In a journey to everywhere
Between cities and nations
In the presence of the Wise Remembrance
The Lord of all hearts Has unified us... Has unified us all.
And for the sake of memorizing the book
We have knocked every door
and we shall continue this path, before things come to an end
[Chechnya]
Throughout this show, 'Traveler with the Quran", we've been to many countries with the purpose of shedding light on various Quranic Centres and memorization practices around the world
One of these countries is Chechnya
We all know that Chechnya has been through a long period of recurring wars
It hadn't achieved stability until about 6 years ago
The funny thing is that, people tend to think, until today, that Chechnya is still in war!
Even my mother was worried about my travel here because of the war
But I said to her: Don't worry, war has ended!
And after the recovery, one of the things that have received the most attention of people in Chechnya...
.. is the word of Allah Almighty, and the establishment of Amazing Quranic centres.
This is why, we made sure to come here, to show you all, how much Chechynian youth care for and learn the Quran
We will also show you amazing Quranic centres in Chechnya that I am sure will surprise you.
While we were preparing for this scene, we met these two young boys who were on their way to register in a summer Quranic Circle in one of the local centres.
So I wanted to have them by my side, making duaa to Allah to preserve them, and preserve His words in their hearts, and to preserve all of you too.
Stay tuned with us as we go around Chechnya!
We headed straight to one Quranic Education centre in Chechnya
There, I was astonished by what I saw, just like seeing a dream comes true.
Before coming here, many had talked to me about the quality of Chechnyian Quran centres, and their dedication to teach their children Quran
However, The centres which I have seen here, I never saw like it before
You may think that I am standing now in a public park or amusement park
Not really! I am actually at a truly distinguished Quranic Centre.
It has everything that can possibly aid a student to learn and prefect the Quran
My dream is that we have centres like this in our country, and in every country!
Now, come with me to see closely this amazing centre.
This Centre has special rooms for students to sleep-in, fully equipped class rooms, full-service cafeteria for all daily meals
...in addition to a masjid, and wide green space for their activities and relaxation
And indeed, the best part about this centre is the organization and discipline of all students of the book of Allah Almighty.
Who amongst you can read for us some of the Quran?
" Indeed, those who disbelieve - it is all the same for them whether you warn them or do not warn them - they will not believe."
"Allah has set a seal upon their hearts and upon their hearing, and over their vision is a veil. And for them is a great punishment."
"Who have made the Qur'an into portions. So by your Lord, We will surely question them all. About what they used to do. Then declare what you are commanded and turn away from the polytheists."
May Allah bless you! Do you listen to Abu Bakr Al-Shatiri? The sheikh?
May Allah allow you to become like him. Lucky is Sheikh Abu Bakr Al-Shatiri to have people listen to him all the way to Chechnya and recite just like him. This indeed is a good deed for him.
[ The Centre of Sheikh Zai'd - Chechnya]
While I was going around this amazing centre, the Centre of Sheikh Zai'd (may Allah have mercy on him)
And while I was listening to the beautiful recitation of these students, I found a brother called Ikhwan
His teacher told me that he is 12, yet he memorized all the Quran
Our dear sheikh Adam, when did the brother Ikhwan start learning the Quran?
- Since the opening of this centre, i.e. 8 to 9 months ago - Only 8-9 month? - Yes
Can you believe that he actually memorized Quran in 8-9 month?! I am extremely surprised.
He doesn't speak nor understand Arabic, does he? But he actually managed to memorize it in such a short time
May Allah bless him!... How many pages does he memorize a day?
Initially he used to memorize 2 to 4 pages a day. But towards the end, he was memorizing 8 pages a day.
- So he stays here all the time and doesn't go anywhere, just dedicating his time to learning - Yes!
May Allah bless him. So, who encouraged him to memorize the Quran?
It was his own personal desire to memorize the Quran
How much is his daily revision, now that he finished his memorization?
He revises 4 juzz's everyday
I ask Allah Almighty to bless him
"O you who have believed, fear Allah and speak words of appropriate justice."
" He will [then] amend for you your deeds and forgive you your sins. And whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger has certainly attained a great attainment."
[Chechnya]
I want to ask you for a small thing. Once you decide to memorize the Quran, and when you start doing so, Never Despair!
I know very well that during this beautiful journey, you will face many and many obstacles and hardships
Never let those hardships take you to the point where you say "That's it, I cannot continue anymore"
I have met such people, one who memorize 1 juzz, 2, or even 5. Then a small problem would come up and forces them to stop for say a month or two...
