R E L E A S E N O T E S
2.0 12/10/92 Developed the new format, updated Internet information, added QuranBase Mac, Al-Munad, Alim 1.5, IslamicTimer and re-ordered the sections.
1.1c 7/16/92 Fixed some information regarding the Islamic School.
1.1b 7/12/92 Spell-checked, corrected some miscellaneous information, found a home.
1.1a 6/24/92 Made a couple of corrections on network services, no new entries.
1.1 6/2/92 Added several new software packages and some Internet resources.
1.0a 5/22/92 Fixed a few typographical mistakes.
1.0 5/15/92 Initial release.
P R E F A C E
After attending the Second International Conference on Computer Technology in Service of Islam in San Jose, CA (April 1992), I decided that there was a need to compile a list of various computing resources available to the Muslim community.
This resource guide will serve as a listing for software and major network resources such as electronic mailing lists, forums and newsgroups related to discussion of Islamic topics.
I have limited the scope of the guide to software published in the English language in order to maintain a focus and keep the guide at a manageable size. I realize that there are many Arabic language software packages available. I have consciously omitted them. Perhaps someone else will pick up the slack in this area.
This guide is provided as a free service to the Muslim community, I did my best to secure its accuracy but in no way do I guarantee its authenticity. Please do not hold me liable for anything. I would also like to thank the many individuals that provided me with much of the information listed here, may Allah reward their efforts. You may distribute this guide electronically as you wish, but if you wish to publish it in any print media, e.g. newsletters or magazines, please contact me first. I will most certainly grant you permission; I simply would like to keep track of how and where this guide is used. Please send any additions, corrections or comments to me via e-mail at hashem@netcom.com.
The latest copy of this guide is available via file transfer (FTP) from the AMASS Software Library at Boston University. Thanks go to Abdelsalam Heddaya.
Inshallah, you will find this guide useful.
S O F T W A R E
A. ON-LINE DATABASES - QURAN
Al-Quran Database
----------------- A program which displays side-by-side text of the Quran in Arabic and English. Yusuf Ali and M. Pickthall translations. Searchable English text by keyword and subject with Boolean operators. Includes background information about the suras. Complements Al-Hadith Database.
Requires: IBM PC or compatible with 512K RAM and 10MB free on a hard disk
Price: $99
Islamic Computing Centre Islamic Book Service
73, St. Thomas's Road 10900 W. Washington Street
London N4 2QJ U.K Indianapolis, IN 46231-2080
A.K. Barkatulla (317)839-8150/7669
The Alim 1.5
------------
An Islamic study toolkit which includes: the Quran in Arabic, Yusuf Ali
and M. Pickthall Translations and Concordances, Yusuf Ali Commentary, a
Transliteration, Sahih Bukhari Hadith, Hadith Qudsi database, Islamic
Subjects database, Maududi Sura Information, Chronological History of
Islam, Biographies of the Companions of the Prophet, and Islamic Terms
Dictionary. Every database is searchable via keywords (with Boolean
operators) or by subject, regular expressions, and word series.
Background searching and "save search" features. Multiple window
operations and GUI menus and dialog boxes. Some of the enhancements in
Version 1.5 include support for faster searches and searching in Arabic,
sound support (English only) via speech synthesis (with a sound board),
a new Sahih Bukhari subjects database, and miscellaneous bug fixes.
Requires: IBM PC or compatible with 512K RAM, 1.5MB to 15MB free on a
hard disk and EGA or better display for Arabic
Price: $99 (less for upgrades from Version 1.0)
Speech Synthesis Module - $24.95
ISL Software Corp. IQRA Bookcenter
(800)397-5561/(512)690-5973 (800)521-4272
Holy Quran (English)
--------------------
A program to display the Yusuf Ali translation of the Quran. Keyword
search capability with Boolean operators. Thesaurus and theme index.
Ability to display Arabic script as well. This is one of a series of
programs (mostly Arabic) which run under the Sakhr DOS system. Databases
of the Quran, Al-Bukhary hadith, and Al-Mawarith (inheritance) expert
system also available. The system requires a DOS Arabization package.
