New Approach to Quran Memorization at Malaysia’s “iLuvQuran” Center
She was told that the replica made of mineral water bottles were built by the centre's students after discussing the lessons from the Al-Buruj surah (chapter) of the Quran.
It was evident that the Quran memorization centre was unlike others. It adopted a more hands-on approach in the learning and understanding of Islam's Holy Book.
Besides participating in arts and crafts activities, its students also engage in role-playing, quizzes and even cupcake making.
CHILD-FRIENDLY APPROACH
Faiz Sahri, its founder, said that the centre aimed at creating an environment that was positive, fun and child-friendly.
Besides applying visual, auditory and kinesthetic (movement of muscles and joints) teaching methods, iLuvQuran also impresses upon developing emotional intelligence.
He related a study by a Muslim researcher in the West on how a parent's response to young children during prayer affected their outlook of the act of worship later on in life.
The study found that when parents hugged and carried their children while praying, the children later on in life would find it easier to perform and keep to their prayers.
"This is due to the positive association the child has with the act of prayer. They have subconsciously developed a positive emotional experience towards the act of worship, compared to children whose cries were ignored by their parents during prayer," he said to Bernama.
He hoped that the centre's teaching methods would help the children form fun memories and positive emotions towards the Quran.
"This will indirectly help the children bond with the Quran and familiarize them with it. If they don't see the Quran as something alien or to be feared, they would be more open to voluntarily delve deeper into the holy book on their own later on in life," he said.
The centre is also mindful of the needs of schoolchildren who are "transiting" at iLuvQuran after school, allowing them some 15 minutes of free play before class begins. This helps the children reenergize themselves for the upcoming lessons.
ACTIVITIES THAT HELP COMPREHENSION
One of the educators at the centre, Marwah Saari, 28, said that activities made up 40 per cent of the classes for 5 to 8-year-olds. This is aimed at helping them better comprehend the verse they are memorizing.
Verses are explained in an age-appropriate manner and focused more on inculcating good manners and moral values as well as aspects of tauhid" (the oneness of God).
She said that she would try to focus on a subject in each surah that the children would best relate to.
"I believe that every verse revealed has a lesson good enough to encompass all aspects of life. Some may say that the children are too young to be able to absorb all of these, but the truth is, it is we who have yet to figure out a way to do so," said the graduate of Fiqh wa Usuluhu WISE University Jordan.
MEMORISE THE QURAN 'PART-TIME'
The centre has been operating for nearly two years now, providing parents an avenue for their children to learn the Quran "part-time".
"People generally assume that memorizing the Quran is a full time effort. They would have to stay in a boarding school and memorize the Quran from morning till evening.
"However, here at the centre, we make part-time Quran memorization a feasible option," said another educator Abdul Fatah Zainuddin, 26 years old.
Abdul Fatah who is a hafiz (one who memorizes the Quran) graduated in Takhasus Qiraat from the Al-Azhar University in Egypt.
Activities helped retain the focus of young students for the entire two-hour period in which lessons take place, proving to be more effective than the typical method of repetition.
ROFESIONALISM
Meanwhile, iLuvQuran co-founder Nur Zahirah Sukran said professionalism was something the centre took seriously.
The centre plans on coming up with a more efficient memorization system and systematic method of learning the Quran.
"We do want to hold Quranic tafsir (interpretation) classes for adults, however many religious teachers still subscribe to the orthodox method of teaching, which is simply reading out text from books.
"When asked to prepare a module or curriculum that is organized, comprehensive and with an objective or 'learning outcome', they are unable to produce," she lamented.
iLuvQuran regards the hafiz and hafizah at the centre as professional manpower and provide them with respectable remuneration.
Nur Zahirah said the educators at the centre were responsible for developing their own learning module and heading the respective sections.
Besides the Wangsa Melawati branch, iLuvQuran also operates in Bangi and Saujana Utama. The centre offers three levels of classes namely QBabies/QBeginners for children ages 2-4 years old, Quranic Seedlings (5-8 years old) and Junior Al-Hafiz (7-12 years old).
Source: Bernama
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