Memorizing Quran: A Source of Faith, Hope among Gazans amid Genocidal War
During these two years we have witnessed the most brutal human tragedies by the usurping Zionist regime. However, the closeness and affinity of the people of Gaza with the Quran has helped them to remain resilient and hopeful with the blessing of the Word of God.
The second anniversary of the Al-Aqsa Flood Operation will be marked on October 7, 2025. It was an operation that caused the usurping and child-killing Zionist regime, under the pretext of the losses it suffered, to commit the most brutal human crimes in the Gaza Strip for nearly two years, to the extent that more than 66,000 innocent Gazan citizens, most of them women and children, have been martyred.
Despite all these hardships, the people of Gaza remain steadfast and resilient, and undoubtedly one of the components of such a determined spirit is their familiarity with the Quran.
In the heart of the Gaza Strip, where war and siege cast a shadow over daily life, the light of the Quran continues to shine. Despite all the hardships, the land has become one of the largest centers of Quran memorization in the world. According to reports from the Gaza Islamic Awqaf (Endowments) Authority, more than 40,000 people have participated in Quran memorization programs since 2006, and some statistics indicate that there are at least 50,000 memorizers of the entire Quran in the enclave.
‘Safwat al-Huffaz’ Event; A Manifestation of Iron Will
One of the most prominent manifestations of the Gazans’ connection with the Quran is the ‘Safwat al-Huffaz’ event; a ceremony in which Quran memorizers recite the entire Quran from memory in one session. In the second edition of this event, which took place about two months before October 7, 2023, 1,471 Quran memorizers gathered in three major mosques in Gaza to take the test.
The program lasted from the morning Adhan (call to prayer) to the evening Adhan, and each Quran memorizer recited his entire memorization in the presence of the teacher. This method of memorization, which is different from the usual methods in Iran and other countries, gives the session a special and spiritual atmosphere.
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After the event, Ismail Haniyeh, former head of Hamas’ political bureau who was later martyred, praised it and called it a unique phenomenon in history. He said, “You saw the Safwat al-Huffaz event in Gaza; from an 8-year-old boy to a 76-year-old man and a 74-year-old woman and people of other ages recited the entire Quran in one sitting; this phenomenon is unique in history; this is a blessing for Palestine.”
Safwat al-Huffaz 3; The Quranic Flag amidst the Ruins
After October 7, 2023, the Shafi’i Mosque and the Taqwa Mosque, the venues for Safwat al-Huffaz 2, were completely destroyed. Millions of people were displaced and about 70 percent of the residential buildings were destroyed. In the midst of this disaster, the question was: Will the flag of this Quranic movement fall to the ground? Will Safwat al-Huffaz 3 be held?
But the people of Gaza gave a clear answer to the world; with a firm will and a firm faith, Safwat al-Huffaz 3 was held in northern Gaza. The buildings were destroyed, but the light of the Quran still shone in their hearts and the flag of this Quranic movement remained flying. To reduce the risk of airstrikes, the program was implemented in different areas and in creative ways.
At the Jabalia Service Center, a group of women recited the Quran from memory amid the devastating war. “In this center, we experienced a unique Quranic day during the war,” said one participant. “Even though our homes have been destroyed and our family members have been martyred, we are committed to completing the memorization of the Quran during the war. This shows the strength of our faith and steadfastness in the face of the crimes of the Israeli regime.”
Amid the rubble and shelters, girls and boys enthusiastically memorize the Quran. One of the participating girls said, “Although we lost our support and our most valuable assets were destroyed, we remain steadfast and continue the path of the martyrs. God willing, soon we will recite the Quran in a memorization session in the courtyard of Al-Aqsa Mosque with victory.”
The sound of the Quran in the midst of war not only neutralizes the fear of bombing, but also keeps hope, resistance, and love for religion alive in hearts; the clear message is that even in the darkest days, the divine light and human faith cannot be extinguished.
Faith of the People of Gaza; An Inspiration to the World
In the last two years, the extraordinary faith of the people of Gaza and their closeness to the Quran have captured the attention of the media and the world. Many clips have been released from this land showing that even in the midst of war and destruction, the light of the Quran shines on hearts, and it has amazed many people around the world; those who have been inspired to recite the Quran by the faith and steadfastness of the people of Gaza, and some have even converted to Islam.
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Gaza-based journalist Saleh Jafarawi recounts an inspiring experience: by reciting the Quran in the harsh conditions of war, he helped an American couple convert to Islam and find their faith in God. He recounts, “Sean, a man from America, sent a message after seeing me reciting the Quran amidst the bombings and destruction, saying, ‘When I saw how you recited the verses of the Quran, I felt strange and wondered what these people believed in. When I did some research and learned about Islam, I became a Muslim.’ Now that I look back, I see that what I did that day suddenly caused someone to convert to Islam, but I say it was only the work of God, Alhamdulillah.”
A family all whose members memorize the Quran
Continuing the series of Safwat al-Huffaz sessions, more than 500 Quran memorizers gathered on Monday, September 15, 2025, at the Barakat Orphanage in Khan Yunis to present their memorizations to their teachers. In this program, in which, unlike the traditional method, each memorizer recites the entire range of his memorization in groups of several people, a family attracted attention.
Muhammad, Ali, Samah, Hala, and Lama, the five children of martyr Ahmad Baalousheh, attended the gathering, along with their mother, Umm Muhammad, who was the martyr’s wife. The mother of the family said, “Thank God, today we delivered a few parts of the Holy Quran to the best of our ability, in the midst of these difficult circumstances: war, genocide, destruction, and forced starvation, and without any support.”
Ali, one of the sons in the family, has so far memorized three parts of the Quran, and one of the daughters has memorized the entire Quran. The other children have also memorized parts of the Quran, and they all say, “God willing, we will finish memorizing the entire Quran so that we can place the crown of dignity on our father’s head.”
Hala, one of the girls, says about her reason for memorizing the Quran, “Since the past, memorizing the Quran was my father’s wish so that we could be the guardians of God’s Book. I also embarked on this path to fulfill his wish.”
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This gathering shows that even in the heart of siege and hardship, the Quranic culture is not only alive, but is passes down from generation to generation as a source of strength, hope, and identity.
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