Price: Holy Quran (English) - Unknown
DOS Arabization - $40
Requires: IBM PC or compatible with Sakhr DOS Arabization, VGA display
and 20MB free on a hard disk
Available: June 1992
Al Alamiah Electronics Company
Heliopolis, Cairo
P.O. Box: 5189 H. West
Code 11771 EGYPT
IslamicWare: The Holy Koran & Explanation v7.0
----------------------------------------------
"Koran: Contemporary Text" displays searchable text of a new English
translation of the Quran by Ahmad Darwish. Subject index and concordance
(word index) also available. "Explanation Koran: Contemporary Text", a
commentary on the above translation. Also available "Koran: Academic
Text", "Quran: Yusuf Ali text translation", "Koran: Yusuf Ali revised
text", and "Koran: Muhammad Pickthall text revised", each available with
index and concordance. Koran CD and the first electronic Islamic
encyclopedia are due in December 1992.
Requires: IBM PC or compatible, 10MB free on a hard disk (for text), 4MB
free on a hard disk (for concordance)
Price: Suras 1 & 2 available for free
"Koran: Contemporary Text" - $80, with Index - $180, with Concord - $280
"Explanation Koran: Contemporary Text" - $80, with Index - $180, with
Concord-$280. Other programs follow the same pricing structure.
Ahmad Darwish & M. K.
P.O. Box 8279
Fremont, CA 94537-8279
(510)794-9363
QuranBase
---------
A database program of the Yusuf Ali translation of the Quran. Fully
searchable by keyword, chapter, verse and subject.
Requires: IBM PC or compatible with 256K RAM, mono, CGA, EGA or VGA
display and 1.5MB free on a hard disk
Price: $179
Sound Vision
843 W. Van Buren, Suite 411
Chicago, IL 60607
(800)432-4262
QuranBase Mac
-------------
A database program of the Yusuf Ali translation of the Quran. Fully
searchable by keyword, chapter, verse, and subject.
Requires: Macintosh SE or higher (min. 2 MB RAM), 2.5MB free on a hard
disk and Hypercard software
Price: $179
Sound Vision
843 W. Van Buren, Suite 411
Chicago, IL 60607
(800)432-4262
Quranic Text
------------
Text of the M. H. Shakir English translation of the Quran as published
by Tahrike Tarsile Quran, Inc.
Price: Free
Requires: Any text editor or word processor
Access: The filename is "Quran.tar.Z" and is available via file transfer
(FTP) from the following locations on the Internet.
Host Directory
ariel.unm.edu /pub/misc
cs.ubc.ca /mirror1/next/Literature/working
etlport.etl.go.jp /pub/NeXT/Literature/working
ftp.uu.net /doc/literary/obi/Religion
gatekeeper.dec.com /.0/data
hp5.mcs.kent.edu /pub
nova.cc.purdue.edu /pub/next/Literature/working
pinus.slu.se /pub/etext/misc
princeton.edu /pub
roxette.mty.itesm.mx /pub/next/Literature/working
slopoke.mlb.semi.harris.com /pub/doc
snake.mcs.kent.edu /pub and /pub/quran
sonata.cc.purdue.edu /pub/next/Literature/working
sunsite.unc.edu /pub/docs/books/religious
unix.hensa.ac.uk /pub/uunet/doc/literary/obi/Religion
B. ON-LINE DATABASES - HADITH
Al-Hadith Database
------------------
A program to search the Sahih al-Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud, Al-Muwatta,
Tirmidhy and Nasa'i hadith sources in English. Cross-referencing between
the Al-Quran Database & Islamic LawBase.
Requires: IBM PC or compatible with 512K RAM and 20MB free on a hard
disk
Price: $199
Islamic Computing Centre Islamic Book Service
73, St. Thomas's Road 10900 W. Washington Street
London N4 2QJ U.K Indianapolis, IN 46231-2080
A.K. Barkatulla (317)839-8150/7669
Hadith on CD
------------
Collections of hadith databases on CD ROM. Over 15 languages supported.
Requires: IBM PC or compatible with CD-ROM drive
Price: Unknown
M.M. Al-Azami & Aqil M. Azmi
Center for Hadith Analysis
805 29th Street, #552-N
Boulder, Colorado 80303
(303)938-1211
HadithBase
----------
A database program of Sahih al-Bukhari hadiths. Fully searchable by
keyword and subject with Boolean operators.
Requires: IBM PC or compatible with 512K RAM, mono, CGA, EGA or VGA
display and 3 MB free on a hard disk
Price: $195
Sound Vision
843 W. Van Buren, Suite 411
Chicago, IL 60607
(800)432-4262
C. ON-LINE DATABASES - OTHER
Islamic LawBase
---------------
A program to search the following legal literature: Fiqh al-Sunnah,
Majellah al-ahkam, Hedaya al-Marghinani, Fatawa-e-Qazi Khan, Al Halal
Wal Haram, Muwatta of Imam Malik, al Risala al-Qairawaniya, Criminal Law
of Islam, and Kitab-ul-Kharaj in English.
