Quran Lessons for Deaf Russians
Fulfilling the dream of deaf Muslims to read and understand the Noble Quran, a mosque in Moscow is offering courses for hearing-impaired people to translate the Holy Book into sign language.
"The main goal for all of our students is to learn Arabic to be able to read the original text of the Quran,” Yulia Zamaletdinova, a graduate of the Moscow Islamic University, told Russia Beyond the Headlines on Monday, June 24.
“Because word-to-word translation of the Quran is impossible to make.”
Zamaletdinova is one of several Muslims teaching the Quran in the sign language at the Memorial Mosque on the Poklonnaya hill.
The idea of the courses first came to interpreter Jamilya Zenina in 2012.
Facing repeated requests for help to translate the Noble Quran at different mosques, she decided to offer courses to the deaf-mute people.
"I know many deaf and mute people,” Jamilya said.
“They kept asking me to come to churches, synagogues, mosques to interpret services for them.”
At first, organizers have encountered the problem of providing a space for the courses.
But the problem was resolved in 2012 after the mosque agreed to host the courses for the deaf people.
In October 2012, Muslims with speech and vision impairment were finally able to get the chance to learn Islam and the Arabic language.
The teaching stuff grew further after Aysha Karimova, who was raised in a mute family, joined the teaching staff.
Classes are held on Sundays as the latest class was attended by about 10 young Muslims who interact through sign language and SMS messages.
One of the students, named Mussa, came to Moscow from Dagestan to study at the faculty of physical education and practices taekwondo.
Raised in a religious family, the courses offered him an opportunity to learn and read the Quran.
The Russian Federation is home to some 23 million Muslims in the north of the Caucasus and southern republics of Chechnya, Ingushetia and Dagestan.
Islam is Russia's second-largest religion representing roughly 15 percent of its 145 million predominantly Orthodox population.
Muslims believe that being disabled is a test from Allah in this life, and therefore can be a blessing in disguise.
Every disabled person should be patient and live up to this challenge.
Islam also instructs Muslims to offer people with special needs due respect and attention.
They should be cared for and all their needs should be fulfilled and they should not be isolated as they are an integral part of the society.
Source: On Islam
“Because word-to-word translation of the Quran is impossible to make.”
Zamaletdinova is one of several Muslims teaching the Quran in the sign language at the Memorial Mosque on the Poklonnaya hill.
The idea of the courses first came to interpreter Jamilya Zenina in 2012.
Facing repeated requests for help to translate the Noble Quran at different mosques, she decided to offer courses to the deaf-mute people.
"I know many deaf and mute people,” Jamilya said.
“They kept asking me to come to churches, synagogues, mosques to interpret services for them.”
At first, organizers have encountered the problem of providing a space for the courses.
But the problem was resolved in 2012 after the mosque agreed to host the courses for the deaf people.
In October 2012, Muslims with speech and vision impairment were finally able to get the chance to learn Islam and the Arabic language.
The teaching stuff grew further after Aysha Karimova, who was raised in a mute family, joined the teaching staff.
Classes are held on Sundays as the latest class was attended by about 10 young Muslims who interact through sign language and SMS messages.
One of the students, named Mussa, came to Moscow from Dagestan to study at the faculty of physical education and practices taekwondo.
Raised in a religious family, the courses offered him an opportunity to learn and read the Quran.
The Russian Federation is home to some 23 million Muslims in the north of the Caucasus and southern republics of Chechnya, Ingushetia and Dagestan.
Islam is Russia's second-largest religion representing roughly 15 percent of its 145 million predominantly Orthodox population.
Muslims believe that being disabled is a test from Allah in this life, and therefore can be a blessing in disguise.
Every disabled person should be patient and live up to this challenge.
Islam also instructs Muslims to offer people with special needs due respect and attention.
They should be cared for and all their needs should be fulfilled and they should not be isolated as they are an integral part of the society.
Source: On Islam
