Terms of service

Effective Date: 9th of April, 2025

1. Introduction and Acceptance of the T&C

Najda is an online platform offering therapeutic conversations to support users in addressing mental health issues, integrating Islamic values. By accessing our application or using our services, you fully and unreservedly accept these Terms and Conditions of Use (T&C). If you do not agree with these terms, we invite you not to use our services.

Note: By creating an account and using the Najda platform, you expressly provide your active and informed consent to these Terms of Use, including any future amendments notified in accordance with Section 11 below.

Najda is a company based in the United Arab Emirates and operates in accordance with the laws of this country, while also respecting the applicable regulations in the jurisdictions where our services are offered or used.

2. Description of Services

Nature of Therapeutic Conversations

The therapeutic conversations offered by Najda are personalized exchanges during which users (hereinafter "clients") can discuss mental health-related issues with qualified professionals (hereinafter "therapists"). These conversations aim to provide non-medical support, focusing on listening, emotional and spiritual support, and the integration of Islamic principles when relevant to the client.

• Distinction from Formal Medical or Psychological Therapy: Unlike formal medical or psychological therapy, Najda’s therapeutic conversations do not allow for clinical diagnosis, medical treatment prescription, or substitution for regulated professional mental health interventions. They focus on general support, often enriched by a spiritual dimension, and do not fall under a therapeutic framework subject to strict medical standards (such as those governed by certifications like HIPAA in the United States).
• Exclusively Online: Najda’s services are exclusively available online through our application. There are no hybrid options (combining online and in-person) or physical consultations.

3. Qualifications of Therapists

Najda is committed to collaborating with competent and qualified therapists to ensure the quality and ethics of its services.

• Qualifications: Our therapists are mental health professionals with advanced degrees (Master’s or Doctorate) in fields such as psychology, counseling, social work, or family therapy. They hold recognized licenses in their country of practice, such as:
  • LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker),
  • LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist),
  • LMHC (Licensed Mental Health Counselor),
  • LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor),
  • or equivalent (e.g., licensed psychologist).
  • Additionally, they have training in Islamic studies or chaplaincy (Islamic counseling expertise), enabling them to integrate Islamic values and practices into their support.
• Selection Process: Each therapist undergoes a rigorous verification process, including:
  • A detailed questionnaire assessing their skills, experience with specific populations, therapeutic approaches, and ability to integrate the Islamic faith.
  • An in-depth interview to confirm their understanding of the relationship between mental health and spirituality, their adherence to high ethical standards, and their ability to meet clients' needs within an Islamic framework.

This process ensures that our therapists combine professional expertise with cultural and religious sensitivity, while meeting Najda’s quality standards.

4. Donation System

Najda adopts a donation system to remunerate its services, in compliance with Islamic principles of jurisprudence (fiqh).

• Obligation of the Donation: The donation is mandatory to access therapeutic conversations and functions as financial consideration for the services rendered. It is not an optional contribution or left to the user’s discretion.
• Donation Amount: The amount is fixed but varies depending on the plan chosen by the client (e.g., individual, family, couple, or child support). This variation reflects the duration and complexity of the sessions, as well as the corresponding remuneration of the therapists.
• Legal Qualification: Although termed a "donation" for ethical and cultural reasons, it is legally a disguised payment for services rendered, structured to respect Islamic values while ensuring the economic viability of the platform.

5. Refund and Cancellation Policies

Najda applies clear policies to hold users accountable while offering some flexibility.

• Cancellation or Absence from a Session: If a client cancels or fails to attend a scheduled session, the donation associated with that session is not refundable.
• Subscription Cancellation: If a client decides to terminate their subscription, they may request a refund for uncompleted sessions. The request must be made through the application settings, and the refund will be processed within 5 business days.
• Accountability: As long as the subscription is active, missed or canceled sessions do not entitle the client to a partial refund. This measure aims to encourage regular participation in consultations.

6. Data Security

Protecting user data is a priority for Najda.

• Security Measures:
  • Access to data is strictly limited to the company founder and the therapist assigned to the client.
  • Collected data is limited to the first name and email address, with the option for clients not to provide a photo.
  • Conversations are stored on a secure NoCode database with restricted access.

Addition (GDPR, CCPA and Other Jurisdictional Requirements): For users residing in the European Economic Area (EEA) and the United Kingdom, data processing is carried out in full compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Furthermore, for users in California and other applicable regions in the United States, additional rights and protections under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) apply, as detailed in our separate Privacy Policy.

