Amaaneh

Inspiration

As muslims we all know that the important task of delineating and ruling on matters as they relate to our dean is a privilege reserved for those who have dedicated themselves to the scholarship of Islam. I wanted to have something similar to reddit or yik-yak where anonymity encourages user engagement but does not compromise the integrity of the responses.

What it does

Amaaneh is a web platform that lets users post academic questions and answers while giving verified scholars a visible badge of authenticity. • Users can submit proof of credentials, like a transcript or diploma. • Admins can review and approve or reject these verification requests through an internal dashboard. • Once approved, the user’s account is automatically upgraded to “Scholar,” allowing them to comment. • The system also moderates itself. Posts that fall below a -5 score automatically get hidden to keep the quality of discussion high.

How we built it

I built the project using Java, Javalin, and JTE for the backend and templating. The database is powered by SQLite, and I handled file uploads using secure Java I/O streams. I used Gradle for build management and organized the project with a clear MVC-style structure to keep routes, templates, and logic consistent. Everything runs locally through Javalin with instant template reloading for smooth iteration.

Challenges we ran into

The hardest parts were getting JTE templates to render dynamic data properly and ensuring that file uploads (transcripts) were both secure and easy to manage. I also struggled with keeping session states synced when a user was promoted to “Scholar.” I eventually solved it by updating the session’s user role in memory after approval.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

I’m proud that I built a fully functional scholar verification system from scratch, including admin tools, live file previews, and automatic file cleanup. Seeing the Scholar badge appear instantly after approval felt like the perfect payoff for hours of building.

What we learned

I learned how to structure a real web application with clean database handling, session management, and secure file uploads in Java. I also learned how to think about product trust, designing systems where credibility is earned, not assumed.

What's next for Amaaneh

Next, I want to expand Amaaneh with public scholar profiles, OAuth-based verification (Google or ORCID), and academic categorization for specific areas of scholarship (finance, prayer, prophets). I’d also love to host it online and open it to students and researchers across different universities. Also I considered possibly dividing the forums into different areas of scholarship but I wanted to keep it centered around Islam for now.

Built With

• css
• gradel
• html
• java
• javalin
• javascript
• jte
• sqlite