2: The Crowning Venture: Women who memorize the Quran

Wednesday, 19 September 2018

The session was held in a petite but homey setting, at the heart of the bustling tourist and Muslim attraction. It was in a place called Study One Corner.

I came without prior knowledge of who the speaker was. The title captivated me and I was sold. I knew that I had to come. But as always, things just had to happen. Huhu had to fight off the urge to stay in school due to a heavy downpour hours prior the sharing. Dear self, rain shouldn’t stop one from going. In fact, it should revive a dying plant to life. So that was me, a dying plant making her way to her sunshine of hope. Picking up anything that could revive her dying spirit.

 

The session started off with a quranic recitation. Unlike other recitations, this recitation was an orchestra of 3 muslimaat reading about ibadurrahman from surah Al-Furqan. It was melodious and therapeutic. MashaAllah. Dr Saadia (the author of the book that we’ll be discussing about) highlighted to us how a woman’s recitation of the verses of the Quran can be as beautiful as a man. Until that day, I did not know that a woman’s recitation and emphasis on reading Quran was not held greatly in their part of the world. That there is a lack of female reciters. (We should do female terawih sessions eh? So that haafizaat can review their memorisation through that platform hmm). I have always thought that it is especially important for women to be well equipped with quranic sciences – its reading all the way to its application more so as they shall be the ones who nurture the next generation (in general!)

In summary, this sold out book (waiting patiently for it to be restocked in Wardah Books!) is a compilation of stories from sisters about their journey in memorising Quran. The main aim of this book is to create a platform for others to know that they are not alone in this journey. To reflect how others also struggle and that every struggle is unique to each individual.

Dr Saadia said, “it is through the struggle that makes it more worth it”

So here on I’ll just share the points she shared ok! 🙂

The beginning: 

• Her journey began by meeting a composed, calm in nature, sister
• She wanted to be as composed and tranquil as her
• She started to learn Arabic during summer in Syria

The Environment motivated her:

• Saw women clad in white during a halal party to celebrate those who finish their ijazat in Quran
• She wanted to be like those women
• So she started her journey in Quran by improving her recitation with proper tajwid
• Anisah Tamara were one of those in charge of her hostel
• They regard tahajjud highly
• Woke the girls in the hostel up with nescafe, cookies and wide smiles before praying tahajjud
• Made the environment so cheerful in the early morning (mashallah pls serious rindu nak jejak situ lagiii)
• She observed an Ustazah who would clean the place up while students read to her their memorisation. The ustazah was quick and corrected them and she felt that was amazing! (Quran should not make one static. You can still do other things while being attached to it. Lifelong bond…)

The Result:

• Dr Saadia passed her ijazat in recitation
• It was truly by the will of Allah as other sisters who recited better did not pass
• The sister who failed mentioned that she did not take care of her intent while reading
• Somehow, mashaAllah, the sheikh knew
• Hence, it’s not about how beautiful you read

• It’s about the journey, the tarbiyah one gets through recitation (deep pls.)

No doubt, it IS DIFFICULT:

• How can someone enjoy a difficult process such as memorising the Quran?
• Key is to lose themselves in it
• To relax and grow
• Only by stretching to our limits can one develop

Desired impact:

• Yes, memorisation of the Quran needs FOCUS
• People might do better by just staying secluded in a quran environment (pesantren gituu) and just have their memorisation “preserved”
• BUT her Ustazah reminded her to serve her community
• Go out. They needed her (she is a doctor by training mashaAllah)
• Memorise the Quran only to be of service to others as this journey is not only about you.
• Make people happy
• She remembered her friend, the calm one who inspired her to begin this journey in the first place (mashaAllah sgtttt)

Stories in her book, of those on this journey were:

• Women with 4 kids
• 60 year old lady
• A convert
  • Memorised by listening
  • Did not have any access to qualified teachers
  • Did not know how to read the Quran
  • A women who had nothing (language, age, time) But she still memorised! (truly inspired by her mashaAllah..)

Reflection for US in Singapore:

• We have teachers
• We might have language (know arabic)
• We have the time, age  and opportunity (nobody is stopping you)
• We have internet, resources to enhance our journey

So what is stopping us?

Ultimately:

“I cannot be what I cannot see”

This book encourages women, empowers women to share our journey. Else, you will really feel alone. Dr Saadia and her fellow sisters have traveled around the world discussing this book. And mashallah it feels like there is a revival of sisters who wants to go on this journey.

Q & A

My memorisation is not good enough

• Please Allah. Allah looks at your efforts. The life long journey
• Don’t stop. Keep the relationship between you and the Quran alive
• Recite it everyday

Best Practices?

• After fajr (as stated in the Quran about the benefits of fajr time)
• Take 10 minutes!
• Don’t make impossible goals that will only dampen your spirit
• Keep the habit of tahajjud
• Block a quran time for yourself everyday. Even after you have kids! Teach them how important this time slot is for you
• Recite loudly
• Write the memorisation (A hadith about tying our knowledge by writing. Sis excited to get hold of this new gadget. Stay tuned!)
• Be in a constant state of Taubah (repentance)
• Istighfar daily

How do I begin?

• Purify your intention
• Master your tajwid
• Correct your reading
• Memorise
• Review (murajaah needs to be with a teacher in order to feel accountable)

Abilities

• Yes, some might be able to memorise very, very quick
• Don’t compare yourself to others in a negative way
• Take it as a motivation
• It is normal to take longer

• TEACH GIRLS BRAVERY. NOT PERFECTION ❤

• Because Allah loves deeds that are small yet consistent
• Keep going (!!!!)

Those who worry that they will forget the memorisation. So why bother starting at all if we will only get sins for forgetting them?

• Our nature as humans are forgetful beings
• Allah is merciful, be merciful to yourself
• It is a lifelong commitment
• It is a blessing that we forget – So that we get to review it again ❤
• More rewards inshaAllah

 

What if I’ve stopped. Where do I begin? Do I start all over?

• Allah never specified how one should go about the journey
• As long as we start
• Start with your favourite surah
• Just start
• You’re gonna review it anyway! (lifelong commitment remember!)

Do we start this journey young, with children?

• No doubt there is no better time like the present
• But make it FUN for them (sis teringat a student who burned a mosque because stress of his parents’ expectation. True story happened in SG. You would know which mosque huhu..)
• Have roleplays
• Give candy
• Have some healthy competition

• DON’T MAKE THEM HATE THE QURAN

To all of those who are on this journey. Whether we are currently learning arabic, learning tajwid, just reciting or have even started memorising, may Allah keep us steadfast and bless the journey. Adduaa biddua! ❤