Last updated: April 2026
This privacy policy explains how thehajj.guide ("the Site", "we", "us") collects, uses, and protects information when you visit our website. We are committed to respecting your privacy and being transparent about everything we do with data.
The Site is operated by Abdul Akbar. If you have any questions about this policy, you can reach us at akbur@thehajj.guide.
What Data We Collect
Anonymous Analytics
We collect basic, anonymous usage data to understand how visitors use the Site and to improve the content. This data is session-based and cannot be used to identify you personally. The analytics we collect include:
- Pageviews – which pages are visited and in what order
- Session ID – a temporary, anonymous identifier stored in sessionStorage (not a cookie) that groups page visits within a single browsing session
- Device type – whether you are using a desktop, tablet, or mobile device (derived from screen size, not device fingerprinting)
- Country – your approximate country, determined by a one-time IP lookup via ipapi.co (your IP address is not stored by us)
- Scroll depth – how far down a page you scroll, to help us understand which content is being read
- Engagement events – interactions such as clicking navigation links, expanding sections, or completing quizzes
All analytics data is stored in our own database (MariaDB). We do not use Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, or any third-party analytics service.
Feedback Form
If you choose to submit feedback through our feedback form, we collect:
- Your name
- Your email address
- Your message
- The type of feedback (correction, suggestion, bug report, or general)
- The page you were on when you submitted it
This information is used solely to read and respond to your feedback. We do not add you to any mailing list, and we do not share this data with anyone.
Quiz Leaderboard
If you complete a quiz and choose to submit your score to the leaderboard, we collect:
- The alias (display name) you provide
- Your score
- Your country (detected automatically via IP lookup)
This information is voluntarily submitted and is displayed publicly on the leaderboard. Do not submit any information you would not want others to see.
News Articles
The news section of this site displays articles aggregated from public RSS feeds of third-party news sources. We store article titles, summaries, source names, and links in our database. We do not collect any personal data in connection with the news feature.
What We Do NOT Collect
We want to be explicit about what this site does not do:
- No cookies – this site does not set any cookies
- No personal data from browsing – we do not collect your name, email, or any identifying information unless you voluntarily provide it
- No tracking pixels – we do not embed invisible images or beacons to track you
- No third-party advertising trackers – there are no ads on this site and no advertising networks have access to your data
- No cross-site tracking – we do not track your activity across other websites
- No IP address storage – your IP address is used momentarily for country detection and is not stored in our database
External Services
Google Analytics
This site uses Google Analytics 4 (measurement ID: G-SKMK6X9Y00) to understand how visitors use the site. Google Analytics collects information such as pages visited, time spent, approximate geographic location (country/city level), device type, browser, and referral source. This data is aggregated and anonymised. Google Analytics may set cookies (such as _ga and _ga_*) on your device to distinguish unique visitors and sessions. You can opt out of Google Analytics by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on. See Google's Privacy Policy for full details on how Google processes this data.
Google Fonts
This site loads fonts from Google Fonts (fonts.google.com). When your browser requests these fonts, Google may receive your IP address and standard browser information. Google's privacy policy applies to this data. See Google's Privacy Policy for details.
ipapi.co
We use ipapi.co to perform a one-time IP-to-country lookup when you visit the site. This is used to record your approximate country for anonymous analytics and the quiz leaderboard. Your IP address is sent to ipapi.co for this purpose. See ipapi.co's Privacy Policy for how they handle this data.
Local Storage (Client-Side Only)
This site uses your browser's localStorage and sessionStorage to save preferences and progress locally on your device. This data is never sent to our servers. It includes:
- hajjTheme – your selected colour theme (light/dark)
- hajjFontSize – your preferred font size
- hajjProgress_* – your reading progress on each page
- hajjQuiz_* – your quiz progress and answers
- hajj_sid (sessionStorage) – a temporary anonymous session identifier used for analytics grouping
You can clear this data at any time through your browser settings. See our Cookie & Storage Policy for full details.
Data Retention
- Analytics data is retained indefinitely in aggregate form. Individual session records may be purged periodically.
- Feedback submissions are retained for as long as necessary to action them and are then deleted.
- Leaderboard entries are retained for as long as the leaderboard is active.
- localStorage data remains on your device until you clear it yourself.
Your Rights (GDPR)
If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA) or the United Kingdom, you have the following rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR):
- Right of access – you can request a copy of any personal data we hold about you
- Right to rectification – you can ask us to correct inaccurate data
- Right to erasure – you can ask us to delete your personal data (e.g., feedback submissions, leaderboard entries)
- Right to data portability – you can request your data in a structured, machine-readable format
- Right to object – you can object to the processing of your data
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at akbur@thehajj.guide. We will respond within 30 days.
Data Sharing
We do not sell, trade, rent, or otherwise share your personal data with any third party. The only exception is the use of external services described above (Google Fonts and ipapi.co), which operate under their own privacy policies.
Children's Privacy
This site is an educational resource and is not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has submitted personal data through our feedback form or leaderboard, please contact us at akbur@thehajj.guide and we will promptly delete it.
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 "Last updated" date. We encourage you to review this page periodically.
Contact
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests related to this privacy policy or your data, please contact:
Abdul Akbar
Email: akbur@thehajj.guide
Website: thehajj.guide