Authors
“Robots will recite Quran and provide information to visitors at Islam’s holiest site following the latest technology rollout by the Presidency of the two Holy Mosques”, this was reported by several reputed media houses including the TRT world and Arab news.
Several other media houses also claimed that Robots will recite Quran, deliver Sermons and Azaan under the vision 2030, as per the Mecca authorities.
Even International reputed media house TRTworld has reported that Robots will recite Holy Quran, deliver sermons and Azaan.
“Forget Muezzin, Saudi Arabia has introduced robots to recite Quran Azaan at the Grand Mosque in Mecca. Saudi Arabia on Friday launched a robot for reciting the Quran, sermons, and the call to prayer (Adhan) at the Grand Mosque in Makkah. The robot aims to deliver the message of the imams and muezzins of the Grand Mosque to the pilgrims and to employ modern technologies in the service of the pilgrims”, one of the leading newspapers from J&K, The Kashmir Monitor reported.
The reports quoted the General President of the Two Holy Mosques, Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais, as saying that “The new robot comes within the smart campus project in accordance with Vision 2030 and the Presidential Strategic Plan 2024, which aims to provide maximum services to visitors to the two holy mosques.
Link to the reports here, here, here, here and here
Fact Check/ Verification
Newschecker began by searching the keyword ‘Robots will recite Quran, deliver sermons and Azaan in Mecca’ on google and found various reports refuting the claim.
Maharashtra based news outlet Ummid.com, in a report, said that Saudi Arabia refuted reports claiming that Robots will recite Quran and replace Muadhins in Mecca.
“Makkah: Saudi Arabia refuted as incorrect and false the reports claiming that Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered robots will be deployed for Adhan – call to prayers, from the Grand Mosque in Makkah”, the report said.
We found another news report by J&K based media outlet freepresskashmir titled ‘Robots will not recite Azaan or sermons, to serve as information guide only: Saudi Arabia’
The report quoted the General Presidency of Haramain, the agency responsible for the administration and development of the Islamic holy sites of the Masjid al-Haram and the Masjid an-Nabawi, as saying “The robots will simply serve as a guide in terms of information delivery. The smart robots will display barcodes enabling users to download services on smartphones. Alternatively, users can press commands on the robots to access information on prayers, imams, muezzins, and weekly schedules, including the names of clerics delivering Friday sermons, the General Presidency of Haramain informed” the report reads.
Taking this as a clue, Newschecker looked for social media handles of the Haramain Sharifain and found a tweet from the official twitter handle that clarified that the claim was false. “Rumours regarding Robots replacing Muadhins are incorrect and news outlets are strongly encouraged to read official press releases before spreading disinformation” the tweet reads.
“Media outlets have reported that the Presidency of Haramain’s recently unveiled AI-equipped robots, which will take the role of Muadhin and call the Adhan in Makkah. This is incorrect. The robots will simply serve as a guide in terms of information delivery” tweet clarifies.
Conclusion
The claim that robots will recite Quran, deliver sermons and Azaan in Mecca is false. The robots are installed in Mecca to serve as information guides only.
Result: False
Our Sources
freepresskashmir.news report published on September 14.
Ummid.com report published on September 15.
Official twitter handle of Haramain Sharifain
Official Facebook page of Haramain Sharifain
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