Over the past years of Israel’s brutal assault on Gaza, this event has become a deeply spiritual gathering. It has acted as a form of perseverance and hope amidst the immense difficulties of destruction and displacement all throughout Palestine. Over 75,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war’s inception, and - according to Gaza’s Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs - over 89 percent of mosques in Gaza have been destroyed in Israeli attacks.

Efforts to revive institutes to foster the learning of the Qur’an, however, are being revived.

Ahmed al-Saafin, director at Gaza’s Dar al-Quran and Sunna Institute, stated, “The ‘Elite of Quran Memorisers’ session is unique because it gathers the most dedicated Quran memorisers in Gaza.

“It comes after two years of genocidal war to send a message that Gaza is unbreakable. Through the Quran, our souls continue to live, and our minds continue to grow. By sunset, the reciters will have completed the entire holy book, and then return to lives still marked by loss, displacement, and uncertainty but committing the verses of the Quran once again to preserve their overwhelmed hearts.”

Darul Ihsan Media Desk