GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Gazans can now search for their preferred Islamic preachers and rate their Friday sermons. The Information Technology Department at the Hamas-affiliated Ministry of Religious Endowments in the Gaza Strip launched April 29 “Al-Khotaba wal-Wiaz” ("Preachers and Sermons") smartphone application.

The app, which is currently only available on Google Play, allows users to assess the performance of preachers and post feedback on Friday sermons, which are considered the most significant weekly religious event for Muslims. Efforts are currently underway to make the app available for iPhone users in the App Store.

According to Nael al-Dahshan, planning and policy director at the Ministry of Religious Endowments, the app allows users to track their preferred preachers and locate the mosque in which they are leading Friday prayers.

Dahshan told Al-Monitor that preachers are evaluated by a system of one to five stars: unacceptable (one star), acceptable (two stars), good (three stars), very good (four stars) and excellent (five stars), which is also available on the platform Khotaba that was launched by the ministry in January 2018.