At AMU, Learning To Read the Quran With Ones Fingers

Visually challenged students of Aligarh Muslim University have been reading the Quran themselves, thanks to the "Braille Quran" that they have been provided.

The texts, in Braille, were provided by the International Union for Braille Qur'an Services (IBQS) in Turkey, which is working in 13 countries.

A Mumbai-based NGO had also supported students through a workshop that helped visually challenged students recite the Quran, without having to take the aid of audio CDs. Students are now learning the Qaida, the initial part, and will soon graduate to reading the Quran.

Adeeb Ahmad Usmani, who is pursuing a course in mass communication in Urdu at AMU, said, "I lost my eyesight 20 years back, and learnt the Quran till now mostly by listening to others or to recorded voices. Today I am learning to read Braille in Arabic. I hope tomorrow to read the entire text on my own and develop my own style of recitation. I too will soon be able to understand the nuances and have my own style of reading the Quran."
Qazi Muzamiluddeen Nadwi, member of IBQS, was present at the workshop. He said the Braille Quran is not easily available in India, but coordinated efforts are being made to make the text available in Aligarh.

Abdul Hameed Fazili, coordinator of the disability unit at AMU, said that he intended to reach out to all visually challenged students on the campus.

Visually challenged Jadia Asjad from Azamgarh, in her final year of graduation at AMU, said, "This is a great spiritual step! I will read as I touch the Quran, and that will give me the power to read the text on my own."

Students were given primer guidebooks, audio CDs and a copy of the 'Braille Qur'an Qaida'. There are now also proposals to start a "Centre for Braille Quran Services," so even the school students at the Ahmadi School for the Visually Challenged can benefit.
Source: Times of India