Salah Steps
Salah Steps
Salah Steps is a mobile app designed to make it easier for reverts to learn how to pray correctly, at their own pace, with clarity and compassion.
Salah Steps is a mobile app designed to make it easier for reverts to learn how to pray correctly, at their own pace, with clarity and compassion.
Duration
March 2025
to May 2025
Role
UX Designer
UX Researcher
Team
Solo
Tools Used
Figma
Chat Gpt
Google Forms
Photoshop
Tally.so
The problem
The problem
New Muslims and even some born Muslims struggle with learning and maintaining Salah. Existing tools often lack clarity, engagement, spiritual depth, and customisation, leaving users confused, demotivated, or disconnected.
The goal
The goal
Design an engaging, spiritually meaningful app that helps users learn and maintain their Salah through clear visuals, audio guidance, progress tracking, and thoughtful customisation, making the journey both effective and fulfilling.
Research
Research
To understand the challenges reverts face when learning to pray, I conducted exploratory research through surveys and open-ended feedback shared in Muslim communities and online spaces.
To understand the challenges reverts face when learning to pray, I conducted exploratory research through surveys and open-ended feedback shared in Muslim communities and online spaces.
Research Goal
Research Goal
Understand the biggest struggles reverts face when learning to pray
Identify what features would help users stay consistent and spiritually engaged
Validate gaps in existing prayer learning tools (e.g. NamazApp)
Understand the biggest struggles reverts face when learning to pray
Identify what features would help users stay consistent and spiritually engaged
Validate gaps in existing prayer learning tools (e.g. NamazApp)
Methodology
Methodology
Survey distributed in Muslim Slack channels and among revert mutuals
12 Survey Responses from Muslims learning Salah
Waiting List with 50+ Signups
Competitor Analysis (e.g. NamazApp, YouTube guides)
Survey distributed in Muslim Slack channels and among revert mutuals
12 Survey Responses from Muslims learning Salah
Waiting List with 50+ Signups
Competitor Analysis (e.g. NamazApp, YouTube guides)
Survey distributed in Muslim Slack channels and among revert mutuals
12 Survey Responses from Muslims learning Salah
Waiting List with 50+ Signups
Competitor Analysis (e.g. NamazApp, YouTube guides)
User Pain Points
User Pain Points
1
Struggling to Understand Arabic
“Understanding the meanings of Arabic words was hard.”
1
Confusion with Steps and Structure
“A video or animation showing how to pray would’ve helped.”
2
2
Inconsistency & Motivation
“A Salah tracker with streaks and rewards would motivate me.”
3
3
Lack of Reliable, Engaging Resources
“I want to understand the spiritual significance behind the actions.”
4
4
Lack of Customisation
“I’d love to select my own Surahs and reciters like Quranly.”
5
5
Struggling to Understand Arabic
“Understanding the meanings of Arabic words was hard.”
1
Confusion with Steps and Structure
“A video or animation showing how to pray would’ve helped.”
2
Inconsistency & Motivation
“A Salah tracker with streaks and rewards would motivate me.”
3
Lack of Reliable, Engaging Resources
“I want to understand the spiritual significance behind the actions.”
4
Lack of Customisation
“I’d love to select my own Surahs and reciters like Quranly.”
5
Competitive analysis
Competitive analysis
Ideation & Wireframes
Ideation & Wireframes
Research Goal
Research Goal
Make learning Salah feel simple, step-by-step, and non-overwhelming
Add audio and visual support to bridge the gap for those unfamiliar with Arabic
Build a sense of progress and motivation using streaks and badges
Provide meaningful context behind each prayer action
Allow users to customise their experience (e.g. pace, reciter, Surahs)
Make learning Salah feel simple, step-by-step, and non-overwhelming
Add audio and visual support to bridge the gap for those unfamiliar with Arabic
Build a sense of progress and motivation using streaks and badges
Provide meaningful context behind each prayer action
Allow users to customise their experience (e.g. pace, reciter, Surahs)
Feature Ideas
Feature Ideas
To address the user pain points and meet the design goals, I explored the following feature concepts:
Step-by-step Salah flow with clear visuals, audio, and translations
Customisable experience (choose Surahs, pace, reciter)
Progress tracking with streaks, badges, and motivational reminders
Optional quizzes and flashcards to help with memorisation
Spiritual insights explaining the meaning behind movements and recitations
Post-prayer screen with Duas and Dhikr
A few early users suggested this. We plan to include a dedicated screen offering relevant duas and dhikr to maintain spiritual connection after prayer.
