“They did the Bible, so why not do the Quran. ... This application can help younger people to read the Quran,” Ikhwan said yesterday. PlayStation enthusiasts, more used to playing games such as Ridge Racer and Metal Gear Acid, can download an English-language version of the Quran, with displays in Arabic script, from the Internet.
Ikhwan said the software should appeal to parents, who sometimes distrust the Internet and gaming. “For some parents, when we talk about the Internet, all they see is the bad things. When we talk about the PlayStation, all they see is gaming and spending too much time not studying,” he said. “A mother can say, ‘Read the Quran first and then I’ll let you play games’.”
The software follows the creation of “The Raise,” an English-language magazine on Islam, for the Sony console, and other content such as Islamic wallpaper. “We focus on giving information on Islam and clearing misconceptions that non-Muslims have about Muslims,” said Ikhwan.
Ikhwan, a student with Malaysia’s Multimedia University south of Kuala Lumpur, is due to graduate this year with a degree in creative multimedia. Aided by a team of 10 student volunteers, he started developing the Quran software between classes in January.
It was launched earlier this month to a gathering of parents at a Muslim charity dinner who respond
AFP