Learning to read the Qur’an at the age of almost 70 or the age as a ridiculous excuse

Grandmother Zehra (siting centrally)

Her name is Zehra Mehmed. She was born in 1951 in the village of Kitanchevo, Isperih region. During her life until nowadays she had been working as an assisting staff in a school but now she is a retiree and helps at home, with her grandchildren. She lives in the local of her home-village Kitanchevo – the village of Sveshtari in the Municipality of Isperih.

Zehra is one of those people for whom age cannot be an excuse. On the verge of the 70 most of the people of her age would say that they are already too old, exhausted from life and decrepit yet to begin learning. But not the 66 years elderly grandmother from the village of Sveshtati, Isperih region. For her learning is an inspiration.

During the summer of the past year 2016 grandmother Zehra is inspired by her friend in Sveshtari who was learning to read the Holy Qur’an. Her interest turned into the desire she also to learn. Initially she benefited from the knowledge of her grandson Ertan Marem, graduate of SRS – Ruse. With his help the elderly woman began to learn the Arabic alphabet. Soon however, they had to stop the lessons because began the new academic year of Ertan, who is studying in a university in Ankara. A new possible opportunity for excuse! But not for the deeply motivated grandmother Zehra.

Every obstacle is also a new opportunity, said to herself then the elderly woman. In the era of the technologies nothing is so difficult. Zehra Mehmed managed to learn to use the application WhatsApp, thanks to which it was possible to continue remotely the Qur’an lessons with her grandson Ertan, who had gone to Turkey.

“While I was in Turkey, my grandma called me every day on WhatsApp and we held the lessons in Qur’an reading online” – shared for Grandmufti.bg Ertan Marem. “She began with a great inspiration and she succeeded.” – the student continued his story.

Learning to read the Holy Qur’an starting from the alphabet at the age of almost 70 is a great success. Hardly anyone would deny this. But learning to read the Qur’an at this age and making hatim within only a year is much more than a success!

Just before few days, on 23^rd of July this year, grandmother Zehra made her first hatim (complete reading of the Holy Qur’an). The event was marked with a celebration in the mosque of the village of Sveshtari, shared the grandson and the teacher of grandmother Zehra. At the celebration he gave his student a specially prepared certificate for the achieved success. The guests listened to mawlid, reading of the Holy Qur’an, and after that all were regaled by the hosts.

I asked Ertan how the relatives and the other residents of grandmother Zehra react about the success that she achieved. “All are amazed!” replied the young man.

“My grandma often complains that she has a poor memory. She forgets where she had put her phone…” But certainly the wish and the motivation of the elderly woman in the Name of Allah are stronger than the problems of age!

One year after the first lesson in Qur’an reading of the 66 years old grandmother Zehra Mehmed and soon after its first successful entire reading the elderly woman continue every day to read the Holy Qur’an. “I read it every day in order not to forget it” – the grandmother shared with his grandson. With the other grandmothers from the village they gather once a week and read Qur’an together in the mosque.

This was the story of Zehra Mehmed. A story for achieved success of one worthy of respect age, you will say! And you would be right. But you should accept this as a story about the seeker, about the always vigilant and unbreakable spirit, that does not search excuses and possibilities to give up. About the charge and the desire to change in the Name of Allah, which are not related to age. About the message of the Prophet (pbuh) “Seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave” and about the wonderful example from our small home country Bulgaria for how can this can be done.

Author: L. Chausheva

Photos: Personal archive of the family