... then he/she would say " that's it! I don't wish to continue". Trust me, that is from Shaytan!
According to the proverb "Honey does not come without tasting the Bee stings"
Honey is sweet, but bees are there
Similar is the Quran! Trust me, it is indeed Magnificent!
I have met people with various disabilities and special needs. They face countless hardships on their journey to memorize the Quran
But they truly knew the magnificence of this Quran, and endured so much for it... so much of difficulties that you would never even face!
If you resist your desires, Allah Almighty will facilitate all hardships for you. He will because you did so for His sake
Allah Almighty says:
" And those who strive for Us - We will surely guide them to Our ways. And indeed, Allah is with the doers of good."
Allah will make it easier for you. Therefore, Don't Despair!
[The Old Jarzuni Centre]
We had a very special visit to the only centre in Chechnya that provides support for persons with special needs and aid them in learning Islam
We are now in a very distinguished centre in Chechnya
The centre was built in 1907, very old! And was reconditioned in the past few years
The wonderful thing is that the centre has 100 students.
Some of them are regular students and about 25 are with special needs, hearing, speaking, and vision.
One of the beautiful examples in this centre is this guy!
He is Russian, not from Chechnya, and he became Muslim
This guy has an amazing determination - and he is blind- to memorize the Quran using Braille
He wants to learn the whole Quran through Braille and memorize it
I heard that he recently finished learning Braille way of reading the Quran, how long did it take him?
Well, it usually takes a long time to learn and perfect the learning of it.
But, it took me only two days to learn the basics of letters and connecting words
This is mainly because I already learned Braille in both Russian and English before, and that made the learning of Arabic much easier
Why is he so keen on it? Why does he want to accomplish this so fast? Why is he dedicated so much for it?
I really want to learn Quran to be able to read it
This is why I stopped my education at the university in Moscow and came here
I ask Allah to make it easy for me to learn
Does he enjoy it?
Definitely, he does!
It is his Paradise in this life, he says!
He found a paradise in this life through this learning journey!
What an amazing feeling! He left all his family and life in Moscow, and he came here only to learn Quran..
And when I ask him, do you enjoy it, he says, he found his paradise in this life because of learning Quran
By Allah, it is indeed a very beautiful expression!
I also heard that this young man is a part of the Russian national team, but which game?
Yes, I am a part of the visual disability Soccer team of Russia
We won the European Cup recently in Portugal
So he is learning to read Quran... he is also learning Braille... but he is also up with sports activities, achieving multiple successes
But now we really wish to hear him recite to us of what he learned
" About what are they asking one another?"
" About the great news - That over which they are in disagreement."
" No! They are going to know."
" Then, no! They are going to know."
" Have We not made the earth a resting place?"
" And the mountains as stakes?"
" And We created you in pairs"
" And made your sleep [a means for] rest"
" And made the night as clothing."
" And made the day for livelihood"
" And constructed above you sev...."
- .. seven - ".. seven strong [heavens]"
True is that whenever we see such examples, especially those with special needs, we realize honestly -myself and you- to how much we are in shortage of our duty towards the book of Allah Almighty
Because we can hear, and see, and Quran is available for us to pick and read any time, and we are even given the knowledge of Arabic
" And is it not sufficient for them that We revealed to you the Book which is recited to them?"
Despite all this, we still abandon the Quran.
Among us some who would read Quran only in Ramadan, some wouldn't at all,
And some of us don't even want to memorize the Quran despite being facilitated and despite the numerous examples of memorizers we see!
Now is the real push for us to get started, when we meet those examples
Now, we should start from our children, teaching them Quran
Now we should start caring ourselves to reading, memorizing, and perfecting it.
By Allah, this Quran will otherwise be an argument against us.
Allah sent it to us that we can easily read it and understand it. He gave us sight, ears, lips, and tongues
So, we Must come closer to this Quran.
We shall never succeed, nor find blessing, except through this book
I ask Allah Almighty, to help us reach that goal during this show, while you see those people, and after its completion
I ask Him that you may begin this journey of learning it and memorizing it, you, and whoever is in your company!
' Indeed, the high mountains over the horizons, they all tremble when hearing the Quran recited'
' Preserve Allah's book by memorizing it, and it shall preserve you. How lucky are those who do!'
' Indeed, the high mountains over the horizons, they all tremble when hearing the Quran recited'
' Preserve Allah's book by memorizing it, and it shall preserve you. How lucky are those who do!'