Inclusive Islamic Education for Deaf learners: Evaluating and Scaling the IslamWeb Deaf Gateway for Accessible, Pedagogically Sound, and Spiritually Relevant Learning in Qatar and Beyond

This project addresses the QRDI theme of Islamic Affairs for Sustainable Development by assessing the impact of the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs (Awqaf) on inclusive religious education for Deaf Muslims in Qatar. It evaluates how Deaf users experience the Islamweb Deaf platform—developed under Awqaf’s mandate—and proposes a scalable model to adapt its content into formal Islamic learning environments. Using a Deaf-centered, mixed-methods approach, the study combines interviews, digital walkthroughs, and an accessibility audit to assess the platform’s technological, linguistic, and spiritual accessibility. The findings will guide the co-design of a pilot Islamic course in Qatar Sign Language (QSL), developed with Deaf educators and instructional designers using Universal Design for Learning (UDL). The course will be tested in higher education and da‘wa settings. Key outputs include a comprehensive user impact assessment, a QSL-integrated Islamic e-learning module, and a policy toolkit for inclusive Islamic education. These resources will support Awqaf and its partners in enhancing access to religious knowledge for Deaf communities in Qatar and beyond. The project aligns with national goals for digital accessibility, educational equity, and sustainable development, while strengthening the Ministry’s capacity to serve marginalized populations through evidence-based, culturally grounded digital innovation.

Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU)