HBO Film Follows Muslim Children In Quran Memorization Contest

By Jack Jenkins
c. 2011 Religion News Service

(RNS) A new documentary follows three Muslim children as they travel to Egypt to compete in a tournament that requires young contestants to recite whole passages of the Quran, Islam's 600-page holy book, from memory.

Each year during Ramadan -- a Muslim holy month when believers fast, pray and read from the Quran -- 100 students from more than 70 countries flock to Cairo for the International Holy Quran Competition.

Greg Barker, a former war correspondent and creator of films such as "Ghosts of Rwanda," captured the contest in his new documentary "Koran by Heart," which is set to premiere on HBO on August 1, the first night of Ramadan.

Barker's film tells the story of three 10-year-olds -- two boys and one girl -- as they travel to the competition.

All three dedicated most of their early years to memorizing every word of the Quran -- even though they do not speak or understand Arabic, the language in which the holy book is written.

"(The contest) is a window into the world that most non-Muslims or Westerners don't see. It ... puts a human face on the religion," Barker said.

Quran recitations are a regular practice throughout the Muslim world, although they are especially auspicious during Ramadan. Muslims believe it to be the month when the Quran was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.

Much of the film focuses on the relationships between the young contestants and their families, offering a glimpse into the daily life of the broader Muslim world.

"These kids are young, not really aware of the politics surrounding Islam, Barker said, "but we see through their families the larger issues that they're grappling with."

Rifdha, for example, is from the Maldives and is one of only 10 girls in the competition. Although both parents want her to be educated, Rifdha's father insists that she grow up to be a housewife; her mother encourages her to work toward a career.

Nabiollah, from Tajikistan, receives widespread acclaim at home and abroad for his masterful recitation skills, but is virtually illiterate in his native language.

Djamil, from Senegal, is asked to represent all of Africa at the competition, but must travel to Egypt alone without any family or friends to guide him.

WATCH THE TRAILER:

Comments

[altoplano]

09:12 PM on 08/13/2011

How dismal. Too bad they don't focus their efforts on something useful instead.

[Kari Ansari]

09:39 PM on 08/03/2011

My family and I watched this beautiful documentary last night. We were moved by the children and their stories. We fell in love with Rifdha, and pray that if her father does indeed take her off the island to study Islam, she'll learn that Islam allows her to have a career as an explorer or anything that she desires–she is not limited to "being a housewife". Maybe Dad will get an education too!
We were extremely saddened today to read this story: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/03/tajikistan-minors-mosque-ban-_n_916860.html
The Tajik government is moving to ban all youth from praying in the mosque until they're 18, and banning all religious schools. Nabilollah would not have learned to recite the Quran without the humble teacher and school in his rural town. He would not have had the opportunity to travel to Egypt, and he would not have been given the full scholarship to the bigger and more progressive school in the city where he will have the chance to learn all subjects, if this law were in effect then. What people don't realize that in many other countries, there is no public school system, especially in rural areas, and these little schools are all that the children have for any learning at all.
Children who memorize the entire Quran like the children in this documentary are exceptionally focused children who often go on to become great scholars in all subjects, not only Islam.

[Richbruin]

07:57 PM on 08/07/2011

Please. There is nothing beautiful about children being brainwashed.

[Cherine Abdalla]

03:36 PM on 08/03/2011

Wow, how sad...not ONE kind word or expression of appreciation for what is a tremendous feat on its own merit. Instead, each one of you chose to slam Islam and Muslims in your own way.

You choose to know nothing and understand nothing which is why you will never have a global understanding for why things are happening to our country. Your ignorance speaks volumes.

[melizer]

03:13 PM on 08/02/2011

My heart aches for all three of these children. How cruel the judging panel was to Djamil from Senegal, without a translator he could not understand their instructions, and only knew they were laughing at him, when they thought it was so funny that he didn't just read the last sentence from the screen when he couldn't read. I hope someone will help gifted Rifdha obtain a real education at a university in a few years. And what a disadvantage Nabiollah is at, so far having been taught virtually nothing at the age of ten.

[Jcray]

12:45 PM on 08/04/2011

I wouldn't call memorizing the entire Qur'an at age 10 nothing. He is obviously very gifted and once he gets a chance to leave his rural area and attend a large school I'm sure he will quickly learn other subjects. Also, in terms of the religion and any Muslim is concerned memorizing the entire Qur'an is the most important thing you can learn.

[HaleemK]

11:27 AM on 07/29/2011

These are holy Arabic words found in a sacred place in the desert in Saudi Arabia.

Recite this 100 times and heaven will open up for you. Don't worry about understanding what they mean. The angel Gabriel will open the doors of heaven himself for you.

وجدت مراجعة بحثية واسعة لماريا هايز الباحثة بمركز تيغاسك بإيرلندا وزملائها بجامعة لندن، أن أعشاب البحر المستخدمة كأطعمة تعد مصدرا غنيا بمكونات غذائية صحية للقلب وتخفض ضغط الدم.

[alexchicago]

06:08 AM on 07/29/2011

How about internalizing common sense!!! This applies for all religious affiliations!!!

[Terry Albright]

08:01 PM on 08/10/2011

As well as.....'Non-Religious' persons........'conmon sense' is Not-so 'Common' anymore!

[HaleemK]

03:42 AM on 07/29/2011

Brain washing. No wonder their worlds are in such disarray.
The next they want to move to the west and spread their believes.

[SuperAijaz]

07:34 PM on 08/10/2011

When you don't understand something then it doesn't mean to deny the facts. Make sure your brain is not washed away.

[learningquranon]

10:28 PM on 07/28/2011

we should listen to Quran and try to learn Quran online with translation to understand the holy scripture and it is must for us to read Quran online, and availing the knowledge of Quran online http://www.learningquranonline.com

[HaleemK]

03:44 AM on 07/29/2011

Why? Have you saved your own countries and achieved paradise their? No you haven't and never will.

[BilaalUSA]

04:09 PM on 07/28/2011

These children are but a small part of a larger contingency of Hafiz worldwide. While God’s Attributes are infinite, we are blessed to get a small glimpse of at least 99 of them. One of these Qualities of Allah is Al-Hafiz or the Preserver. We express our love for Allah by emulating the same attributes or qualities in our own life. These children, reaffirm the 15th Chapter, 9th Verse, which reads: “We have sent down the Reminder and We shall Preserve it”.

Allah offers a clear Sign by showing us that thousand of CHILDREN are capable of preserving the integrity of all 330,000 characters of this great revelation. Recent Qur’an burnings and shreddings point to a disturbing socio-political trend. If the Herman Cain’s of this world ever come into power, we may be facing full censorship of the Qur’an and perhaps other books as well. The Arabic word Qur’an refers to the word “recitation” more than “read”. For those who say that this is just blind memory without understanding the full meaning, I must respectfully disagree. The children are more astute than you may think and as they mature, their spiritual development will only grow, Insha’Allah.

[HaleemK]

03:45 AM on 07/29/2011

"Allah offers a clear Sign by showing us that thousand of CHILDREN are capable of preserving the integrity of all 330,000 characters of this great revelation­."

- That is sign? Yes for a 7th century mentality.

[truesabil]

04:27 AM on 08/01/2011

You sound very disturbed because you don't have nothing you believe in that gives you peace. Why don't you move on with the company of your type of mentality? There are plenty of your kind out there to engage. You will not find any company here from among Muslims to share your misery. Your whole efforts on here are trying to throw dirt in the well of life.

[Yvette Simpson]

03:54 PM on 07/28/2011

in america we have the national spelling bee. and children spend alot of extra time after school to compete and possible win it. and the ones who end up in the top 10 go off to ivy league colleges and do great things. well, in islam, the person who has memorized the entire quran is also viewed as doing something great. as well as going off to do great things in their life. memorizing 600 pages, without missing a letter or word is huge. it takes alot of discipline, concentration, purifying yourself. that is way so many people can't do it today.

as far as the clothes that the girl is wearing, there are many muslims who have their girls dress that way to prepare them for when they have/obligated to dress that way. since a girl who reaches puberty is now a woman/adult and held accountable for their actions. puberty/adulthood is not 18. puberty/adulthood is when a girl gets her menstrual cycle or a boy has a wet dream. for some that is as early as 10 for girls or 12/13 for boys.

[horseguards]

01:35 PM on 07/30/2011

"memorizing 600 pages" does not imply a superior intellect, eg as seen in savants.

[jayrag123]

01:53 PM on 07/28/2011

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5oL4zAzwwo
another senegal girl
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9H6jaVAUU8&feature=related
3rd senegalese girl
The west african country of senegal has the best reciters of quraan...........................

[HaleemK]

03:52 AM on 07/29/2011

She could have recited the bible in Latin and still had no clue :) what she was saying.

[S Sjah]

10:26 AM on 08/06/2011

you should test that. try reciting the Qur'an in arabic and the Bible in latin ---- see what goes on.

[Jelle NL]

01:47 PM on 07/28/2011

What a beautiful bright girl this Rifdha is! May the Almighty always protect her, guide her steps and remove every obstacle from her path.

