Blind faith: Braille Quran helps visually impaired Palestinian girls

Visually impaired Palestinian girls in Gaza can now recite the Quran, despite not being able to see the text.

Under the supervision of religious scholars, blind girls at the Quran and Sunnah Charity in Gaza city have been using Braille copies of the Muslim holy book to study the verses.

The Palestinian girls are reading the holy book at a summer camp in the Palestinian enclave.

“Many girls are coming to memorize the holy Koran but we find some hardships while they memorize it because of their sight problems. Some of them are visually impaired, while others have lost their sight completely,” teacher Ikhlas Abu Omarin told Reuters Television.

One of the students, Yasmine Drimri, said the use of Braille encouraged her to overcome obstacles in her education.

“It is very nice. When I read the Quran I challenge myself and my disability,” Drimri said.

The group of teenage girls in Abu Omarin’s class runs their hands over the Braille pages, while their teacher helps them along by reciting verses from the holy book.

The Braille version of the Quran makes learning possible and easier for students who are visually impaired and the teachers say it allows them a deeper understanding of their faith.

“We read through the braille system. I learned it when I was in kindergarten,” said student Arwa Taher.

Approximately 20,000 students, both male and female, study the Quran under the supervision of 1,200 teachers at Quran summer camps run by Islamic charities in the strip.

Quran summer camps also are also marking the holy month of Ramadan, during which Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset.