Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs Launches Minbar to Extend the Reach of Friday Sermons
DOHA, QATAR, 8 June 2026 - The Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, represented by the Department of Mosques, launched Minbar as part of its digital transformation efforts to extend the reach and impact of Friday sermons through digital channels. Developed in collaboration with technology partner iHorizons, Minbar lets audiences access and engage with trusted sermon content in practical, accessible ways.
Minbar is designed to extend the value of the Friday sermon beyond a specific time and place. By bringing Ministry-approved religious content into a bilingual digital experience, the application supports broader access for Arabic and non-Arabic speakers, younger audiences, and those who want to revisit key sermon messages.
As the technology partner, iHorizons contributed to the development and delivery of Minbar's digital and AI-enabled capabilities, translating the Ministry's vision into an accessible experience built around usability and trust in the source material.
Through Minbar, users can follow the Friday prayer and sermon live, view information about mosques and preachers, access sermons in Arabic, and read English translations. Bilingual summaries highlight key messages, while simplified summaries present the content to younger audiences in an age-appropriate way.
Users can also ask questions and receive answers based on Ministry-approved sermon text, enabling more interactive exploration while keeping responses grounded in the source material. Sermon themes, topic subscriptions, and notifications help users follow subjects of interest and receive relevant updates based on their preferences.
"The launch of Minbar reflects the ministry's commitment, providing reliable and accessible Islamic content supported by artificial intelligence, and to extending the Friday sermon into a continuous, interactive experience that people can benefit from beyond a specific time and place," said Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz Al Thani, Director of the Department of Mosques at the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs.
The Ministry and iHorizons plan to expand Minbar with capabilities including live English audio translation, additional feedback and engagement tools, access to previous sermon archives with interactive question-and-answer functionality, and tools for identifying and summarizing themes across multiple sermons.
Minbar reflects the Ministry's continued focus on responsible digital transformation in religious and knowledge services. The collaboration demonstrates how iHorizons applies digital and AI capabilities to support institutions in delivering practical digital experiences aligned with their public-service objectives.
About iHorizons
iHorizons is a regional AI & technology consulting firm committed to delivering comprehensive business solutions to its enterprise clients. Headquartered in Qatar, iHorizons is a 30-year-old company driven by talent and innovation, serving customers with its mission-critical applications.
The company's core expertise encompasses digital transformation consulting, enterprise solutions, artificial intelligence, software development, cloud infrastructure, research and development, system integration, and e-commerce solutions. Over the past few years, iHorizons has evolved into an AI-centric company, investing in building strong artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities and developing use cases and AI solutions for a broad set of industries.
About the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs
The Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs oversees religious affairs and endowment management in Qatar. It works to support Islamic values, promote authentic scholarship, and provide trusted guidance to the public through educational services, digital platforms, and community programs. The ministry remains committed to ensuring that individuals have access to clear and reliable Islamic knowledge in a manner that is respectful, accessible, and aligned with community needs.