Requires: IBM PC or compatible with 512K RAM and 20MB free on a hard
disk
Price: $199
Islamic Computing Centre Islamic Book Service
73, St. Thomas's Road 10900 W. Washington Street
London N4 2QJ U.K Indianapolis, IN 46231-2080
A.K. Barkatulla (317)839-8150/7669
Nahjul Balaagha Version 2.0
---------------------------
A database program of the sayings and letters of Imaam Ali. Provides the
ability to search, display and print sayings by keyword.
Requires: IBM PC or compatible
Price: Unknown
Al-Mahdi Islamic Software Centre (MISC)
P.O. Box 45844
Nairobi, Kenya
D. EDUCATIONAL/GAMES
Al-Qari
-------
A program designed to teach children and adults to recite the Quran in
Arabic. Uses sounds and text in Arabic and English.
Requires: Macintosh
Price: Unknown
Sound Vision
843 W. Van Buren, Suite 411
Chicago, IL 60607
(800)432-4262
Hijrah
------
Small game written in BASIC which quizzes the player regarding the
flight of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) from Mecca to Medina.
Requires: IBM PC or compatible with BASIC interpreter (such as BASICA)
Price: $5 (Shareware)
Available: AmNet BBS (see entry)
Islam Stack
-----------
A Hypercard stack outlining the main events of Islamic History, from the
birth of Muhammad until World War II. Includes maps and family trees.
Requires: Macintosh and Hypercard software
Price: Free
Available: CompuServe Islam Forum
EDUCORP - Disk #8412
7434 Trade Street
San Diego, CA 92121
Orders: (800)843-9497
Info: (619)536-9999
Islamic Scholar I
-----------------
Written in an artificial intelligence language, this menu-driven
educational program covers more than 60 topics in fiqh and aqeedah;
basics of Islam; and "how to"s - the basic duties of Muslims. The
English meaning and transliteration of small chapters from the Quran is
also included.
Requires: IBM PC or compatible
Price: $39
Sound Vision
843 W. Van Buren, Suite 411
Chicago, IL 60607
(800)432-4262
pcIQ
----
A "trivia type" quiz game on topics such as the Qur'an, seerah, the
ummah, events and fiqh. Multiple choice answers. Also includes a
facility to learn to read the last hizb of the Quran in Arabic and
display color Islamic art.
Requires: IBM PC or compatible with 512K RAM, EGA or VGA display
Price: $69
Islamic Computing Centre Islamic Book Service
73, St. Thomas's Road 10900 W. Washington Street
London N4 2QJ U.K Indianapolis, IN 46231-2080
A.K. Barkatulla (317)839-8150/7669
E. PRAYER TIME CALCULATION
An-Nida' 2.1
------------
Calculates prayer time schedules for any month of any year (up to 2050);
for any location in the world. Comes preset for more than 550 locations
world wide. Other locations may be used as well. Options include
printing in Arabic or English, calculation using Hijrah or Christian
calendars, Shafi'i or Hanafi prayer times, Qibla direction and more.
Requires: Macintosh and Hypercard software
Price: $39
Sound Vision
843 W. Van Buren, Suite 411
Chicago, IL 60607
(800)432-4262
calendrical.l
-------------
A Common Lisp program to calculate the Hijri, Gregorian and Julian
calendars. Includes definitions of some important events.
Requires: LISP interpreter
Price: Free
Author(s): Nachum Dershowitz and Edward Reingold
Available: On the Internet, via file transfer (FTP) from the AMASS
Software Library (see entry)
IslamicTimer
------------
A software package for calculating Islamic (Hijri) Calendar, prayer time
schedules and the direction of the Qiblah.
Requires: UNIX C Compiler
Price: Free with suggested donation to a worthy cause
Author: Waleed Muhanna
Available: On the Internet.
Minaret 1.3
-----------
A menu-driven program to calculate prayer times for many cities in the
world. New cities can be added by providing location and timing data.
Shows the direction of the Qibla, and various data related to the Hijri
calendar (date conversion). Produces text and TeX output of prayer
schedules.
Requires: Macintosh
Price: $10 (Shareware)
Kamal Abdali
Available: On the Internet, via file transfer (FTP) from the AMASS
Software Library (see entry) and sumex-aim.stanford.edu
Praytimer
---------
A C language computer program to calculate prayer schedules given
selected parameters. A program based on Minaret 1.3 but can operate in
batch mode.
