Privacy Policy

Last updated: August 20, 2026

ShiaFamily ("we", "our", "the app") is a matchmaking service for the worldwide Shia Muslim community, operated from Canada. This policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and the choices you have, wherever in the world you use ShiaFamily.

Information we collect

• Account information: your full name, email address, and password (stored as a one-way hash — we never store or can see your actual password).
• Profile information: details you choose to add to your profile, such as gender, date of birth, location, marital status, education, occupation, religious background, and what you're looking for.
• Photos: any photos you upload to your profile, stored via our cloud storage provider.
• Messages: conversations you have with matches on the platform.
• Guardian (wali) information: if you use guardian mode, the guardian's name and relationship to the managed profile.
• Donation records: if you choose to donate, the amount and status of the transaction. Payment card details are handled entirely by our payment processor (Stripe) — we never see or store your card number.
• Usage information: basic technical information such as login timestamps, needed to keep your account secure and the app functioning.

How we use your information

• To create and operate your account and profile.
• To show your profile to potential matches, and show you potential matches, based on your preferences and filters.
• To enable messaging between matched users.
• To process optional donations.
• To keep the platform safe — including reviewing reports of abuse and enforcing blocks between users.

What we share

We do not sell your personal information. Your profile (excluding your photos, unless you enable photo visibility) is shown to other users of the app as part of the core matching feature. We share data with service providers who help us run the app — our database host, cloud photo storage provider, and payment processor — solely to provide the service, under their own privacy and security commitments.

Your choices and controls

• Photo visibility: you can control whether your photos are visible to other users from Settings.
• Hide profile: you can hide your profile from Discover at any time.
• Block and report: you can block any user, which also disables messaging between you.
• Delete your account:you can delete your account from Settings at any time. When you do, your personal details are anonymized in our systems (your name is replaced and your contact details removed). Message history is preserved for the people you matched with, but attributed to "Deleted user" rather than your name, so conversations aren't erased out from under someone you were talking to.

Data security

We use industry-standard practices to protect your data, including encrypted connections (HTTPS) for all traffic and one-way hashing for passwords. No system is 100% secure, but we take reasonable steps to protect your information from unauthorized access.

International users and data transfers

ShiaFamily serves members around the world, and our servers and service providers are located in Canada, the United States, and other countries. By using the app, you understand that your information will be transferred to and processed in countries that may have different data protection laws than your own country of residence. We take steps to ensure your information continues to be protected wherever it is processed.

Your privacy rights

Depending on where you live, you may have rights to access, correct, export, or delete the personal information we hold about you, or to object to or restrict certain processing. You can exercise most of these directly in the app (editing your profile, controlling photo visibility, or deleting your account from Settings), or by emailing us at shiafamilycare@gmail.com. We will respond to verified requests within a reasonable time and in line with applicable law.

Data retention

We keep your information for as long as your account is active. When you delete your account, we anonymize your personal details in our systems as described below; some information may be retained where necessary for safety, fraud prevention, dispute resolution, or as required by law.

Children's privacy

ShiaFamily is intended for adults seeking marriage and is not directed at children. We do not knowingly collect information from anyone under 18.

Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. Material changes will be reflected by updating the "Last updated" date above.

Contact us

If you have questions about this policy or your data, contact us at shiafamilycare@gmail.com.