Terms & Conditions

1. Agreement to Terms

Welcome to Qalb ("we", "our", or "us"). These Terms and Conditions ("Terms") govern your use of our mobile application and services (the "Service") operated by Qalb. By accessing or using our Service, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you disagree with any part of these terms, then you may not access the Service.

These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you and Qalb. Please read them carefully before using our Service.

2. Acceptance and Eligibility

2.1 Age Requirements

• You must be at least 18 years old to use this Service
• By using the Service, you represent and warrant that you meet this age requirement
• We reserve the right to verify your age and may request identification

2.2 Legal Capacity

You represent that you have the legal capacity to enter into these Terms and that your use of the Service complies with all applicable laws and regulations in your jurisdiction.

2.3 Account Registration

• You must provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration
• You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials
• You must notify us immediately of any unauthorised use of your account
• One person may maintain only one account

3. Purpose and Community Standards

3.1 Intended Use

Qalb is designed to facilitate meaningful connections between individuals seeking marriage and long-term relationships within the Muslim community. The Service is intended for:

• Serious relationship-seeking individuals
• Marriage-minded Muslims
• Building authentic connections based on shared values
• Facilitating family involvement in the courtship process

3.2 Community Guidelines

You agree to:

• Treat all users with respect and dignity
• Maintain Islamic values and conduct in all interactions
• Provide truthful and accurate information about yourself
• Respect cultural and religious differences
• Follow platform guidelines for appropriate communication

4. Prohibited Conduct

You agree not to:

4.1 Misuse of Service

• Create false, misleading, or deceptive profiles
• Impersonate another person or entity
• Use the Service for commercial or promotional purposes
• Engage in spam, solicitation, or unauthorised advertising
• Create multiple accounts or share accounts with others

4.2 Harmful Behaviour

• Harass, abuse, threaten, or intimidate other users
• Send unsolicited sexual or inappropriate content
• Discriminate based on race, religion, nationality, or other protected characteristics
• Share personal information of other users without consent
• Engage in behaviour that violates Islamic principles or community standards

4.3 Technical Violations

• Attempt to gain unauthorised access to our systems
• Use automated scripts, bots, or data collection tools
• Reverse engineer or attempt to extract source code
• Interfere with or disrupt the Service or servers
• Circumvent security measures or access controls

5. Content and Intellectual Property

5.1 User Content

You retain ownership of content you post on the Service. However, by posting content, you grant us:

• A worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to use, display, and distribute your content
• The right to moderate, remove, or restrict access to your content
• Permission to use your content for Service improvement and development

5.2 Content Standards

All user content must:

• Comply with Islamic values and community standards
• Be appropriate for a family-friendly environment
• Not infringe on intellectual property rights of others
• Be truthful and not misleading
• Respect the privacy and dignity of all individuals

5.3 Our Intellectual Property

The Service, including its design, functionality, and content, is owned by Qalb and protected by intellectual property laws. You may not copy, modify, distribute, or create derivative works without our express written permission.

6. Privacy and Data Protection

Your privacy is important to us. Our collection, use, and protection of your personal information is governed by our Privacy Policy, which forms part of these Terms. By using the Service, you consent to:

• Our collection and use of your information as described in the Privacy Policy
• Processing of your data in accordance with POPIA and GDPR requirements
• International transfer of data for Service operation
• Use of cookies and similar tracking technologies

7. Safety and Security

7.1 User Safety

We are committed to providing a safe environment. We implement:

• Profile verification processes
• Reporting and blocking mechanisms
• Content moderation and community monitoring
• Safety tips and educational resources

7.2 Meeting in Person

When meeting other users in person:

• Always meet in public places for initial meetings
• Inform family or friends of your plans
• Follow Islamic guidelines for appropriate interaction
• Trust your instincts and prioritise your safety
• Report any concerning behaviour to our support team

8. Payment Terms

8.1 Subscription Services

Premium features may require payment. By purchasing a subscription:

• You agree to pay all charges associated with your account
• Payments are processed through secure third-party providers
• Subscriptions auto-renew unless cancelled
• Prices may change with advance notice

8.2 Refund Policy

Refunds are subject to:

• Platform policies (App Store, Google Play)
• Applicable consumer protection laws
• Our discretionary review process
• Terms specific to promotional offers

9. Account Termination

9.1 Termination by You

You may terminate your account at any time by:

• Using the account deletion feature in the app
• Contacting our customer support
• Following the procedures outlined in our Privacy Policy

9.2 Termination by Us

We may suspend or terminate your account if you:

• Violate these Terms or community guidelines
• Engage in harmful or illegal behaviour
• Provide false or misleading information
• Fail to pay applicable fees
• Remain inactive for an extended period

10. Disclaimers and Limitation of Liability

10.1 Service Disclaimers

The Service is provided "as is" and "as available". We disclaim all warranties, including:

• Warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose
• Guarantees of successful matches or relationships
• Assurances of uninterrupted or error-free service
• Verification of user identity or information accuracy

10.2 Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, we shall not be liable for:

• Indirect, incidental, or consequential damages
• Loss of profits, data, or business opportunities
• Actions or conduct of other users
• Technical failures or service interruptions
• Third-party content or services

11. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Qalb, its officers, directors, employees, and agents from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, expenses, or fees (including reasonable legal fees) arising from your use of the Service, violation of these Terms, or infringement of any rights of another party.

12. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

12.1 Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of South Africa, without regard to conflict of law principles.

12.2 Dispute Resolution

Any disputes arising from these Terms shall be resolved through:

1. Good faith negotiation between the parties
2. Mediation through a mutually agreed mediator
3. Binding arbitration under South African arbitration rules
4. Courts of competent jurisdiction in South Africa

13. Platform Compliance

13.1 App Store Policies

When accessing our Service through mobile application stores (Apple App Store, Google Play), you also agree to comply with their respective terms of service and policies.

13.2 Third-Party Services

Our Service may integrate with third-party services for payment processing, analytics, and other functionality. Your use of such services is subject to their respective terms and privacy policies.

14. Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. We will notify you of material changes through:

• In-app notifications
• Email notifications to your registered address
• Posted notices on our website
• Updates to the "Effective Date" of these Terms

Your continued use of the Service after the effective date of revised Terms constitutes acceptance of the changes.

15. Severability and Waiver

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect. Our failure to enforce any provision shall not constitute a waiver of our rights.

16. Contact Information

For questions about these Terms or our Service, please contact us:

17. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and any additional terms applicable to specific features, constitute the entire agreement between you and Qalb regarding your use of the Service and supersede all prior agreements and understandings.