Requires: C compiler
Price: Free
Kamal Abdali
Available: On the Internet, via file transfer (FTP) from the AMASS
Software Library (see entry)
Prayer Time Table
-----------------
FORTRAN-language computer routines to calculate prayer times and moon
sighting data given selected parameters.
Requires: FORTRAN compiler
Price: Free
T. Djamaluddin
Department of Astronomy, Kyoto University
Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606, Japan
Available: On the Internet
Prayer Time Table (1988)
------------------------
FORTRAN-language computer routines to calculate prayer times and moon
sighting data given selected parameters.
Requires: FORTRAN compiler
Price: Free
Moustafa Baraka
Available: On the Internet
Prayer Timing Ver 1.1
---------------------
FORTRAN-language computer routines to calculate prayer times and moon
sighting data given selected parameters.
Requires: FORTRAN compiler
Price: "Free" with a request for donation to MSA-UMR
MSA-UMR
202 Rolla Building
Rolla, MO 65401
Available: On the Internet
Taqwim 3.0
----------
A program which converts dates from the Gregorian calendar to the
Islamic calendar.
Requires: IBM PC or compatible
Price: $20
Mark Woodworth & John Woods
University of Chicago
Department of Middle Eastern Studies
F. MISCELLANEOUS
Al-Munad
--------
Calculates prayer times for any day of any year (up to 2050); or any
location in the world. Comes preset for more than 800 locations world
wide. Other locations may be used as well. System Extension reminds you
when prayer times are due. Also allows you to tell it to remind you
after some time has passed. Calculation using Shafi'i or Hanafi prayer
times, astronomical times, Qibla direction, and more.
Requires: Macintosh
Price: $39
Sound Vision
843 W. Van Buren, Suite 411
Chicago, IL 60607
(800)432-4262
Clip Art Collection #1: Calligraphic Designs
--------------------------------------------
Thirty calligraphic images in Encapsulated PostScript (EPS) format.
Requires: Macintosh with an application to read EPS formatted files and
a Postscript printer or imagesetter
Price: $54.95
Sakkal Design
1523 175th Place SE
Bothell, WA 98012
(206)484-8830
Daily Ayat
----------
A program to automatically display an ayat of the Quran each time you
start your computer.
Requires: IBM PC or compatible
Price: $19.95
ISL Software Corp.
San Antonio, TX
(800)397-5561/(512)690-5973
Daily Hadith
------------
A program to automatically display a short hadith each time you start
your computer.
Requires: IBM PC or compatible
Price: $19.95
ISL Software Corp.
San Antonio, TX
(800)397-5561/(512)690-5973
Miscellaneous Sounds
--------------------
Macintosh sound samples of the Athan (call to prayer) and the first sura
of the Quran.
Requires: Macintosh and a sound utility (e.g. SoundEdit or SoundMaster)
or System 7
Price: Free
Available: Via file transfer (FTP) from the AMASS Software Library (see
entry)
PrayerMinder
------------
Allows for the creation and saving of prayer time tables. A memory-
resident program with a five-alarm clock which reminds you of the times
to pray.
Requires: IBM PC or compatible
Price: $29.95
ISL Software Corp.
San Antonio, TX
(800)397-5561/(512)690-5973
Quranref
--------
A word/reference/pattern lookup program based on the Icon programming
language (probably only runs on UNIX systems). It uses the Quranic text
of the M. H. Shakir English translation of the Quran (see entry).
Requires: Icon version 8 [A programming language], Icon Program Library,
and a C compiler
Price: Free
Available: On the Internet. Icon available via file transfer (FTP) from
cs.arizona.edu
N E T W O R K R E S O U R C E S
A. NEWSGROUPS AND MAILING LISTS
History of Islam Mailing List
-----------------------------
A mailing list to discuss the history of Islam.
Requires: A connection to the Internet and an e-mail package
Price: Free
Subscriptions: Send a message to LISTSERV@ULKYVM.BITNET with the line
SUBSCRIBE ISLAM-L
Submissions: ISLAM-L@ULKYVM.BITNET
Malaysian Islamic Study Group Mailing List
------------------------------------------
A mailing list to discuss Islamic research in the Malay language
Requires: A connection to the Internet and an e-mail package
Price: Free
Subscriptions: Send a message to LISTSERV@PSUVM.BITNET with the line
SUBSCRIBE MISG-L
Submissions: MISG-L@PSUVM.BITNET
MSA-NET Mailing List
--------------------
A mailing list to discuss Muslim Student Association (MSA) issues.
