Review : Amarin, Mid Valley

Koran by Heart

I watched Koran by Heart last night. The bug had finally bitten me. Being an ASTRO subscriber which only subscribed to the almost minimum package paid, I didn't get the chance to watch this on HBO channel when it was first aired.

Now only after months aired, I was able to view it via YouTube.

Koran by Heart follows the story of 3 young children at the age of 10 whom Arabic wasn't their native language but they took the effort to memorise the Quran and compete against others in the international Koran recitation contest in Cairo. The three children are Djamil from Senegal, Rifdha from Maldives & Nabiollah from Tajikistan.  The documentary offers insight onwere conducted on how the contest was conducted during Ramadhan on which age isn't a matter in this contest where children as young as 7 years old up to teenage years competed with each other.

Rifdha from Maldives

As much as these children were celebrated in Cairo, you would certainly find it heartbreaking on their struggles especially the moment it was revealed that Nabiollah, despite the fact that he's the most well versed and has the perfect memory on the Quran recitation is illiterate - he couldn't write & speak and his school was closed due to the government fear that his school was grooming Islamic extremists. Or the fact that Djamil came from a family which technology is so far off and he was alone for the whole duration in Cairo and was trying to contact his parents but were unable to. And Rifdha, the among few girls who questioned everything and more liberated than her father.

Nabiollah from Tajikistan

Insights from their parents, especially Rifdha's father was so heart touching when he truthfully admit that he had strayed from the path of Islam for 30 years and when it was his father in the death bed, then he only realised that Islam is the only way and made him dedicated to raise his family to become good Muslims, and his determination in ensuring that his children get the best education & willingness to migrate to Egypt seeking Islamic knowledge.

Djamil from Senegal

I almost teared up when I saw Djamil crying when he couldn't understand what the judges wanted and his score was low and he wasn't eligible for the next round.     

The documentary focused on these children and in hindsight, I believe in open the eyes of the non-Muslims on Islam especially when Islam is synonym to terrorism. There's no narration except interviews with the non-Muslim expert in Quran recitation, the children's parents, the organisers and the imam conducting the event.

After watching these, I feel so little indeed, we've so many opportunities but never utlilise our full potential. These kids had their challenges but they were able to overcome it.