Reflecting on 2025 with Quranlingo: A Year of Growth, Challenges, and New Horizons

As we close the chapter on 2025, we are excited to look back at what we’ve accomplished at Quranlingo in this year.

This year was initially supposed to be about laying the foundations. Our original plan was very simple: To add just one chapter of content in one language have Juz' Amma fully on the app. 

Instead, we exceeded our own expectations. We delivered two chapters in three languages (Juz’ Amma, and Tabarak in English, Turkish, and German). We also introduced recitation features and AI-driven enhancements much earlier than planned thanks for @Muhammad Saeed, our brilliant AI and Machine Learning engineer. These features were originally scheduled for 2026–2027. In addition, we added iPad support and a smoother onboarding experience, both of which were also planned for a later stage. 

Throughout the year, we had initial discussions and talks with more than 10 institutions about potential partnerships. Among them were highly reputable Islamic institutions such as Al-Azhar in Egypt and the Zentralrat der Muslime in Deutschland (the Central Council of Muslims in Germany), along with others who supported us with content verification and valuable ideas to improve the app. 

In parallel, we held calls and conversations with more than 10 users to deeply understand their learning experience and identify areas for improvement.

Since launching in February 2025, we have been blessed with over 1,000 active learners using Quranlingo in different languages. 

We also observed an interesting user distribution: 

Users by Language 

During 2025, we presented the idea of Quranlingo at three conferences and events, the most prominent being the Muslim Tech Festival in London.

Team, Volunteers, and Support

Over the course of the year, more than 10 team members joined and left the project at different stages, alongside over 10 volunteers who supported Quranlingo in various areas. We are also deeply grateful to the seven individual donors who contributed financially and helped cover our operational costs, making this project possible.

Milestones and Meaningful Stories

One of our proudest milestones is that we not only completed all our 2025 plans early, but also began implementing ideas originally planned for 2026.

A particularly meaningful moment happened at the Muslim Tech Festival, where we met a parent whose daughter has dyslexia and struggles with traditional learning apps. They explained how many apps fail because they lack strong audio, visual, and sensory components. Hearing how Quranlingo’s approach combining audio, visuals, and innovative gamified learning fit their needs was a powerful reminder of why we are doing this.

One repeated piece of feedback we always received is that Quranlingo feels different from other apps. Users told us that we listen closely, that we don’t push learners away, and that we don’t present Quran learning as rigid or strict. Instead, we use fun and vibrant colors, animations, and a strong focus on sensory learning that inspires learners and motivates them to continue.

Challenges and Lessons Learned

Of course, running a social enterprise is not without challenges. Over the past year, we operated on approximately €20,000, covering legal costs, infrastructure, and essential tools. This was made possible almost entirely through donations and the goodwill of our community.

One of our biggest challenges has been balancing financial sustainability with our mission. As a social enterprise, we are not chasing profit and we do not want to create a monetized experience that alienates learners or turns Quran learning into a transactional product. At the same time, we must fund legal requirements, infrastructure, and operational needs. Walking this line is difficult, but we believe it is achievable with the right vision and community support.

What we have learned is that the heart of a social enterprise lies in its ability to attract people who truly believe in the mission. This journey has shown us that it is not just about building an app, it is about building a community of like-minded individuals who are willing to contribute time, talent, and resources because they see the bigger picture. That, in itself, has been one of the most rewarding aspects of Quranlingo.

Looking Ahead to 2026

Looking forward, we are excited to push the boundaries of gamification even further. With our initiated collaboration with Quokka Studios and UIGO Designs, we are aiming to drive our gamification into new levels. We are not interested in superficial mechanics like collecting points for no reason or maintaining streaks without meaning. Instead, we aim to design deep, engaging game experiences that motivate learners, refresh memory, and encourage long-term engagement.

Our vision goes beyond learning mechanics. We want to connect these experiences with faith-based concepts and help both Muslims and non-Muslims appreciate the rich cultural, historical, and intellectual heritage of Islam. This is even reflected in our designs, and app aesthetics without explicitly teaching Islamic history or science, we want the experience itself through design, storytelling, and interaction to reflect how rich Islamic civilization has been and continues to be.

Closing Thoughts
 
In short, 2025 taught us that with passion, community support, and a little courage, it is possible to go beyond our plans and expectations. It set the stage for an even more exciting year ahead.
 
Here’s to a 2026 full of new ideas, deeper impact, and meaningful learning journeys