[HaleemK]

03:51 AM on 07/29/2011

She memorized this

وَقَاتِلُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ الَّذِينَ يُقَاتِلُونَكُمْ وَلاَ تَعْتَدُوا إِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يُحِبُّ الْمُعْتَدِينَ وَاقْتُلُوهُمْ حَيْثُ ثَقِفْتُمُوهُمْ وَأَخْرِجُوهُمْ مِنْ حَيْثُ أَخْرَجُوكُمْ وَالْفِتْنَةُ أَشَدُّ مِنْ الْقَتْلِ وَلاَ تُقَاتِلُوهُمْ عِنْدَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ حَتَّى يُقَاتِلُوكُمْ فِيهِ فَإِنْ قَاتَلُوكُمْ فَاقْتُلُوهُمْ كَذَلِكَ جَزَاءُ الْكَافِرِينَ فَإِنْ انتَهَوْا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ وَقَاتِلُوهُمْ حَتَّى لاَ تَكُونَ فِتْنَةٌ وَيَكُونَ الدِّينُ لِلَّهِ فَإِنْ انتَهَوْا فَلاَ عُدْوَانَ إِلاَّ عَلَى الظَّالِمِينَ الشَّهْرُ الْحَرَامُ بِالشَّهْرِ الْحَرَامِ وَالْحُرُمَاتُ قِصَاصٌ فَمَنْ اعْتَدَى عَلَيْكُمْ فَاعْتَدُوا عَلَيْهِ بِمِثْلِ مَا اعْتَدَى عَلَيْكُمْ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الْمُتَّقِينَ

As you are gaping your mouth and don't understand:

"Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress limits; for Allah loves not transgressors. And kill them wherever ye catch them, and turn them out from where they have turned you out; for tumult and oppression are worse than slaughter; but fight them not at the Sacred Mosque, unless they (first) fight you there; but if they fight you, kill them. Such is the reward of those who reject faith. But if they cease, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. And fight them on until there is no more tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in Allah; but if they cease, let there be no hostility except to those who practice oppression....." (al-Baqarah 2:190-194)

[Jelle NL]

05:51 AM on 07/29/2011

HaleemK -- Yes, one day Rifdha will understand what she recites. And that is why I wish her all the best.

[jayrag123]

01:41 PM on 07/28/2011

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ve7GM8naK2M
senegalese girl quran recitation......................maa sha allah, ya jamal(what god wills, how beautiful)

senegal(west africa) people speak french and tribal language but they are famous for quran recitation in perfect fuSHa arabic.

[island fever1]

11:54 AM on 07/28/2011

I see no problem with it. I can remember my mother teaching me the Preamble to the Constitution, the Gettysburg Address and so on and so on. These weren't even school exercises. If nothing else, it's a good mental exercise. I see no harm in it. It's no worse than other kids memorizing Bible verses or words for a spelling Bee. It is also allowing them to compete with others and apparently they are able to travel when they might not have been able to otherwise. Look at the smile on that little girl's face! She's happy, she's proud! I'm glad she has this time in her life. I'm sure she will always remember it with great pride and happiness!

[S Sjah]

10:33 AM on 08/06/2011

try reading the Quran, it's a little bit more than just a mental exercise (:
and try thedeenshow.com

[dbmartin]

10:59 AM on 07/28/2011

Early on we decided that we would not use our children as mindless recording devices. It has worked out for the better. They are now skillful, caring, and independent adults in the opinion of many.

[Jan Allen McDaniel]

11:23 AM on 07/28/2011

Your comment points to the biggest difference between my generation and my children's generation in how we raise kids. I was indoctrinated about religion, my kids were not, their kids are not.

Children should be educated, not indoctrinated. Education is an intellectual process, indoctrination is an emotional process. There is a reason why Catholic priests boast that if they have access to a child’s first twelve years, that person will be a life-long Catholic.

For the same reasons we no longer choose spouses for our kids, we should not choose religions for our kids. It is inappropriate to saddle a child with a spouse or a religion not of their choosing.

They need to do that when they become emotionally mature and rationally capable.

[Abdul-Halim Vazquez]

02:14 PM on 07/28/2011

I'm not sure its a generational thing. (I'm also curious about how you'd define the difference between indoctrination and education). When I was taken to church we had to memorize Bible verses in Sunday school. Why wouldn't religious parents teach their children the basics of the religion??

[rex xor]

04:28 PM on 07/28/2011

teaching kids young or after getting mature.. is not that much different..
many young Christians leaves Christianity when their questions are unanswered.. and some enters it at later age..

people still can think on them selves, and will eventually start asking question and seeking truth one day.. soon or later.. nothing remains same...except god.