Opening of the Path 

“When the lightning of love for the beloved has shot into this heart, know that there is love in that heart.

When love for God has been doubled in your heart, there is no doubt that God has love for you.”
—Jalāl al-Dīn Muḥammad Rūmī, Mathnawi III

On a beautiful day twenty-four years ago, in the Blue Mosque in Istanbul,  one heart found its Home. Aisha Morgan had long known that there is no one who stands between her heart and God, but at this moment, she finally felt an overwhelming sense of closeness. “It was like God told me: It’s your turn.” 

Aisha, who has won all our hearts with her achievements in Quran studies, is a graceful, gentle, and energetic lifelong learner and teacher. In her mid-seventies, she is a proud grandma, traveler of the world, and a dear friend to many. She happily shared her Quran journey with me today. 

It all started that day in the Blue Mosque of Istanbul. She had always been spiritual, so the prayer rituals and connection behind them both sparked the fire of her curiosity and brought her to tears. 

Once she had returned from her teacher training in Istanbul, Aisha went to the library and looked for books that could tell her more. “There it said, ‘Our relationship is directly with God. Only Him.’ And I’m like, count me in. I’m here.” 

The Quran 

When it was time to start learning how to read and understand the word of God, which we recite in prayer, Aisha was attending Arabic language courses at the University of Jordan and summer courses at Middlebury College (2004–2005). But as a non-native speaker, she faced challenges that are familiar to many. “It’s very different learning a language after fifty or after sixty, than it is learning as a kid, or even as a college student, or even as a twenty-year-old.” 

Learning how to properly pronounce the letters was very important to Aisha. “Rules are important to me—grammar rules and the tajwid rules—are very important to me. Learning the placement of the makhraj—all of it. I took a course on dua years ago and I learned to focus on five major things. One of them was that I would be able to memorize the Quran in case I should lose my eyesight. It was happening when someone close from my family was diagnosed with macular degeneration. That’s the end of reading for a person, you know. So I knew that I had to learn how to pronounce it correctly before I could memorize it.”

Despite the challenges or how lonely it got, Aisha did not even think of giving up. She watched her friends progress to reading quickly and she could only feel happiness and joy for them. Weekly meetings, inconsistent teachers, hard work that would only sometimes show results, taking care of a family at the same time—it was all part of the journey. 

She gained valuable knowledge and amazing lifelong friendships, but she found that she was not going where she wanted to go in her Quran journey.  She decided to take her studies to a new level and started learning tajwid with Ribaat. 

“I am so grateful to the Tajwid Program, to Rabata, because it is organized so well and teachers work with students step by step. Teachers are so kind and patient. They are able to identify what is the next step and what this particular student is ready to take on now, in that particular part of their journey. It’s catered based on people’s abilities.”

Aisha celebrated her hard work by completing her first khitma—a complete recitation of the entire Quran. After fifteen months of dedication and tajwid classes with Ribaat, Aisha was celebrated in her community, We Are Wasat, for this great achievement. 

“Honestly I wouldn’t be able to do it without Rabata. Anse Abeer is the most compassionate, most patient person I have ever met. All the teachers are there to help. If I hear my friends reciting now, I can tell if they attended tajwid classes or not. I can tell. It makes all the difference.” 

Aisha is a devoted grandmother who embodies patience and warmth as she balances her commitment to family with her passion for sharing the teachings of Islam. As she learns and trains to effectively present her faith to others, she embraces her role by incorporating Islamic principles into her interactions with everyone around her. She is very keen on setting her priorities. 

“My friend Rabab and I started another khitma. The work continues. The advice I would give to everyone: Replace the word ‘should’ with the word ‘could.’ Especially in these blessed days of Ramadan, the time of reconnecting, replenishing my relationship with God and His word. I could finish another khitma. I could memorize juz 30. I could memorize the Quran.”

We could and we can. We are capable and empowered to take action. 

We are deeply grateful for the beautiful motivation and inspiration provided by individuals like Aisha, who draws strength from Sayyiduna Rasulullah ﷺ—our ultimate role model and source of guidance.

“When I recite Quran, and I start getting tight and nervous, I take a breath and put my feet on the floor, remember the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, and say: ‘Bless you for receiving every one of these words, every letter. You have spoken these letters and now I’m speaking them.’ And then I relax and I can say it better.” 

Programs like the Ribaat Tajwid Program play a crucial role in inspiring individuals and guiding them on the path of the Quran. This commitment to learning the Quran, living by its teachings, and fostering a closer relationship with it motivates us to continue our work more eagerly than ever.