Ruba Mahfouz-Alkotob was born in Michigan to Syrian immigrant parents and now resides in the suburbs of Flint with her family. She describes herself as deeply blessed—married to a supportive husband and mother to four remarkable children, with her eldest son married and faithfully visiting each weekend. May Allah ﷺ protect her family always.
Professionally, Ruba works part-time at her local city hospital in the Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP), supporting initiatives that improve delirium outcomes in elderly patients. Over the years, she has remained closely tied to her community, volunteering at her children’s Islamic school, engaging in interfaith activities through her masjid, and building meaningful connections with reverts.
As life has evolved, her focus has gently shifted toward caring for her aging parents, a role she embraces with gratitude and intention. “Sometimes our roles shift over time and now my parents are getting older and I’m just trying to be more present and involved with them. Inshallah, Allah continues to allow that for me.”
A Moment of Awakening
Ruba’s path to Ribaat began with what she describes as a quiet but powerful realization. “I think I had something of a midlife awareness moment. What am I doing with my time? What am I achieving for my akhira?”
Although she felt she was striving in the right direction, she sensed that many long-held spiritual goals remained untouched. Seeking guidance, she reached out to a friend who suggested Rabata as a place to begin anew.
Accepting that she needed to start from the beginning after years away from structured Quran study, Ruba enrolled in Spring 2024 for her first tajwid course, a step she now views with deep gratitude. “I signed up… and I have been a student ever since, alhamdulillah.”
Learning with Depth and Support
Ruba speaks with admiration about the Ribaat learning experience, describing it as both rigorous and deeply supportive. “I am really in awe of the professionalism with Ribaat and the high level of education that we get coupled with the 1:1 support. It really feels tailor-made for you.”
Among the teachers who shaped her journey is Anse Samia Mubarak, whose reflections during the Quran Khitmah Project transformed how Ruba engages with the text. “She has a way of finding so much meaning in every aya of the Quran. She really has a way of opening my eyes to look deeper and contemplate.”
Her tajwid teacher, Anse Sara Abdelghafar, also played a pivotal role by nurturing confidence during moments of doubt. “There were times when I felt my tajwid was just not good enough. Her support and kindness really helped me to keep practicing and slowly each day I would get better.”
Small Steps, Steady Climb
One milestone has already been reached: reading the Quran with tajwid. Now, Ruba’s sights are set on memorization, beginning with Juz’ 30. She acknowledges the magnitude of the task with honesty and hope. “It seems like a tall mountain of a goal to me, but inshallah, I will certainly try to accomplish this next goal aya by aya.”
More than memorization alone, she hopes to cultivate reflection and presence with every verse, a perspective shaped directly by her Ribaat experience. “I would like to spend time contemplating the ayat as I memorize them. This is what I learned from Ribaat.”
Ruba describes the impact of Ribaat as an ongoing rhythm in her life. “The impact I have from Ribaat is the continuous reading of the Quran. There really is nothing more satisfying.”
This steady companionship with the Quran—woven into family life, caregiving, and personal growth—reflects the heart of her journey.
May Allah bless Ruba’s sincerity, grant ease and baraka in her memorization, and make the Quran a lifelong companion that illuminates her heart, her family, and all those she serves.