Sakinah | Quran Memorisation & Prayer App

React NativeTypeScriptSupabase

Thursday, October 15, 2026

I'm building Sakinah, a cross-platform mobile app that helps Muslims memorise the Quran using the proven 3x3 method and track their daily prayers — with intelligent recommendations connecting the two.

The Problem:

There are solid Quran memorisation apps on the market, and there are decent prayer trackers. But nothing meaningfully bridges the gap between them. Muslims memorise surahs and then never get prompted to recite them where it matters most — in their daily prayers. Sakinah fills that gap.

The Solution:

Sakinah combines structured memorisation with smart prayer tracking. The core feature uses the 3x3 method — repeat the first ayah three times, the second three times, then combine them. A spaced repetition algorithm (inspired by Anki) tracks memorisation strength and recommends which surahs to recite in each prayer, prioritising material at risk of being forgotten.

Key Features:

  • 3x3 Memorisation Sessions: Structured, repeatable learning with customisable repetitions and audio recitation from professional reciters.
  • Prayer Tracking: Log all five daily prayers, record surahs recited, and build consistency through streaks.
  • Smart Recommendations: Spaced repetition suggests what to recite in each prayer based on memorisation strength.
  • Progress Dashboard: Visual statistics across four memorisation levels — New, Learning, Reviewing, and Mastered.
  • Audio Playback: Adjustable speed with support for multiple reciters.

Tech Stack:

  • React Native + Expo — Cross-platform from a single codebase, launching iOS first.
  • TypeScript — Full type safety throughout.
  • Tamagui — Cross-platform UI with design tokens for consistent Islamic theming.
  • Supabase — Authentication, Postgres database, and cloud sync.
  • Expo AV — Audio playback for Quran recitation.

Technical Highlights:

The project involved some interesting challenges. Arabic text rendering required proper RTL support and careful handling of the Bismillah across different surahs. The original 1,400-line monolithic component was refactored into a modular architecture with custom hooks and a dedicated service layer. I migrated from a planned AWS infrastructure to Supabase for a significantly better developer experience without sacrificing capability.

Status:

Approaching MVP launch on iOS, with Android to follow. Post-launch priorities include family linking features and AI-powered surah recommendations.