speaker helps the worshipper hear the voice of recitation and prayer while guiding him to the next action. Through the Sajdah mobile app the rug could be paired with smartphones and Apple Watch. “Parts of the Holy Qur'an that the worshipper wants to display during the prayer could be set. The speed of the prayer could also be set,” Khamis said. He added that efforts are on to update the rug while adding more features. Also, Thakaa Technologies is looking to minimise the production and marketing cost in order to draw more buyers. “We are looking to make it affordable for all those who want to buy,” Khamis said.Khamis conceptualised the idea as he was driven by the desire to help worshippers easily and fairly perform prayers. The idea was selected by Qatar Foundation’s (QF) Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP) that supported Khamis to materialise his dream. It was displayed on QF’s edutainment TV show Stars of Science. Khamis was one of the finalists of the show. While expressing his gratitude to the QF and QSTP Khamis said the XLR8 programme helped him grow as an innovator and transform his idea into business. Khamis is currently working as the deputy CEO of the Qatar Scientific Club has been nominated in the best inventor category while Sajdah was nominated in the best startup project category of Najah Qatari Festival that demonstrates the most successful inventors and prominent public figures across several fields.