Koran by Heart

*As this is like my fourth write of this blog, please bear with me as I attempt to remember everything I originally wrote!



During Tuesday's class, what was now two weeks ago, we had the amazing opportunity to view the documentary Koran By Heart. This amazing documentary follows three children who travel from various areas of the world to Cairo, Egypt of the international Koran reciting competition. This contest does not only focus on the memorization of this 600 page holy text, but also relies heavily on pronunciation and linguistic features of Arabic.

What makes these children even more amazing to me is the fact that none of the speak Arabic. Meaning none of them actually know everything that they are reciting yet they do so well that they can be recognized as the best in their respective nations. Of the three children observed, the one that stuck closest to me was that of Djamil. Djamil was a 10 year old boy from Senegal.

Viewing his story and seeing the poverty that existed in his community was truly awe inspiring as the family seemed content despite it all. During the competition Djamil was given a passage to recite that was common among the Koran. Because of his inability to speak Arabic, he recited the wrong passage. Even after the judges continuously stopped him, he persevered and tried to push through even with tears falling down his face. Because of this the judges gave him the opportunity to recite at one of the world's most popular mosques.

To see him cry really touched my heart, as he was such a small child. It also made me think back to many of the times in my life when I failed not because I didn't know the concept, but I couldn't understand the complexity. To know and see Djamil fight through all of that was something often unheard of.
As I near closer and closer to graduation, I feel as if I am constantly thrown into what seems like the recitation of the incorrect passage. No matter what though, I know that I have no choice but to push through, just as Djamil. For so much of the course we have been looking at what sacred texts do, and I must say just as a sacred text, this documentary has truly inspired me.