The Al-Quran is the guiding light for Muslims all around the world; it is the beacon of truth that sets Muslims on the right path towards getting closer to the most Benevolent and Merciful Allah. Unfortunately, this Holy Book is not as accessible to some as it is to others. Visually impaired and blind Muslims from all parts of the world face the same challenges with regards to learning, reciting, and appreciating the Al-Quran. It is most unacceptable that brothers and sisters in Islam who are visually impaired and blind be left to face such a situation, while the sighted are able to relish in the beauty of the Al-Quran.
Many relevant efforts have been made for the purpose of providing visually impaired and blind Muslims with the opportunity to read, recite, and understand the Al-Quran. The Malaysian Muslim Association for the Visually Impaired (PERTIS) owns the digital Braille Al-Quran database, and there are printed versions of the Braille Al-Quran that have been distributed to visually impaired and blind Muslims in Malaysia. However, these printed Braille Al-Quran come in six volumes, each bigger, thicker, and heavier than the typical encyclopedia. Furthermore, the embossed Braille dots can get flattened with time due to overuse, as well as from the weight of the volume itself. The Braille Al-Quran volumes have to be kept upright most of the time due to this matter.
The teaching and learning of the Al-Quran is a challenging task for visually impaired and blind Muslims as they struggle to carry the six heavy volumes around, and they face the difficulty to mark a certain part or page that they would like to return to. Users are forced to memorize the index in order to find a particular part or page that they desire. Lessons on the recitation and understanding of the contents of the Al-Quran also need to be done one-on-one due to the difficulty in making sure that all learners stay on the same page, and identifying which part the teacher is referring to. The process of teaching and learning becomes very time consuming. |