To address the user pain points and meet the design goals, I explored the following feature concepts:
Step-by-step Salah flow with clear visuals, audio, and translations
Customisable experience (choose Surahs, pace, reciter)
Progress tracking with streaks, badges, and motivational reminders
Optional quizzes and flashcards to help with memorisation
Spiritual insights explaining the meaning behind movements and recitations
Post-prayer screen with Duas and Dhikr
A few early users suggested this. We plan to include a dedicated screen offering relevant duas and dhikr to maintain spiritual connection after prayer.
Wireframes
Wireframes
Low-fidelity wireframes were created to explore key flows such as the homepage, streak tracking screen, and step-by-step prayer guide, ensuring the structure and user experience felt clear and focused before moving into high-fidelity design.
Low-fidelity wireframes were created to explore key flows such as the homepage, streak tracking screen, and step-by-step prayer guide, ensuring the structure and user experience felt clear and focused before moving into high-fidelity design.
Users can navigate to key sections like learning Salah, tracking progress, and accessing daily motivation.
Users can navigate to key sections like learning Salah, tracking progress, and accessing daily motivation.
Home page
Home page
Guides users through each step of Salah with visuals, audio, and clear instructions for learning effectively.
Guides users through each step of Salah with visuals, audio, and clear instructions for learning effectively.
Prayer Screen
Prayer Screen
Displays prayer consistency with a visual tracker and motivational badges to encourage habit building.
Displays prayer consistency with a visual tracker and motivational badges to encourage habit building.
Streak Screen
Streak Screen
High fidelty Design
High fidelty Design
After validating ideas through user research and wireframes, I brought the final UI to life. The focus was on clarity, spiritual warmth, and accessible design. I ensured the experience was visually engaging, informative, and motivating.
After validating ideas through user research and wireframes, I brought the final UI to life. The focus was on clarity, spiritual warmth, and accessible design. I ensured the experience was visually engaging, informative, and motivating.
After validating ideas through user research and wireframes, I brought the final UI to life. The focus was on clarity, spiritual warmth, and accessible design. I ensured the experience was visually engaging, informative, and motivating.
Home page
Home page
The main dashboard allows users to access prayer guides for all five daily prayers, track progress, and navigate through the app with ease.
The main dashboard allows users to access prayer guides for all five daily prayers, track progress, and navigate through the app with ease.
Learn Screen
Learn Screen
An interactive, step-by-step breakdown of the Islamic prayer by using visuals, audio, and translations to explain each movement and phrase in plain English.
An interactive, step-by-step breakdown of the Islamic prayer by using visuals, audio, and translations to explain each movement and phrase in plain English.
Prayer Screen
Users can navigate to key sections like learning Salah, tracking progress, and accessing daily motivation.
Streak Screen
Motivates users by showing daily prayer streaks, badges earned, and other progress indicators that help build consistency and routine.
Salah Settings Screen
Users can customise their learning experience by choosing preferred reciters, setting pace, and applying these settings to specific prayers
Post-Prayer Reflections Screen
After completing a prayer, users can view and read supplications (duas) and spiritual reminders to strengthen their connection and understanding.
Reflections & Outcomes
Reflections & Outcomes
What I learned
What I learned
What I learned
Designing Salah Steps taught me how essential empathy, cultural awareness, and accessibility are when building a product for a deeply personal experience like prayer. User research reminded me that effective design isn’t just about solving problems; it’s about creating emotionally resonant, respectful experiences.
