Short answer: SMD screens for mosques are mostly used for three things: a prayer time display with the next iqamah, khutbah text or translation, and notices such as Ramadan announcements. For a typical indoor prayer hall, a P2.5 or P3.9 screen works well. Make the screen about one-sixth of the hall depth in height so text can be read from the back rows. The mosque committee and imam should agree on where it goes and what it shows before anything is ordered.
For an indoor hall, a slim panel such as the Absen K V3 indoor SMD screen wall can be sized to fit the wall exactly, which helps in mosques where wall space is limited by windows, the mihrab and the mimbar. This guide covers placement, size, pitch, automatic prayer times, khutbah display, Ramadan planning and running costs.
How are SMD screens used in mosques?
Whether you call it a mosque screen or a masjid SMD display, most mosques use it for a few clear jobs. Keeping the list short keeps the screen useful and calm.
| Use | What the screen shows | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Prayer time display | Today’s five prayer times, Jumu’ah time, next iqamah with a countdown | Keep it on one fixed layout so people learn where to look |
| Khutbah screen | Urdu or English translation, Quran verses quoted in the khutbah | Large text, few lines at a time |
| Overflow areas | Live video of the imam for the courtyard, basement or women’s section | Plan the camera and cables at the start |
| Ramadan announcements | Sehri and iftar times, taraweeh schedule, itikaf and fitrana notices | Prepare the full month’s times in advance |
| Notices | Janazah announcements, classes, donation appeals, cleanliness reminders | Show them before or after prayers, not during |
A screen does not replace the sound system. Keep the existing speakers for the adhan, khutbah and salah.
Where should the screen go in a mosque?
This is the first question to settle, and it is for the mosque committee and imam to decide, not the screen supplier. Some points that help the discussion:
- Not a distraction during salah. Many mosques avoid placing a bright moving screen directly in front of worshippers. Common choices are a side wall, the wall above the entrance, or a spot beside the mimbar that is visible but not in the line of sight during prayer.
- Visible from where people wait. A prayer time display works best where people sit before the iqamah, and near the entrance where they arrive.
- Separate screens for separate areas. A large mosque may need one screen in the main hall, one in the women’s section and one in the courtyard, instead of one very large screen.
- Outdoor areas need outdoor screens. A courtyard or gate screen faces sun and rain. Our indoor vs outdoor SMD screen guide explains brightness and IP ratings.
- Wall strength and access. The wall must carry the weight, and a technician must be able to reach the screen for repairs. See the SMD screen installation guide.
What size screen does a mosque hall need?
The screen must be tall enough for the farthest row to read the text. The SMD Screen Size Guide gives a simple rule for text content: screen height is about the farthest viewing distance divided by 6.
| Prayer hall depth (farthest row) | Screen height for text | Suggested pitch |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 9 m | About 1.5 m | P2.5 |
| 9 to 15 m | 1.5 to 2.5 m | P2.5 or P3.9 |
| 15 to 24 m | 2.5 to 4 m, or two side screens | P3.9 |
| Above 24 m (large jamia mosque) | Two or more screens along the hall | P3.9 |
Example: a prayer hall is 12 metres deep. 12 ÷ 6 = 2 metres high. K V3 panels are 250 mm tall, so the wall is 8 panels high. Panels come in 750, 1000 and 1250 mm widths, so a 3.5 metre wide wall can be built from two 1250 mm and one 1000 mm panel per row, with no gaps. That is 7 m² of screen. At about 25 kg/m², the panels weigh roughly 175 kg, before the mounting frame.
Which pixel pitch suits prayer times and khutbah text?
Pixel pitch depends on how close the nearest people sit. As a starting point, the nearest viewer should be at least as many metres away as the pitch in millimetres.
- P2.5: good when the first row sits 2.5 to 3 metres from the screen. Text looks sharp and small Urdu script stays readable.
- P3.9: good when the screen is mounted high or the nearest row is 4 metres or more away. It is a common choice for larger halls.
- P1.89: usually only needed for small rooms where people sit very close, such as a madrasa classroom or committee office.
