Dearborn Public Library and the Arab American National Museum Offer Free Public Screening of the Film, Koran by Heart, on November 9

posted on: Oct 26, 2013

The Dearborn Public Library and the Arab American National Museum are teaming up to offer a free screening of the film, “Koran by Heart”, at 2 p.m. on Saturday, November 9, 2013 at the Museum, 13624 Michigan Avenue, Dearborn.

The film, which was produced in 2011 by HBO Documentaries and directed by Greg Barker, tells the story of three young students, all 10-years-old, as they journey to Cairo, Egypt to compete in the world-renowned International Holy Koran Competition. Koran by Heart follows the progress of these three scholars, a girl and two boys, as they prepare in their home countries and then compete against other students who, in some instances, are nearly twice their age. During the competition, students are required to recite from memory randomly selected verses from the Holy Qur’an while adhering to special rules for pronunciation. They are evaluated and scored by a panel of judges comprised of clerics and teachers. The film, which runs approximately 80 minutes, is suitable for viewers of all ages.

Immediately following the screening, Hajj Abdulameer Hassan Al-Saadi, an Islamic Studies and Qur’an teacher at the MAYA School (Muslim American Youth Academy), along with one of his students, 14-year-old Majeed Mokhtari, will answer questions and provide a live demonstration of Qur’an recitation and vocal technique as seen in the film.

“Majeed is a dedicated and talented student,” said Hajj Al-Saadi. “The Holy Qur’an is a message from God and must be read from the heart in an emotional way, not like a regular Arabic book, and Majeed reads very well.”

Koran by Heart is part of the Bridging Cultures Bookshelf: Muslim Journeys, a collection of 25 books and 3 films made available to public libraries through a special grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) in cooperation with the American Library Association (ALA). The Muslim Journeys Bookshelf is intended to address both the need and the desire of the American public for trustworthy and accessible resources about Muslim beliefs and practices and the cultural heritage associated with Islamic civilizations.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with the Arab American National Museum to present this excellent film free to the public,” said Isabella Rowan, librarian and Muslim Journeys project director at Henry Ford Centennial Library. “I think many people are curious about Islam, but some might not feel comfortable visiting a mosque. Viewing this film at the Museum offers people the chance to learn about the religious practices of Muslims in a neutral setting.”

The Dearborn Public Library was awarded the Bridging Cultures Bookshelf: Muslim Journeys Collection in March 2013. All of the books and films in the collection are available for free checkout by Dearborn Library cardholders.

For more information about Koran by Heart, the Bridging Cultures Bookshelf: Muslim Journeys Collection, or related programs, please contact the Henry Ford Centennial Library at 313-943-2330.