Through survey feedback, competitive analysis, and UI iteration, I learned:
How to turn abstract spiritual needs into tangible features
How to simplify a learning journey without stripping away meaning
The importance of designing for both new learners and long-time users with consistency struggles
Designing Salah Steps taught me how essential empathy, cultural awareness, and accessibility are when building a product for a deeply personal experience like prayer. User research reminded me that effective design isn’t just about solving problems; it’s about creating emotionally resonant, respectful experiences.
Through survey feedback, competitive analysis, and UI iteration, I learned:
How to turn abstract spiritual needs into tangible features
How to simplify a learning journey without stripping away meaning
The importance of designing for both new learners and long-time users with consistency struggles
Designing Salah Steps taught me how essential empathy, cultural awareness, and accessibility are when building a product for a deeply personal experience like prayer. User research reminded me that effective design isn’t just about solving problems; it’s about creating emotionally resonant, respectful experiences.
Through survey feedback, competitive analysis, and UI iteration, I learned:
How to turn abstract spiritual needs into tangible features
How to simplify a learning journey without stripping away meaning
The importance of designing for both new learners and long-time users with consistency struggles
Impact
Impact
Impact
Although the app is still in the design phase, early feedback has been overwhelmingly positive:
50+ people joined the waiting list, including both reverts to Islam and born Muslims
Respondents described the idea as “long overdue” and “exactly what I needed when I started learning”
Many expressed that a tool like this would’ve reduced anxiety and increased motivation in their learning journey
Although the app is still in the design phase, early feedback has been overwhelmingly positive:
50+ people joined the waiting list, including both reverts to Islam and born Muslims
Respondents described the idea as “long overdue” and “exactly what I needed when I started learning”
Many expressed that a tool like this would’ve reduced anxiety and increased motivation in their learning journey
Although the app is still in the design phase, early feedback has been overwhelmingly positive:
50+ people joined the waiting list, including both reverts to Islam and born Muslims
Respondents described the idea as “long overdue” and “exactly what I needed when I started learning”
Many expressed that a tool like this would’ve reduced anxiety and increased motivation in their learning journey
Next Steps
Next Steps
Rework the Learn Screen
Explore how to make the learning experience more engaging and memorable. This means going beyond basic quizzes to include interactive elements like:
Drag-and-drop activities (e.g. arranging prayer steps in order)
Tap-to-reveal flashcards
Micro-animations to show correct vs incorrect answers
Story-style lessons that build emotional connection
Introduce Gamification
Integrate light gamification elements to boost motivation and retention, such as:Unlockable badges and progress milestones
XP points or streak counters for consistency
Level-based learning journeys (e.g. “Beginner to Confident”)
Test Learning Formats
Conduct A/B testing with users to see which learning formats (quizzes, flashcards, visual storytelling) lead to better engagement and knowledge retention.Partner with Educators
Collaborate with Islamic educators and new Muslims to ensure the content is both authentic and easy to digest for learners from all backgrounds.
Rework the Learn Screen
Explore how to make the learning experience more engaging and memorable. This means going beyond basic quizzes to include interactive elements like:
Drag-and-drop activities (e.g. arranging prayer steps in order)
Tap-to-reveal flashcards
Micro-animations to show correct vs incorrect answers
Story-style lessons that build emotional connection
Introduce Gamification
Integrate light gamification elements to boost motivation and retention, such as:Unlockable badges and progress milestones
XP points or streak counters for consistency
Level-based learning journeys (e.g. “Beginner to Confident”)
Test Learning Formats
Conduct A/B testing with users to see which learning formats (quizzes, flashcards, visual storytelling) lead to better engagement and knowledge retention.Partner with Educators
Collaborate with Islamic educators and new Muslims to ensure the content is both authentic and easy to digest for learners from all backgrounds.
Mahdi Rahman
Mahdi
mahdirahman321@gmail.com
© 2025 Muhammad Rahman. All rights reserved.
Mahdi Rahman
Mahdi
mahdirahman321@gmail.com
© 2025 Muhammad Rahman. All rights reserved.
Mahdi Rahman
Mahdi
mahdirahman321@gmail.com
© 2025 Muhammad Rahman. All rights reserved.