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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Hidayah OS is a free Linux distribution for Muslim users, presented by its project as version 1.0.0 (Nur), based on Debian 13. It comes in KDE Plasma and Xfce editions, with faith-oriented utilities and project-described privacy controls. Those privacy features are configuration claims from the project, not independently verified security results.
What is Hidayah OS?
Hidayah OS is a Debian-based Linux distribution developed for Muslim users. Its project describes release 1.0.0 (Nur) as built from official Debian 13 live images and available with KDE Plasma 6 or Xfce. LinuxLinks also lists it as an active specialist Debian-based distribution, corroborating the broad description but not the project’s privacy claims. Hidayah OS Project and LinuxLinks
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The project states that Hidayah OS is free and licensed under GPL-3.0. It lists Firefox ESR among the included software. As with any Linux distribution, check the project’s current release page for up-to-date images and details before installing.
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Which edition should you choose?
| Edition | Desktop | Project-stated minimum RAM | Intended fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xfce | Xfce | 2 GB | Recommended by the project for older hardware and lighter resource use |
| KDE | KDE Plasma 6 | 4 GB | Described by the project as the more visually polished option |
The RAM figures are minimums from the project’s requirements section, not independent hardware tests. That section recommends 4 GB for Xfce and 8 GB for KDE. Both editions are described as including the same Hidayah utilities and Calamares installer. Hidayah OS system requirements and edition details
#1 Best Overall
What faith-oriented tools are included?
The project lists utilities intended to make common Islamic information accessible from the desktop:
- Prayer times: Uses the PrayTimes.org algorithm, with Lahore as the default location configuration. Users can edit the configuration for their location.
- Hijri calendar information: Provides access to Islamic calendar details.
- Current Ayah Viewer: Displays a rotating Quranic verse.
- Khal calendar wrapper: Provides a desktop-facing wrapper for the Khal calendar.
Location-dependent prayer times should be checked against a trusted local timetable after setup, especially if the default Lahore configuration does not match where you live. Hidayah OS feature descriptions
What does “privacy-hardened” mean here?
The project describes several controls as privacy and security layers. These are descriptions of the supplied configuration, not independent evidence that the system prevents tracking, ensures anonymity, or blocks every unwanted connection. The reviewed sources do not establish an independent security audit or a published threat model.
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- Local DNS filtering: The project says filtered DNS runs at
127.0.0.1:53, uses a Hagezi blocklist refreshed daily, and routes system DNS through that filter. - Upstream DNS: The project names Quad9 as an upstream provider.
- System hardening: It describes kernel sysctls and kernel-module blacklists.
- Protected controls: It says Polkit protects the controls in its Shield interface.
- Optional focus mode: A prayer-time focus mode can use an optional social-media blocklist.
- Telemetry: The project says it adds no telemetry services. That statement does not amount to an audit of every included application or all network traffic.
These protections may be useful configuration choices, but they should not be treated as a substitute for reviewing your own threat model, application behavior, or network setup. Hidayah OS privacy and security feature descriptions
Rank #3
Does your computer meet the requirements?
The project’s requirements section specifies 64-bit x86_64 hardware and a minimum dual-core CPU. It lists 15 GB of disk space for installation and recommends an SSD with at least 25 GB. Its live-media recommendation is an 8 GB or larger USB 3.x drive. These are project-published specifications and may change with later releases. Hidayah OS system requirements
For a straightforward choice, select Xfce if the computer has limited memory or is older; select KDE if it meets the higher RAM requirement and you prefer that desktop. The project lists no independently tested performance figures, so specifications alone cannot guarantee how smoothly a particular machine will run.
How to download and install Hidayah OS
- Download the edition: Use the project’s current download page to choose the Xfce or KDE ISO. Release files and their checksums can change, so use the current page rather than an old copy of the image.
- Verify the download: Compare the downloaded ISO’s SHA-256 value with the checksum published for that exact edition. Do not proceed if the values differ.
- Write the ISO to USB: Create bootable installation media using an ISO-writing utility. Writing an image erases the selected USB drive, so confirm the target device before starting.
- Boot from the USB: Restart the computer and select the USB device in its boot menu. The project describes the images as live ISOs.
- Run the installer: Both editions are described as including Calamares. Follow its prompts to install to the intended disk, taking care to select the correct drive and understand any partitioning or erase-disk choice.
The project publishes separate SHA-256 checksums for the Xfce and KDE images. Always verify against the checksum currently shown for the exact file you downloaded. Hidayah OS downloads, checksums, and installation guidance
What Hidayah OS does—and does not—establish
Hidayah OS offers a Debian-based desktop with Islamic utilities and a set of privacy-related controls described by its project. A testimonial on the project site, attributed to Ubaid, identified there as “Founder” of Islamic vision, says the system works for Islamic use without requiring the user to configure everything. That is a project-hosted testimonial, not independently gathered user research. Hidayah OS Project
Best Value
The available sources do not establish independent security testing, anonymity guarantees, adoption or performance statistics, or how long this release will receive maintenance. Users who need assurance about security or long-term support should look for current project documentation and independent technical review before relying on it for sensitive work.
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