How Shariah Guard moderation works on Battut

Every social network moderates content. What makes Islamic content moderation different is the standard being applied: not only “is this illegal or abusive?” but also “does this belong in a space Muslims can trust?” — questions of modesty, music, respect for the sacred and how we speak to each other.

No single filter can answer those questions alone, so Battut uses layers. This article walks through each layer exactly as it works in the app today, what Shariah Guards can and cannot do, and how you can become one.

Layer 1: Automatic screening before and after upload

The first layer runs before most people ever see a post.

• Photos are checked on your device before upload. Content flagged as nudity or otherwise inappropriate cannot be posted.
• Uploaded posts can be scanned again on the server and held for review. A held post shows “Under review — visible only to you until approved”, and it is listed in Library → “In Review”.
• Videos are checked for music when you select them. If music is detected you can choose “Remove at publish”, which uses AI to separate the voices from the music, or “Keep (per policy)”, which publishes the post but marks it for review under the Shariah music policy. See why Battut is music-free.
• Stories with music are reported for review automatically.

Automatic screening catches the obvious cases quickly, but it cannot judge context or intention. That is why people stay in the loop.

Layer 2: Reports from members

Anyone with an account can report a post, comment, user or message. Reports are confidential.

1. Post: open “More” (⋯) and tap “Report”. Comment: tap “Report” under it. User: open their profile → “More options” → “Report user”. Message: press and hold it → “Report”.
2. Choose a reason. Shariah reasons include Immodesty / Awrah, Music & Instruments, Haram Content, Aqeedah / Bid’ah, Riba / Haram Finance and Disrespecting the Sacred. General reasons include Spam, Harassment, Hate Speech, Violence, Scam / Fraud and Impersonation.
3. Add details if you want, and tap “Submit Report”.

Where a report goes depends on what it is about. Shariah reports about posts and comments go to the Shariah Guard. Reports about accounts and private messages go to Battut admins only, never to community moderators. Posts reported by several different people can be hidden automatically until a person reviews them.

Layer 3: Shariah Guards and the Battut team

Shariah Guards are volunteer community moderators: members who passed the Guard quiz and were approved by the Battut team. They work from a “Guard Duty” page and carry a “Guard” badge on their profile.

Guards review reported posts, reels, stories, Khawater and comments. For each one they can decide to:

• approve it, when the report does not hold up;
• blur it;
• limit it to sisters — shown as “Females Only” with a pink flower badge;
• remove its music or vocals;
• block it;
• or escalate it to Battut’s team.

Guards have clear limits. They cannot review reports about accounts or private messages, and they cannot review their own content. Battut staff review account and message reports, handle appeals and escalations from Guards, approve Guard applications, and can suspend accounts that break the rules.

If a Guard acts on your post

You are notified and you can appeal. Open your post’s “More” (⋯) menu, tap “Appeal Shariah Action”, add a reason if you want and tap “Submit appeal”. The status changes to under appeal, then approved or rejected. Official replies, such as answers to appeals, arrive in Messages from “Battut Security”, and you can reply in the same chat.

Layer 4: The Community Covenant

Underneath every tool is a simple truth from the Community Covenant: no filter, feature or moderator can keep a space clean on its own. The Covenant asks every member to carry four duties — lower your gaze, guard your tongue and your keyboard, conceal rather than expose, and forbid the wrong by reporting harm. The last duty rests on this hadith:

“Whoever sees an evil, let him change it with his hand…”

In practice, that “hand” is often a single tap on “Report”. Moderation on Battut is a shared amānah, not a service run by a hidden team. For a closer look at these duties, read Islamic etiquette for social media.

How to become a Shariah Guard

If this concern is in your heart, you can apply. Read more on the Shariah Guard page, then:

1. Make sure your email is verified.
2. Open Settings → Community → “Shariah Guard Application” and tap “Apply Now”.
3. Read the Shariah Guard introduction, choose the languages you speak and tap “Accept & Continue”.
4. Tap “Start Quiz” and answer the questions. You need 80% to pass. You have 3 attempts, with 24 hours between attempts.
5. After you pass, Battut’s team reviews your application and notifies you of the decision.

Guards are not muftis, and the role is not about issuing rulings. It is about applying shared community standards with care and fairness, and escalating what needs a closer look.

Want to see the result for yourself? Browse app.battut.app — no account needed — and read the Battut guide for every safety and privacy setting. You may also like our overview of Battut as a halal Instagram alternative.