The Crimean High School of Hafiz is the only Muslim educational institution of this profile in Ukraine for now. The training technique allows coping with the task put before students quickly enough. There are significant results: one of graduates of the School already became the first representative of Ukraine in the International competition of readers of the Quran in Dubai.
Oleg GUZIK
There is a hope that the School of Hafiz will help to put in Ukraine a basis for development of Islamic spirituality, and Ukraine on the same level with other countries could take part in international competitions on the Quran reading that will lift its authority in the Muslim world.
To learn more about this educational institution we addressed to its director, the master of Shariat sciences Seyran Arifov.
- When and how the Crimean High School of Hafiz was founded?
- Some years ago the Spiritual Management of Muslims of Crimea with assistance of "Alraid" and with support of the World Organization on Quran Studying founded specialized school where started professional training of hafiz — the people who memorized the Holy Quran by heart. Thus, by the will of the Supreme, was created the dream of Muslims of Ukraine — the first educational institution of such a level.
As it is known, the Quran reading is one of the basic traditions of Islamic culture. Due to returning of this tradition to Crimea after century oblivion, revival of culture of Islam in Crimea got on qualitatively new stage.
All over the world — in Africa, Asia and Europe — there are tens of similar schools. The Ukrainian School og Hafiz is unique in the sense that from the point of view of the quality and teaching technique it is one of the few on the territory of the former USSR.
- Please speak about the work of the school and about its students.
-The young generation is our future; therefore youth is our main objective. Students begin studying at the age of 13—14 years — as they say, "what is learnt in youth, is engraved out on a stone".
Studying in the School of Hafiz takes place in parallel with the general educational program: students after lessons in high school come to us. Except studying the Quran students take courses on Hadith, culture and history of Islam, Islamic morals and ethics, bases of Islamic creed and grammar of the Arabic language.
Our technique proved its efficiency in many schools where the Quran is studied. It allows learning at least one-two pages of the Holy Book per day, and especially assiduous students have time to memorize even five.
The Quran is taught by the experts who have education in the field of the Quranic sciences. Religious subjects are taught by the teachers who graduated from Shariat faculties what provides due religious training.
-Who is a hafiz and what is memorizing of the Quran for? How a hafiz can realize himself on practice?
-Allah rewards for the Quran reading and for its memorizing, reflecting over its meanings, development of knowledge containing in it.
The Quran is a basis of Islamic civilization and culture, and also the fundamental of its values. Therefore presence of hafizes in Muslim communities is a guarantee of preservation of identity of Muslims. Hafiz is just someone who quotes the Quran and not just Imam in a mosque, but also an authoritative source to whom address people for knowledge of their culture and religion.
Hafiz is the one who knows the whole Quran by heart, can quote any fragment of it, reads it according to all rules. He is familiar with the majority of sciences about the Quran.
Hafizes are usually divided into two categories. To the first category belong Imams and teachers in the mosques, teaching the Quran and religion, and the second besides religious education has also the secular one. The last can actively participate in a public life and spread the doctrine of Islam not only through mosques, but also through other public institutes.
Historical experience, and also the status of hafiz in the Muslim countries testify that hafizes enjoy special respect in the society as they are the keepers of the Holy Scripture.
- What is the authority of the High School of Hafiz in a society, in particular among students' parents?
- During the whole period of work of the High School its management received set of grateful letters, and on PTA meetings we often hear words of gratitude from parents that their children get religious and Islamic education.
Foreign visitors of the School of Hafiz estimated high level of teaching and education of students.
- What, in your opinion, are the future prospects of activity of the School of Hafiz?
- This School brings up representatives of Islam who through their activity can present it in such way as it actually is, without extremes and stereotypes. Future hafizes can become authoritative experts who could be addressed on many questions connected with the Quranic sciences.
It will help to generate in our country the Muslim intellectual elite, capable to undertake the decision of essential problems of the society, many of which result from ignorance, absence of spirituality and belief. Appearance of such experts on the Quran in mosques, God's willing will help us to revive high moral values and, being rallied, to endure the present difficulties. Besides, appearance of hafizes among Muslims of Ukraine will promote processes of social integration of Muslims without loss of Islamic identity.
We hope that the School will develop and expand further its, and success depends on sincerity of those who began this duty, after all, if intention for the sake of Allah, He will always help.
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