Saudi Arabia has launched a set of robots for reciting the Holy Quran, sermons, and the call to prayer (Adhan/Azaan) at the Grand Mosque in Makkah. The Muezzins’ work will be replaced by the robots.
The robots were introduced this weekend on Friday; as per the Saudi officials the project is part of a series of smart technology which includes Haramain project, according to Vision 2030 and the strategic 2024 plan of the presidency to provide improved services to visitors.
Devotees can press commands on the robots to access information on prayers, imams, muezzins, weekly schedules, including the names of clerics delivering Friday sermons and the verses of the Quran can also be downloaded by scanning the barcodes on the robot.
Earlier this year, Saudi Arabia introduced several intelligent robots in the Grand Mosque ahead of the Hajj pilgrimage, including robots specialised in cleaning the floor surface around the Kaaba.
In December, Saudi Arabia also launched a "Virtual Black Stone Initiative" that allowed Muslims to see and virtually touch the holy Black Stone, a rock set into the eastern corner of the Kaaba, without leaving home.
