Amaan

"Security for generations of Fitnah"

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Inspiration

Masjid communities are built on trust, safety, and togetherness—but in today’s world, many communities lack real-time, reliable tools to stay aware of potential threats or coordinate responses securely. Information often spreads through word of mouth, WhatsApp groups, or social media, which can be slow, fragmented, or prone to misinformation.

We wanted to create a centralized, secure, and community-driven platform that empowers masjid members and administrators to stay informed, verify threats collaboratively, and enhance both physical and digital security. That idea became Amaan—an all-in-one safety and awareness platform built specifically for masjid communities.

What it does

Amaan is a community safety platform designed to help masjid communities stay secure, informed, and connected. It is built around three core features:

  1. Community Threat Map

    • Users can report nearby suspicious activity or potential threats on a live map
    • Other users can confirm or validate reports (similar to a Waze-style system)
    • An AI-generated summary provides a concise, real-time overview of threats near the user

  2. Secure Community Forum

    • Masjid administrators can post verified alerts, announcements, and safety notices
    • Messages are visible only to verified community members
    • Reduces panic, misinformation, and reliance on insecure public channels

  3. Identity & Access Management

    • Verified user onboarding to ensure only trusted members join the community
    • Identity system designed to act as a digital key fob for masjid access
    • Lays the groundwork for integration with physical access control systems

How we built it

Amaan was built as a modern full-stack web application using:

  • Next.js and React for a fast, scalable frontend
  • TypeScript for type safety and maintainability
  • SQLite for a lightweight and reliable database
  • Google Maps API for real-time geolocation and threat visualization
  • OpenAI API to generate AI-powered summaries of nearby threats

Security and Privacy

Security and privacy were core considerations throughout development:

  • Encrypted communication using HTTPS/TLS
  • Role-based access control (RBAC) for admins and users
  • Secure authentication and identity verification flows
  • Encrypted handling of sensitive data such as user identities and locations
  • Minimal data exposure to protect user privacy

These measures help make the platform more resilient to misuse, data leaks, and unauthorized access.

Challenges we ran into

  • Designing a trust-based reporting system without enabling false reports or abuse
  • Balancing real-time geolocation features with user privacy
  • Integrating AI in a way that is helpful, accurate, and not alarmist
  • Building multiple complex features within hackathon time constraints
  • Making responsible security decisions without overengineering

Accomplishments that we're proud of

  • Delivering a fully functional, end-to-end platform within a hackathon
  • Successfully combining crowdsourced reporting with AI-powered insights
  • Building a solution tailored specifically to masjid and faith-based communities
  • Implementing identity verification and access concepts beyond a basic app
  • Designing with trust, security, and privacy as first-class priorities

What we learned

  • Community safety tools must prioritize trust and verification over speed alone
  • AI is most effective when it summarizes and clarifies information
  • Security and privacy should be embedded early, even in prototypes
  • Clear UX is essential when dealing with sensitive, high-stakes information
  • Architectural decisions matter just as much as features in rapid builds

What's next for Amaan

  • AI-based threat credibility scoring and pattern detection
  • Push notifications for critical or confirmed alerts
  • Integration with physical access systems (NFC, QR codes, smart locks)
  • Admin dashboards with analytics and incident history
  • Expansion to other community spaces such as schools and community centers
  • Stronger cryptographic identity and verification mechanisms

Amaan’s long-term vision is to become a trusted digital safety infrastructure for communities—built by the community, for the community.

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