Text needs a finer pitch than video. If the screen will mostly show Urdu or Arabic text, lean towards the finer of two options. The Pixel Pitch Guide: How to Choose has the full distance table.
How do you show prayer times automatically?
Prayer times change a little every day, so nobody should have to update the screen by hand before each salah.
- Use an asynchronous player. It stores content and plays it on a schedule without a computer. Our SMD screen controller guide explains sync and async control.
- Load the times for the month or the year. Use the timetable the mosque already follows, and check it with the imam.
- Add iqamah times separately. These are set by the committee and can change with the season.
- Test Urdu and Arabic text. Check that the content software shows right-to-left script and joined letters correctly before the screen goes up.
- Give one person the job of updating. Many async players can be updated over Wi-Fi or 4G, so a committee member can change notices from a phone.
How can a khutbah screen help worshippers?
A khutbah screen helps people follow the message, especially when the khutbah is in Arabic and many worshippers understand Urdu or English better.
- Translation text: a few lines at a time, timed with the khutbah. Large, high-contrast letters work best.
- Quran verses: the Arabic verse with its translation underneath.
- Live video for overflow: on Fridays, the courtyard, basement or women’s section can see the imam on a separate screen. This needs a camera and cabling planned from the start.
Keep the layout plain. Dark background, white or soft yellow text, and no moving effects suit the setting.
What should you plan for Ramadan announcements?
Ramadan is when the screen is used the most. Prepare before the month starts:
- Sehri and iftar times for every day, with a countdown to iftar if the committee wants one
- Taraweeh timing and the daily para being recited
- Itikaf registration, fitrana and zakat collection notices
- Changes to iqamah times
- Laylat al-Qadr programmes in the last ten nights
Load the whole month into the player in advance, then add notices as they come up.
What about power, load shedding and running costs?
Most mosques run on donations, so the electricity bill matters. A text-only layout on a dark background draws less power than full-screen video. The K V3 also switches to a black-screen power-saving mode when the video signal stops, so it is not drawing full power at night when nothing is playing.
For calculating daily units and sizing a UPS for load shedding, read SMD Screen Power Consumption. Keeping the prayer time display running during load shedding is the main reason to plan a UPS.
Why does the Absen K V3 suit a mosque wall?
From the K V3 product details:
- Three panel widths, one height: the screen can be fitted between windows, pillars or the mimbar without odd gaps.
- Slim and light: 39.5 mm thick and about 25 kg/m², which keeps the wall mounting simple.
- Pitch options: 1.89 mm, 2.5 mm and 3.9 mm.
- Less dust on the surface: a magnetic shielding design helps stop dust settling, which matters in dusty cities and halls with open doors.
- Corner and shaped layouts: panels can wrap around a column or corner in an L shape.
Like any screen, it needs routine cleaning and checks. The SMD Screen Maintenance Guide covers the basics.
Who can help you plan a mosque screen?
Irfan Corporation, the authorised Absen distributor in Pakistan, can visit the mosque, measure the hall and suggest a size, pitch and placement for the committee to review. Visit the contact page or call 0331-5575501. New to SMD screens? Start with what is an SMD screen.
Frequently asked questions
Divide the distance to the farthest row by 6 to get the screen height for text. A 12 metre deep hall needs a screen about 2 metres high.
P2.5 suits most indoor halls where the first row is 2.5 to 3 metres away. P3.9 suits larger halls or screens mounted high.
Yes. An asynchronous player stores the timetable and changes the times on schedule, with no computer needed.
The mosque committee and imam should decide. Many choose a side wall, above the entrance or beside the mimbar, so the screen is not in front of worshippers during salah.
Yes. The screen can show Urdu or English translation text, as long as the content software handles right-to-left script correctly.
It depends on size and content. Text on a dark background uses less power than video, and the K V3 goes into a black-screen power-saving mode when the signal stops.
About this guide: Written by the Absen Pakistan team at Irfan Corporation, the authorised Absen distributor in Pakistan, with offices in Karachi and Islamabad. Product details come from Absen’s official specifications. Last updated: 30 October 2026.