• Retention: Conversation and user data are retained as long as the client remains active on the platform, unless an explicit deletion request is made (see section 7).
• Limitation: Although Najda is not HIPAA certified, these measures aim to ensure a high level of confidentiality and protection.

7. Users' Rights Over Their Data

Users have clear rights over their personal data:

• They can access, modify, or delete their data by sending a request via email to inquiry@najda.io.
• Najda commits to processing these requests promptly, except in exceptional cases where retention is required for legal reasons (e.g., in the event of a dispute or regulatory obligation).

Addition: For users in jurisdictions that require additional data rights (e.g., GDPR in the EEA, CCPA in California), such rights are further detailed in our Privacy Policy, which is available on our website.

8. Acceptable Use Conditions

Najda imposes strict rules to maintain a respectful environment aligned with its values:

• Prohibited Behaviors:
  • Disparaging elements glorified in Islam (e.g., hijab, mosques, Muslims).
  • Disbelief or acts of apostasy.
  • Any behavior deemed haram or contrary to Islamic ethics.
  • Any behavior harmful to clients, therapists, Najda, or the community.
• Consequences: In case of violation, Najda may issue a warning, suspend, or delete the user’s account, with no refund of donations made.

9. Dispute and Complaint Management

• Process: Users must submit their complaints or disputes to inquiry@najda.io, accompanied by evidence (images, videos) to justify their request. Najda will review these elements and take appropriate action.
• Contact: For any issues, users can write to inquiry@najda.io.

10. Legal Compliance

Najda complies with:

• The laws of the United Arab Emirates (country of establishment).
• The regulations of countries where services are marketed or used (e.g., United States, United Kingdom).
• Addition: In particular, for users in the United States, stringent measures are in place to comply with COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act) for users under 13 years of age. Parental authorization and verifiable consent are required for minors in accordance with applicable laws.
• Minors: Minor users must provide parental authorization to access the services.
• Addition: For users under the age of 13 in the United States, verifiable parental consent is mandatory as per COPPA requirements.

11. Modifications to the T&C

• Notification: Changes to the T&C will be communicated by email to all users.
• Acceptance: Continued use of the services after notification constitutes acceptance of the new terms. In case of refusal, the user must send an email to inquiry@najda.io to explicitly indicate their disagreement.

Addition: These Terms of Use are available in English and may be provided in additional languages upon request to accommodate our diverse user base.

12. Disclaimers

• Najda does not guarantee the results of therapeutic conversations, which depend on many individual factors.
• The advice given does not replace professional medical advice. If necessary, users should consult a qualified healthcare professional.

13. Applicable Jurisdiction

Najda is based in the United Arab Emirates. In the event of a dispute, the laws of the United Arab Emirates apply, and the courts of this country have exclusive jurisdiction.

14. Partners or Third Parties

• Our partners are the qualified therapists, responsible for providing therapeutic conversations and communicating with clients via the platform.
• No other third parties are involved in managing donations or data.

15. Ethics and Quality of Services

• Evaluation: After each session, clients receive a form to evaluate the therapist’s performance (integration of Islamic principles, overall satisfaction, etc.).
• Standards: Najda uses an internal scoring system to monitor the quality and ethics of therapists, determining their continued collaboration.

16. Contact

For any questions or clarifications, please contact us at inquiry@najda.io.

Additional Clauses for Enhanced Global Compliance (New Section)

16.1. GDPR and Data Protection Compliance

For users residing within the European Economic Area (EEA) and the United Kingdom, Najda expressly confirms that all data processing activities are carried out in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Detailed information regarding data collection, usage, rights, and security measures is provided in our separate Privacy Policy.

16.2. COPPA Compliance

For users in the United States, particularly those under the age of 13, Najda requires verifiable parental consent in compliance with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). The platform employs appropriate mechanisms to obtain and verify such consent.

16.3. CCPA and Additional U.S. Consumer Rights

For users residing in California, additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) apply. These rights, including the right to opt-out and request data deletion, are further detailed in our Privacy Policy.

17. Final Provisions

Addition: These Terms and Conditions, together with the Privacy Policy and all other legal documents referenced herein (including but not limited to the Teleconsultation Consent Notice, Financial Responsibility Agreement, Medical Disclaimer, and Therapist Service Agreement), constitute the entire agreement between Najda and the user with respect to the subject matter contained herein.

The above Terms and Conditions now incorporate the necessary additional clauses to address global legal requirements while leaving all original information intact. Please review these additions and contact inquiry@najda.io with any questions.

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