SUKABUMI, WEST JAVA — Muhammad Aras, a 10th grade student successfully memorized 30 Juz at Dompet Dhuafa’s Tahfizh Green Lido (PTGL) Islamic Boarding School, Cicurug, Sukabumi, West Java.
Through the Ekselensia Tahfizh School (E-Tahfizh) Program, Aras, as this bespectacled young man is usually called, took 10 months to complete his 30 Juz of the Quran. His dream of becoming a Quran Hafiz was successfully realized at the age of 16, since he started memorizing in mid-July 2023.
“I have a dream to become a hafiz quran, I want to be able to mutqin (fluently) 30 juz, learn to study the Qur’an, and balance it with academic studies, because academics are no less important than religion, so I want to be balanced,” said Aras.
When he was in junior high school, Aras was introduced to E-Tahfizh by a colleague, which made him interested in attending this non-formal school that combines the pesantren curriculum with the modern education curriculum. Previously, he frankly did not know about the E-Tahfizh program and was very grateful to receive scholarships and free school facilities.
“I wanted to come here on my own, secondly, thank God for the scholarship, and all the facilities are free. Previously, I participated in two selections, Smart Ekselensia and E-Tahfizh, but E-Tahfizh stood out,” Aras said.
Within one year, Aras devoted himself to understanding and memorizing the Qur’an from juz 1 to juz 30. It was not an easy task, but he was persistent. Until Wednesday (5/15/2024) Aras managed to complete his memorization.
“Here, Alhamdulillah, it’s fun with other friends, right now I’m still focusing on the Quran, so I’m focusing on mutqin (memorizing),” he said.
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Education is a way to create a new generation on whose shoulders the future will be entrusted. The E-Tahfiz program is a non-formal school at the high school level, which is packed with coaching for students into 3 stages, the first year they are given the opportunity to complete Tahfiz 30 Juz, entering the second year they will get Dirosah Islamiah, Arabic and English coaching, then in the third year so that they also have legality so that they can continue their studies to a higher level, they are prepared for package C and preparation for college entrance.
That afternoon, Thursday (23/5/2024), the young man from Magetan, East Java was struggling to realize his dream. In addition to dreaming of becoming a Quran memorizer, he also dreams of becoming an entrepreneur who can benefit others.
“For now, as much as possible, I want to be useful for others first, help as much as I can if someone is in trouble, be well-civilized,” added Aras.
Aras was not born into a family steeped in boarding school traditions; he was born into a simple, unpretentious family. Aras’ father was a toy seller at a night market. While his mother, an ordinary housewife. However, who would have thought that Aras could memorize 30 Juz.
Aras and the other students spent almost 12 months in the boarding school, where the students spent every day within the walls of the boarding school reciting the Quran, recitations and various religious activities, forging them to become Quran memorizers.
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Aras himself admitted that he had felt bored, but tried to keep himself busy with activities at PTGL.
“If I’ve ever been bored, most of the time if I don’t do activities, I just do whatever doesn’t make me bored, sometimes exercise, usually there is ping pong, then sometimes go to the rooftop to see the view,” added Aras.
The hall on the first floor is converted into a resting place for the students, while the second floor of the mosque is for worship activities. The students also have to carry out learning activities in small rooms in the mosque area, because the classroom area has not yet been built.
“We live in the same room together, it’s not too cramped, it’s still comfortable and we live in the same room in the hall. Alhamdulillah, I’m happy, it’s good that there are many friends, I can learn a lot. Alhamdulillah, I’m still grateful. We are grateful for what Allah has given us first, then if Allah gives us more, Alhamdulillah,” added Aras.
The limited conditions of classes and dormitories did not dampen Aras’s determination and enthusiasm for studying, from his dream of memorizing the Koran, to becoming an entrepreneur he will realize through the education he takes at the Dompet Dhuafa Tahfizh Green Lido (PTGL) Islamic Boarding School.
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In addition to academic education, E-Tahfizh students also receive productive waqf-based agribusiness learning. At PTGL, there is a Melon Greenhouse that is integrated with the pesantren to achieve self-sufficiency. This greenhouse serves as a learning facility for students and empowerment for local farmers. The main goal is to provide quality opportunities and facilities for prospective students, managed by local farmers assisted by PTGL.
“Thank you to the donors for being willing and eager to donate some of their wealth for us, to go to school, to memorize the Quran. Insha Allah, if people help ease the burden of others, it will be facilitated by Allah. Hopefully in the future there will be more facilities and more students. Of course, hopefully we students here can also be donors, like the donors now,” concluded Aras.
The establishment of PTGL with the hope of realizing Dompet Dhuafa’s great ideals, giving birth to hafiz quran who have a leadership spirit as well as broad Islamic insight. (Dompet Dhuafa)
Text and photo: Anndini Dwi Putri
Editor: Dedi Fadlil