By Muslim Mirror Network

Ramadan is a blessed occasion for Muslims all around the world. It is a time of self-reflection, spiritual growth, and devotion to prayers. One of the key practices during Ramadan is the recitation of the Quran, the holy book of Islam. Particularly, reciting the Quran in groups – of sizes ranging from 8-10 individuals – during Ramadan is a tradition that carries great significance and benefits, both spiritually and socially.

During his recent address, the leader of the Dawoodi Bohra Muslim community, Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, encouraged community members to conduct ‘Daur-e-Quran’ sessions during the month of Ramadan and around the year. ‘Daur-e-Quran’ sessions are recitations of some lines from the Quran by individuals, one after the other, sitting together in a circle. The aim being to complete reciting the whole Quran in this manner. Following Syedna’s guidance, Dawoodi Bohra members across the world carried out these sessions in their local Masjids, community centres and at homes.

“A dedicated team was mobilised to lay out the framework and administration of these sessions worldwide. A follow-up module was also set up to assist individuals leading the group recitation sessions and keep track of the number of groups formed and individuals who participated”, said Shabbir Husami, who manages Academic Affairs at Mahad al-Zahra, which is a dedicated Quran faculty of the community’s Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah Arabic Academy

“So far over 6,900 Daur-e-Quran sessions have been conducted during Ramadan which saw the participation of around 65,000 young and old Dawoodi Bohras in India and abroad,” he added.

Some individuals found reciting Quran in a group setting a way to improve their pronunciation and understanding of the Quranic verses and some found these gatherings as a platform to connect and learn from each other. 38-year-old Abbas Bhatia from Dahod in Gujarat shared, “The group recitation sessions have provided me with a great opportunity to gain self-confidence and deepen my understanding of the Quran. This was my first experience of being part of the group recitation, and I look forward to joining other such sessions throughout the year.”

In Dahod city of Gujarat, for instance, over 12 community centres have formed more than 90 groups to undertake these daily group recitations.

At several community centres, Dawoodi Bohra women also led and participated in these group recitations. Sharing her experience, 65-year-old Amena Tambawala from Mumbai said, “At the start of the group sessions, I used to struggle with reciting the Quran fluently. But being part of the group recitation program has given me the confidence to recite in public. It’s amazing to see how much progress I’ve made with the support of my fellow participants.”

Building upon the foundation laid by his respected father, His Holiness Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin has expanded the horizons of Quran hifz and Daur-e-Quran initiative in the community. His desire, as he mentioned when he presided over as the Chancellor of the 63rd Annual Convocation of Aligarh Muslim University, is that ‘there be at least one hafiz in every Bohra and Muslim household’.