Indonesia: From fingertips to the heart for the Quran

By Adem Salvarcioglu

JAKARTA (AA) - For the students of an Indonesian school, the way to the teachings of Islam is through their hands, not their eyes.

Each week they gather at a building in the North Sumatran capital of Medan, where they use their fingers to read the Quran, with the intention of one day taking part in recitals of the religious text.

Khairul Enver, the chair of the Indonesian Association for the Blind, told Anadolu Agency earlier this month that the students rely on a braille format of the Arabic text.

“We work hand-in-hand to show that the disabilities on our bodies are not to become an obstacle for us," he said, adding that teachers also aim to boost the self-confidence of those who come by giving them something to occupy their time.

“This isn’t as easy as it looks... to learn to read the Quran under these conditions could take up to one year. This process requires perseverance and patience."

Enver -- who, like the students, is blind -- says that each week around 40 people attend the association's classes.

"We aim to send our talented reciters all over the country, to compete in international Quran recital competitions.”

- Anadolu Agency correspondent Leyla Karayilan contributed to this story from Ankara