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My story’s not unique and maybe that’s the point. My sister and I grew up in the UK as children of Pakistani immigrants. Our mum taught us how to pray, she’d gently show us how to stand, recite, and believe in Allah.

Like a lot of kids from our background, we were also sent to learn the Quran after school where we’d sit cross-legged in madrasah, repeat ayahs until we memorised them. It felt like something I was supposed to do, not something I felt connected to.

During college, there was a lot of pressure (spoken and unspoken) to do well, to keep the family together, and to not mess things up. Over time, that pressure got heavy and as I got older, I started to drift away.

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My glass felt half empty

Years later, I found myself doing everything that was expected of me. I was working hard as a freelance designer, making good money and could buy most things I wanted. Looking back though, I didn’t spend it meaningfully to be honest.

I felt empty on most days with no sense of purpose. I wasn’t wasting my time on social media but I also wasn't enjoying life or happy with it. I had achieved things I thought would make me happy, but none of it really mattered.

At home, things were rough. My parents weren’t happy with their own lives and that took a toll on me. I didn’t know what to do, so I stayed in my room and kept working all day. I eventually got burnt out but I didn’t care. I just kept going because what else was I supposed to do?

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Going through the motions

I’d go to Mosque every Friday with my dad but it was just the same old routine each week. I'd listen to the Imam who spoke Bengali but I didn’t understand it so I zoned out at every khutbah (sermon).

I’d fast during Ramadan and give charity because my parents did too. I felt this part of my life was on autopilot and I wasn’t really doing any of these things knowing why. I prayed occasionally, but my heart wasn’t in it. I remember avoiding to read the Quran despite the reminders set on my phone.

I didn’t feel close to Allah and slowly, I stopped feeling much at all.

One night, I sat in silence and asked myself, why do I feel so lost and alone?

After some quiet reflection, everything started to make sense to me. I had buried my feelings for so long, thinking I couldn’t tell my parents and that nobody out there was really listening.

However, there was someone listening. He was always listening.

So I went back to the beginning, to the first words that bring you into Islam, the words that reminded me why I’m here:

لَّا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ ٱللَّهِThere is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.
_{The Testimony (The Shahada)}  

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Finding my way back

That moment was a turning point. I started reading more about Islam, about how it was formed and why we speak to Allah in prayer. I learnt about the prophets spreading the message of monotheism long before Islam. I read about their stories including Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and how patient he was with his people.

I started to feel changes in me and I wasn’t just going through the motions anymore.

I became more patient with my parents at home, a lot more calm and forgiving. I spent less time working and more time with those I cherished because I realised everyone's time on Earth is limited.

After seeing these positive changes, I had the desire to remember Allah everyday and wanted to always pray with intent. I slowly stopped filling my time with distractions and started filling each decision with more purpose.

For the first time in years, I felt at peace.

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Seeking for more peace

Since I didn’t want to lose this feeling and momentum, I tried to find something that I could use everyday without being overwhelmed and that would help me stay consistent.

I looked for products that would support me spiritually and remind me about talking to Allah in prayer, encourage me and provide a space to reflect and learn. Although I found lots of good video content out there, they were usually too long filled with YouTube ads.

I decided to search the app store instead, but all I saw were outdated, inaccessible, and predatory apps that wanted to sell my data. This was not ideal and nothing out there made me want to use it repeatedly.

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My Hira moment

That’s when I realised… Why is it so easy to find great apps for workouts, sleep, calorie tracking, and meditation? But when it comes to our connection with Allah and Islam, we’re left with long YouTube videos, forwarded WhatsApp images and dozens of prayer times apps that ask to track me?

What if there was something simple, designed with intent where reminders didn’t feel like lectures. Where the du’as and guided reflections felt like conversations that touched my heart.

Something that made you want to open everyday and be immersed in it so you forget about the time. What if our faith could feel personal and special again?

So I talked to my sister and the moment I shared the idea, she got it. We both knew what it felt like to be born into Islam but still feel far from it. Not because we didn’t care but because we didn’t know how to get close again.

We realised we weren’t the only ones feeling like this.

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Why we built it

We wanted something that respected your faith and your time. An exceptional product that looked beautiful, felt good to use, protected your privacy and actually made you feel at peace.

We didn’t build it to fix everything but we wanted to make it easier to come back to what matters. Just a quiet space to help you pray, reflect, read, and remember Allah, even on the days when you feel distant.

That’s also where the name came from. The Prophet ﷺ retreated to the Cave of Hira. A quiet cave, away from the noise, where reflection and revelation began.

We thought maybe everyone needs their own version of that. Not a cave, but a pause and a moment to return to Allah in the middle of everything else.

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Join the waitlist

Hira has helped me a lot spiritually and has allowed me to stay consistent and grounded in faith. I believe that if it helps even one other Muslim feel closer to their faith, that’s enough for me.

There’s a free version of the app, and we’re trying to keep it as accessible as possible for anyone who wants to grow, regardless of where they’re starting from.

It was always about finding peace in Allah, the kind that makes you want to sit with the Quran a little longer, or reach out for Ayatul Kursi before bed. If you’re someone who’s been feeling distant or is trying to take that first step, we made this for you.

You’re not alone and the door to Him has always been open.

Assalamualaikum (May peace be upon you),

Asher (Founder of Hira)