Frequently asked questions

Last updated: 2026-05-22

This FAQ explains how Islamate works in plain language. It does not replace our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, or Member acknowledgment.

Getting started

What is Islamate?

A chat and community platform for members. You can message people you connect with, join groups and channels where available, and use other features offered in the app or website.

How do I create an account?

Register with a display name, phone, email, and password. Confirm your email address using the link we send you. After that, you can sign in and use the service. Your country for regional features (such as calls) is detected automatically from your location when you use the app or website.

Do I need to wait for admin approval?

No. Once your email is verified, your account is active. We do not require ID uploads or manual approval in the current registration flow.

Contacts, chat, and calls

How do I add someone?

You can search by name or email, match phone contacts where the app supports it, or use an invite link. Sending a “contact request” notifies the other person; you can usually chat and call only after both sides have accepted the connection (mutual acceptance).

Can I block someone?

Yes. Blocking limits interaction according to our current rules — for example, blocked users should not be able to request, message, or call you in ways the platform enforces.

Who can see my “last seen” or status?

Privacy settings and contact relationships control what others see. See the Privacy Policy for categories of data and choices where available.

How does chat history work for free vs subscribed members?

On the free tier, older messages may be removed from the server after about twenty-four hours in chats where no participant is subscribed. With an active member subscription, eligible conversations can keep full message history for as long as your subscription stays active and subject to our policies.

Do long chats load all messages at once?

To keep things fast, the app typically loads your most recent messages first. When you scroll up in a thread, older messages can load in batches.

Can I use voice or video calls?

Where the product supports it, you may start calls with mutual contacts. Your browser or device will ask for microphone (and camera for video) permission. Quality depends on your connection and device.

Voice and video calls — availability

Calls are only offered where permitted by our settings and applicable law. Your country is detected automatically from your current location and must be in a supported region; both sides of a direct chat must be allowed to call.

Voice and video calls are not available when your detected country is one of the following (as configured by Islamate):

China (CN)

Calls may be available in other regions when your detected country is on our current allow list (see blocked regions above).

On the Islamate app for iPhone and iPad downloaded from the China App Store, voice and video calls are not available because of local platform rules (including restrictions on system call integration). You can still use chat and other features. This limitation applies to the iOS app in that storefront, not because of a setting you can change in Profile.

On Android and on the website, calls may still be unavailable if your detected country is listed above, if your location cannot be determined, or if subscription or contact rules do not allow calling.

Subscriber profile and public page

What is the chat thumbnail?

If you have an active member subscription, you can upload an optional profile photo in your account profile. It may appear in your chat list and next to your messages for people you chat with.

What is the “public page” for subscribers?

Subscribers can turn on an optional public member page with its own link. You choose whether the whole page is visible to anyone, signed-in members only, or mutual contacts only. You can add text, links, posts, background color or image, and embed blocks (for example a music player iframe from a provider such as Spotify). Each link, post, or embed can have its own visibility setting. Custom HTML runs only inside isolated frames on that page, not inside the main Islamate interface.

Subscriptions and shop (if enabled)

Do I have to pay?

Core signup is free. Member subscription is optional and unlocks longer chat history on the server, appearance options (theme, chat wallpaper), the optional chat thumbnail and public page, starting voice and video calls, and anything else labelled as subscriber-only in the app. Optional app lock and per-chat lock are available without a subscription; passwords are stored hashed on your account so the same lock works in the website and in the app. The marketplace and business tools may have separate fees where enabled.

How do shop orders and disputes work?

Follow checkout and seller tools in the app. For problems, use support or reporting channels described on the site. We may take action on accounts that abuse buyers or sellers.

Safety, scams, and abuse

How should I protect myself?

Never share passwords or one-time codes. Be cautious with links, investment pitches, and requests for money from strangers. Prefer verified contacts and official support channels.

What happens if someone scams or breaks the law?

We do not tolerate scams, fraud, or criminal use of the platform. We may suspend or terminate accounts, preserve evidence, and cooperate with law enforcement, payment partners, or others as described in our Member acknowledgment and Terms.

Will you give my data to the police?

We may disclose information when required by law or when we reasonably believe it necessary to protect people, investigate serious wrongdoing, or comply with valid legal process. See the Member acknowledgment and Privacy Policy for more detail.

Data, security, and liability

Is my data 100% safe?

No service can promise perfect security. We work to protect data, but breaches, leaks, or loss can still happen. By registering, you accept the risk limitations described in the Member acknowledgment.

How do I delete my account?

After signing in, open Settings from the menu, then Profile, and use Delete account at the bottom of the Profile page. See the “Delete account” page in the footer for the same steps and limitations (for example data we must keep for legal reasons).

Account security

What if I forget my password or someone tries to guess it?

Use the password reset flow if you forget your password. For your protection, repeated failed sign-in attempts can temporarily lock further tries for a short period before you can try again.

What is the optional app lock in Settings?

You can add an extra password for opening Islamate after you are already signed in. It is stored securely on your account (hashed) and applies in the website and in the native app. On iOS or Android you can optionally use Face ID, Touch ID, or fingerprint after saving your app password once to the device keychain. By default nothing is locked.

How does app lock work in the website vs the installed app?

The same app lock password applies everywhere: any browser session and the installed app use your account setting. Biometric unlock is only available in the native app and uses a copy of your password stored on that device; the website always asks for the app password (or you stay unlocked if you have turned the lock off).

What if I forget my app lock password?

If you have no conversation memberships left on your account (for example you left or removed every chat), app lock is cleared automatically so you can use Islamate again. Otherwise you need the app password or (on the native app) biometrics if you enabled them. This does not change your main account login password.

What is chat lock?

In a conversation, you can set an optional separate password for that chat. It is stored hashed on your account for that thread, so the same chat lock applies in the website and in the app. If you forget the chat password while you are still signed in, the lock screen lets you delete all messages in that chat (for everyone) so the thread is empty and the lock can be removed.

Devices and notifications

Why do you need notification permission?

Push notifications can alert you to new messages or calls. You can often adjust permissions in your device settings.

How does location work in the app?

Islamate uses your location only while you are using the app—for example to share a place in chat or to show shops near you. You can allow or deny this in system settings. We do not require location access when the app is in the background.