Requires: A connection to the Internet and an e-mail package
Price: Free
Subscriptions: msa-request@eleceng.ee.queensu.ca
Submissions: msa@eleceng.ee.queensu.ca
Muslim News Network Mailing List
--------------------------------
MNN is a moderated forum dedicated to educate the network communities on
issues relating to the Muslims in an academic & non-political
environment. Submissions are compiled in the form of a newsletter and
mailed to the subscribers.
Requires: A connection to the Internet and an e-mail package
Price: Free
Subscriptions: Send a message to LISTSERV@ASUACAD.BITNET with the line
SUB MUSLIMS
Submissions: MUSLIMS@ASUACAD.BITNET
Muslim Student Association Mailing List
---------------------------------------
A mailing list to discuss Muslim Student Association (MSA) issues.
Requires: A connection to the Internet and an e-mail package
Price: Free
Subscriptions: Send a message to LISTSERV@PSUVM.BITNET with the line
SUBSCRIBE MSA-L
Submissions: MSA-L@PSUVM.BITNET
Usenet - soc.religion.islam
---------------------------
A moderated newsgroup discussing Islamic topics.
Price: Free
Requires: A connection to the Internet and a Usenet newsreader such as
rn or nn
Note: Abdelmontassar Benmrad
Other Usenet news groups which may discuss Islam peripherally are the
following:
soc.culture.afghanistan soc.culture.indian soc.culture.pakistan
soc.culture.arabic soc.culture.iranian soc.culture.turkish
soc.culture.bangladesh soc.culture.malaysia soc.culture.yugoslavia
talk.politics.mideast
B. ARCHIVES AND REMOTE SITES
American Arab Scientific Society (AMASS) Software Library
---------------------------------------------------------
An archive site with a collection of software including this resource
guide, Minaret 1.3, calendrical.l, praytimer, and other items.
Host: cs.bu.edu (128.197.2.1)
Username: ftp
Password:
Requires: A connection to the Internet and file transfer (FTP) software
Price: Free
Questions: Abdelsalam Heddaya
AMnet Bulletin Board System
---------------------------
A bulletin board system setup by the American Muslim Council (AMC), a
lobby group for American Muslims. News reports, electronic mail, and
miscellaneous files are available.
Access Number: (202)789-2527
Parameters: 2400 Baud, No Parity, 8 Bit, 1 Stop
Location: Bethesda, Maryland
Requires: Macintosh or IBM PC or compatible and terminal emulation
software
Price: Free
Contact: Ammad-Ad-Dean Ahmed
Phone: (301)951-0539 (voice)
CalTech Muslims Group Archive
-----------------------------
The on-line text of the Quran was made available but is temporarily
being corrected. Miscellaneous documents, FORTRAN and C programs for
prayer time calculations and this guide.
Host: ftp.ugcs.caltech.edu (131.215.128.6)
Username: ftp
Password:
Requires: A connection to the Internet and file transfer (FTP) software
Price: Free
Questions: Waqar Malik
CompuServe - Religion forum - Islam subject area
------------------------------------------------
On CompuServe, there is a subject area within the Religion forum which
discusses Islamic topics It has a file archive area as well.
Access: "Islam" Subject Area in the Religion Forum (GO RELIGION).
Requires: A subscription to CompuServe and CompuServe Information
Manager or terminal emulation software
Price: CompuServe on-line charges
The Islamic School
------------------
An Islamic subject area at the Cleveland Free-Net Community Computer
System. Introductory information on Islam, many of the areas are under
development including frequently asked questions and information about
the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
Hosts: free-net-a.cwru.edu (29.22.8.82)
free-net-b.cwru.edu (129.22.8.75)
free-net-c.cwru.edu (129.22.8.76)
Requires: A connection to the Internet and virtual terminal software
such as telnet
Price: Free
Questions: Eusat Mercan (Sysop) [aa755]
Sukru Gultop (Co-sysop) [sxg12]
Mesut Sahin (Co-sysop) [mxs44]
All addresses are on Cleveland Free-net.
Access: Upon connecting you will be asked whether you are a registered
user or a visitor. Select 2 to indicate a visitor. Then, select 2 to
"Explore the system". Upon being presented with the main menu, type "go
islam" to access the Islamic School.
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