Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy explains how IslamicMessages.co.za collects, uses and protects any information you provide when using our website. We are committed to ensuring that your privacy is protected in accordance with Islamic values of trust (amanah) and South African law, including the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA).

Last updated: January 2025

1. Who We Are

IslamicMessages.co.za is a South African Islamic educational website dedicated to sharing authentic Islamic knowledge, Qur'anic guidance, Seerah, and resources for Muslims and those seeking to learn about Islam. We are not a commercial entity and do not sell products or services through this website (with the exception of our published book series).

2. Information We Collect

We may collect the following types of information:

• Contact information — your name and email address if you contact us or subscribe to our newsletter
• Usage data — pages visited, time spent on the site, and browser type (collected anonymously through standard web analytics)
• Purchase information — if you purchase a book, your billing and delivery details as required to complete the transaction
• Prayer times searches — the city and country you enter on our prayer times page (this is not stored or linked to your identity)

3. How We Use Your Information

• To respond to your enquiries and contact form messages
• To send you our Islamic newsletter if you have subscribed (you may unsubscribe at any time)
• To process book orders and deliver purchased items
• To improve the content and usability of our website
• We do not sell, rent or share your personal information with third parties for marketing purposes

4. Cookies

Our website may use cookies — small text files stored on your device — to improve your browsing experience. These cookies do not contain personal information and are used only for functional and analytical purposes. You may disable cookies in your browser settings, though this may affect how some pages display.

5. Third-Party Services

We use the following trusted third-party services:

• AlAdhan API — for prayer times calculations. No personal data is transmitted; only your city name is used to return prayer times.
• PayFast — for secure payment processing on book purchases. PayFast operates under their own privacy policy and PCI-DSS compliance standards.
• Google Analytics (if enabled) — for anonymous website traffic statistics. No personally identifiable information is shared.

6. Data Security

We are committed to protecting your personal information. Our website is hosted on a secure server and all sensitive transactions are encrypted using SSL/TLS technology. We limit access to personal information to those who need it to operate the site and fulfil orders.

7. Your Rights (POPIA)

Under the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), you have the right to:

• Request access to the personal information we hold about you
• Request correction of inaccurate personal information
• Request deletion of your personal information
• Withdraw consent to receive our newsletter at any time
• Lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator of South Africa

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details on our Contact Us page.

8. Children's Privacy

IslamicMessages.co.za is a family-friendly website and some of our content is aimed at children. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13. If you believe your child has provided personal information to us, please contact us and we will delete it promptly.

9. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

10. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your information, please visit our Contact Us page.