Technology

How Google can help you during this month of Ramadan

17.05.2019

By Ronn Tan

How Google can help you during this month of Ramadan

Ramadan is the month of intense dawn-to-dusk fasting and, for some, nightly feasts. Muslims fast in order to remind themselves of the suffering of the less fortunate, as well as to feel closer to God. Along with the Muslim declaration of faith, charity, daily prayer, and performing the hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam.

It can be challenging sometimes to observe the holy month of Ramadan but it can become throughly easier with the help of Google. From keeping up with prayer times to planning the iftar trip, Google has curated a list of helpful tips for Muslims.

1. Keep an eye on the times

It can be really difficult to be certain of prayer times as they change throughout the month. You’re in luck as Google has created a special tool to combat the issue. Local prayer times of the day will appear when you simply search “prayer times”. Even better, you get to see the prayer times for the next 30 days too! With this function, you will never miss the right time to pray anymore. Just wonderful, isn’t it?

READ MORE: Find out what makes Malaysian Raya unique

2. Locate the qibla

Generally, as humans, we are always on the move and because of that, we don’t always know our directions in relation to the qibla (direction to face during prayer). With the Qibla Finder, a web app, you will always be able to locate the right direction. Regardless of where you are in the world, the app uses augmented reality to guide you to the exact path to face when praying. It’s time to face the qibla!

Fun fact: It is also possible to use the Qibla Finder offline on Android homescreens.

READ MORE: Check out other interesting AR apps you can use now

3. Cooking up the perfect iftar meal

While Malaysians are fortunate that a large majority of the world uses the metric system, there are countries that hasn’t adopted the system—such as the United States, which uses the imperial system. However, with Google, fear unfamiliar measurements no more. On Google’s search bar, just key in the measurement conversion and you are good to go! Now, you can prepare new recipes for iftar with your family and friends without compromising on taste.

READ MORE: Why not dine in some of the best buka puasa buffets in KL?

4. Nutritional information

Malaysians are evolving to be more health-concious. Food intake is heavily-scrutinised. To help you keep an eye on eating habits and to assist those on a strict diet, search for the breakdown of nutritional information on Google. This is also very useful for those who have dietary restrictions and food allergies. Here’s to staying healthy and wholesome this puasa month and beyond.

READ MORE: If you’re happy and healthy, here’s something you should know

5. Planning a festive Raya

We all know someone who needs and loves to plan ahead of time—or maybe that’s you. With Google, you can now compile ideas and inspiration by starting an image collection. All you have to do is search for the items you fancy and choose “add to” when you tap on the image. Elevate the Raya festivities way ahead of time when you share the curated collection with friends and family. Time for uninspiring Raya celebration to disappear for good!

READ MORE: Check out more Raya inspirations here

6. Greeting cards with Qalam

Why not send your own 3D Ramadan greeting cards this year? Just use Qalam to create beautiful personalised messages to share with friends and family. Nine artists from around the world have created 35 unique digital Ramadan and Raya greetings with Tilt Brush. Raya festivities in 2019 are about to be even better as you bond with the ones you love over beautiful and special 3D greeting cards.

READ MORE: With better technology, life gets a lot easier, like these new Dyson products

7. Check on the weather

The weather can be very unpredictable these days—global warming is real. Hence, it is a good practice to always check the weather forecast. Just look up “weather” on the Google search bar and you will be presented with a quick overview of the latest forecast near you. Come rain or shine, you will be prepared during this holy month of Ramadan.

READ MORE: Rain or shine, these sunscreens will come handy in the long run

8. Stay productive

Being productive is essential for everyone. We have to make use of every second we get in order to maximise productivity. Google has made it really easy for us to search for activities to do! All you have to do is type “events near me” in the search bar and you will be presented with a list of events you can attend. With a function as beneficial as this, you won’t have to be bored ever again. Life’s a brief candle after all. Why not live it up this Ramadan?

READ MORE: Not sure what to do this weekend? Here’s a roundup of events

The way of life is constantly changing and it is critical for us to adapt to these changes. Fortunately for us, Google is there to help us adapt for most occasions. Hopefully, these tips will come in handy as you concentrate on things that are significant to you. Ramadan Mubarak!

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