Here, the grandmothers have broken with tradition. Although they are not literate, they have established a Quranic movement with a heart full of enthusiasm, in which the verses of revelation are passed down from heart to heart. In this village, literacy is not measured by reading letters, but by the degree of familiarity with the Word of God.

Village Women

While many people spend long hours in endless conversations or browsing social networks, dozens of elderly ladies in the village of Al-Sheen in the Qatour district of the Gharbia Governorate of Egypt have chosen a different path; a path that begins and ends with the verses of the Quran. This is a path that neither illiteracy, nor old age, nor the difficulties of daily life can hinder; here, women - some of them over eighty years old - have come together with a single goal to memorize the Book of God, providing a remarkable example that proves that a sincere will is stronger than any obstacle.

Most of these grandmothers never received formal education and some were illiterate; however, this did not prevent them from embarking on a difficult journey with the Holy Quran. Relying on simple tools - from cassette tapes to radio and television, and now mobile phones and "talking pens" - they have made memorizing the Quran an integral part of their daily lives.

A Blessed Mission from the Heart of Free Time

The story begins with Hajiya Um Rasha, a woman who began her journey of becoming acquainted with the Holy Quran from the quiet and intimate space of her home. She relied on frequent listening to recorded recitations and constant repetition of verses so that the divine word would not only be in her memory, but also deeply embedded in her soul and heart. As time passed, she did not stop at memorizing the Quran in solitude, but decided to invite the women of her village to join her on this blessed path.

This project began with a small group of women gathering in her home; but as their number increased and there was a lack of space for them, she dedicated part of the land adjacent to her house to establish a small center. They gathered there every day to memorize and review the verses of the Quran. This center quickly became a place for women of all ages to gather daily; so that each of them, after doing housework and taking care of their children and grandchildren, would head to that educational circle with a sincere desire to memorize new verses or review previous learning.

As the project expanded, a group of young women and university graduates from the village joined in to take on the responsibility of listening to the women’s recitation, correcting their pronunciation, and helping to consolidate their memorization. It was a beautiful scene where the experience of the previous generation blended with the enthusiasm of the young, and each generation supported the next in their journey to memorize the Book of God.

Since illiteracy was the biggest challenge, the women did not give in to this reality; instead, they invented various methods to help them memorize. Some of them listened to the verses over and over again—dozens of times—on television or radio, while others relied on audio files recorded on their mobile phones. In addition, a number of villagers helped them by providing them with “talking pens”; A tool that allowed them to listen to verses and repeat them until they had fully mastered the memorization.

For these old Quran learners, the Holy Quran was no longer just a piece of paper to recite; it became a constant companion in their homes, farms, and on their commutes, accompanying them in every detail of their daily lives. Over time, the impact of this initiative went beyond simply memorizing the text and transformed the lifestyles of many families; in these Quran memorization circles, women found a space that connected them on a good path, filled their free time constructively, and strengthened the spirit of cooperation and love among them.

Daily gatherings became an opportunity to review, encourage, and exchange experiences, replacing those useless hours that sometimes provided the basis for disagreements or useless conversations, and that cozy corner became a soothing haven where everyone could find peace of mind and peace of heart.

This successful model shows that memorizing the Holy Quran is not the exclusive domain of the young or those with formal education; rather, it is open to anyone who sincerely wants to make the Book of God their own, regardless of age or educational background.

Incentives to follow the path

This path led to remarkable success; many women managed to memorize significant parts of the Holy Quran, and a number of others committed the entire Quran to memory; some of them had never even picked up a pen before.

This achievement did not go unnoticed by the villagers; They gathered around this project with sympathy and determined to fully support this Quranic movement. Marketers, merchants and philanthropists also stepped forward to hold periodic Quran memorization competitions and award cash prizes to the best, as well as an annual ceremony to celebrate women who have completed memorizing the Quran or made significant progress in this direction.

These celebrations now turn the village of Al-Sheen into a very important place; the halls and mosques are filled with people and the echo of admiration and gratitude surrounds the women who have learned the lesson of perseverance; the old women who have proven that the measure of true achievement is not age, but willpower.

A number of villagers have also taken the initiative to organize group Umrah trips for those who have excelled in memorizing the Holy Quran; An act that was considered a worthy and worthy reward for their long journey of familiarity with the Book of God and an incentive to continue on this path.

The impact of this project was not limited to the participating grandmothers, but also included their families and grandchildren, who saw in these women true models of hard work and perseverance. Children enthusiastically took the initiative to attend the memorization circles, and many young people, seeing the success of their mothers and grandmothers in achieving what some considered impossible, were encouraged to join the Quran memorization classes.

Experience has proven that human development does not always require huge resources; it relies, above all, on a sincere idea that can find believers and supporters for itself. What started as a simple home has grown into a successful model at the community level, with the support and encouragement of the villagers. As a result, Al-Sheen has become a shining example in promoting the culture of memorizing the Holy Quran among Egyptian women and the elderly.

Al-Sheen’s Community-Based Mission

Every day before sunset, the “Zawiya” (Quranic school) is filled with the resounding voices of women reciting verses with respect and humility; each holding a copy of the Quran in her hand, while the sound of review and instruction permeates the air, a scene that reflects a deep connection with the Word of God.

Some of them may not be able to read written texts, but they have managed to memorize them; it is as if their hearts have become pages that preserve what their eyes could not. This is a story that proves that knowledge is not confined to the confines of school, that age is no barrier to learning, and that with determination and determination, one can start over.

In the village of Al-Sheen, Quran memorization circles have gone beyond mere circles of rote learning to a community-based mission; a mission based on the principle that the best investment of time is to spend it on things that bring a person closer to his Lord, and that idle time can be transformed into positive energy that will leave a lasting impact for years to come.

Thus, the Al-Sheen ladies continue their journey with the Holy Quran, proving every day that when hearts are connected to the Word of God, difficulties become easier and the barriers of age and illiteracy are removed; Meanwhile, determination becomes the only path to success, transforming the village into a shining example that brings a message of hope to anyone who once thought it was too late to learn, memorize the Quran, or begin a new dream.

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