AyahLock
A Quran-reading app locker that turns the moment before opening a distracting app into a moment of reflection — one verse at a time, in sequence, toward completing the whole Qur'an.
Overview
A verse before every distraction.
AyahLock sits between the user and the apps they've chosen to restrict. Instead of a blocked screen or a countdown timer alone, it shows the next verse in the Qur'an — continuing exactly where they left off — before letting them through. Every open becomes a small, structured step toward completing a full reading.
Built as part of the Apposite Labs mobile portfolio, AyahLock demonstrates how a native system-level mechanism (Android's Accessibility Service) can be paired with a considered, habit-aware product experience to turn idle screen time into something intentional.
The problem
Screen-time tools block. They don't build anything.
Most app-limiting tools rely on a simple pattern, and the friction is punitive rather than purposeful, so it either gets bypassed or resented.
AyahLock was designed to replace that dead time with something the user actually wants more of — real, continuous progress through the Qur'an — rather than simply standing in the way.
Key features
Everything the app does.
Sequential Verse Reading
Every unlock shows the next ayah in order, picking up exactly where the last one left off — turning scattered app opens into one continuous reading.
Native App Detection
A dedicated Android Accessibility Service watches in real time for restricted apps opening, triggering the verse screen the instant it's needed — no polling, no delay.
Khatam & Streak Tracking
Full Qur'an completions, daily streaks, and estimated completion dates are tracked automatically, turning quiet reading time into visible, motivating progress.
Selective App Vault
Users choose exactly which apps require a verse first — the rest of the phone stays untouched.
Optional Skip via Rewarded Ad
A rewarded-ad shortcut lets users skip the wait when they're in a rush, keeping the app free without ever gating the core mechanic behind a subscription.
Minimal Friction Onboarding
Pick apps, grant one permission, done — a short guided setup gets users to their first verse in under a minute.
Design philosophy
Reading shouldn't feel like a punishment.
AyahLock is built around continuous, low-pressure progress rather than a hard stop. The experience is designed to feel closer to a moment of pause than an obstacle — calm, legible, and quick enough to fit into a habit that's already happening dozens of times a day.
The interface prioritises:
- — A distraction-free reading moment
- — Clear, ever-present progress (Juz, streak, khatam count)
- — Zero setup friction beyond what's essential
- — Long-term habit formation over one-off compliance
The core flow is three steps:
- 01 Open a restricted app
- 02 Read the verse
- 03 Continue
Technology
Built using a modern mobile-first architecture.
AyahLock pairs a bare React Native app with native Android system integration to deliver real-time app detection alongside a fully custom reading and progress experience. The Qur'an itself — Arabic text and English translation — is bundled locally for instant, offline access.
- React Native — iOS & Android from a single codebase
- Native Android Accessibility Service for real-time app detection
- Bundled local Qur'an database for offline verse delivery
- Native ad integration (rewarded + native ad formats)
- App Store & Play Store distribution