The only representative of Ukraine received ijaza at the Academy of the Holy Quran in Sharjah

Among the 311 Quran scholars from 78 countries who received a certificate and license (ijaza) from the Holy Quran Academy in Sharjah (Saudi Arabia) was the only representative of Ukraine, a member of the Council of Ukrainian Muslims - Samia Erada.  At the ceremony on the seventeenth day of the blessed Ramadan, she was presented with a certificate confirming the perfect reading of the Quran by heart.

As Samia said, she learned about being the owner certificate earlier, but the academy was able to hold the ceremony of handing over these documents due to restrictions only after the quarantine was eased, and it so happened that it happened in the holy month:

- I was informed that I would receive the ijaza a few months ago, and then the academy will organize a ceremony on the seventeenth day of Ramadan, gathering its students from all over the world to award them and present certificates.  The Holy Qur'an Academy in Sharjah has many students from different countries: from Asia, Europe, Africa, and America.  So far, only I was from Ukraine.  This year, certificates were awarded to 311 students - those who have mastered one type of reading.  Those wishing to obtain a certificate for other types can continue their studies.

Samia Erada shared her story of studying the Quran:

- I am a Palestinian, was born in Saudi Arabia and studied there, I memorized the Quran until I was 15 years old.  Later got married, moved to Ukraine, and tried to memorize the Quran on my own, but without a mentor it was very difficult, because no one would tell me to pay attention to the mistakes, show me how to read correctly.  So, my efforts did not have much effect.  And then Sheikh Haider al-Hajj appeared in «Alraid» (now - the Council of Ukrainian Muslims) and he always supported me and other students studying the Quran.  Thanks to him, mashaAllah, many people began to memorize the Quran.  With his help, I revised a part of the Quran, and Sheikh Haider always supported me, prompted, checked, arranged exams and always encourage hasd me to study, to revise what I had learned so that I would not forget.

She has twice been among the winners of all-Ukrainian Quran Recitation Contests held by the Ukrainian Association for the Study of the Holy Quran, the RAMU «Umma» and Council of Ukrainian Muslims at the Islamic Cultural Center in Kyiv.

- I twice took part in the Quran Recitation Contests at «Alraid» every year, - she recalls, - and both times I won first place, but then I refused to participate to allow other participants to express themselves.

Samia Erada also told about the process of studying at the Holy Quran Academy in Sharjah:

- This is an academic center for memorizing the Quran, but it does not accept those who are just beginning to study.  They accept those who already know the Qur'an by heart.  And to become a student of this academy, you must pass an exam.  To pass this exam, I memorized the whole Quran - and after that, I was accepted.  Each graduate has presented a certificate that he/she has mastered one of the ways of reading the Quran (Kiraat) <…> - and so on.

Academy students are both men and women.  Samia explains that with each female student works a woman mentor:

- Mentors are called "sheikha", and each female student has a maximum of four months to confirm the knowledge of the entire Quran by reading it by heart to her mentor.  This can be done daily or three times a week - with the consent of the teacher.  Thus, I have completed the entire Quran, choosing the read of the Imam Hafsa.  The mentor corrects when necessary, asks to repeat the reading, if necessary.  During these four months, exams take place, by way of explanation, each student is tested again and again for knowledge of parts of the Quran: 5 juz', 10 juz', etc. - until we finish reading the entire Quran.  And after four months of graduating from a tutor, the academy appoints another exam to test each student's knowledge of the Qur'an by heart, and only then can you get a certificate.  On the day of the exam, for the sake of objectivity, other teachers come, examine and report the result in a certain time: whether the student passed or failed, whether to issue a certificate, ijaza (license that allows owners to pass on religious knowledge. - Ed.).  When I receive ijaza, it means that I have memorized the entire Qur'an.

The Council of Ukrainian Muslims sincerely congratulates Sister Samia on this high achievement.  May Allah bless her and give her the opportunity to be useful to Islam and Muslims!