The importance of reading in Islam is highlighted by the first verse revealed to Prophet Muhammad in the Holy Quran, “Iqra” which means “read” in Arabic. This emphasis on reading is not only recognized by Muslims in Indonesia but also by many parents who are faced with challenges in teaching their children this crucial skill in today’s fast-paced society.
Exhausted from work, many parents lack the energy to guide their children in Quranic reading and finding an available ngaji (Quran reciting) tutor can be a difficult task. As a result, many children are growing up without the ability to read the Quran. Sutarto Hadi, a mathematics professor at Lambung Mangkurat University (ULM) in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, became aware of this issue during his tenure as the university’s rector from 2014 to 2022. He stated during a press conference in Cyber 2 Tower, Jakarta, on March 5 that our religious studies lecturers reported that approximately 60 to 70 percent of our students were unable to recite the Quran, despite Banjarmasin’s reputation as a religious region where parents typically prioritize their children’s religious education.
