KUCHING – A programme aimed at improving access to Quran education for people with disabilities brought together about 200 participants at the Islamic Information Centre in Kuching on 27 August.
The Heart Inspiration Programme: Disabled with the Quran was organised by the Da’wah Division of the Sarawak Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) as part of the Mahabbah Ziarah programme for 1448H/2026M.
Participants included members of the visually and hearing impaired communities, parents and guardians of children with autism, teachers from the Ministry of Education Malaysia, Quran teachers and students from the Malaysian Islamic Skills Institute Sarawak.
The programme focused on the need for Islamic education and da’wah activities to take account of different learning requirements among people with disabilities. Its organisers said the initiative was intended to improve understanding of inclusive Islamic education and encourage approaches suited to people with special needs.
The programme was arranged around three sessions covering visual impairment, hearing impairment and autism. Each session addressed aspects of Quran learning and religious education relevant to the needs of the respective groups.
The session on visual impairment was led by Dr Nur Adzam Rasdi, a lecturer and coordinator of the Inclusive Research Division at UMMI, USIM. The hearing impairment session was conducted by Mohammad Azami Mohammad Nawawi, a Budi Fellow at UMMI, USIM and a sign language Quran teacher, together with Nur Malihah Chai Abdullah, also a sign language Quran teacher.
The autism session was presented by Haji Mohd Zaini Mat Abas, an OKU Cottage entrepreneur, alongside Asyraaf Zakwan Mohd Zaini, an autistic student from OKU Cottage.
The sessions provided an opportunity for participants with disabilities to develop their knowledge and understanding of Islamic teachings through methods intended to reflect their individual needs. The programme also sought to give educators, preachers, parents and prospective preachers greater exposure to approaches for Quran education that are more accessible to people with disabilities.
For families and educators, the focus on different forms of learning support also highlighted the role of tailored teaching methods in helping people with disabilities engage with religious education. The involvement of teachers, Quran instructors and students from different backgrounds provided a wider setting for sharing knowledge and experiences related to inclusive learning.
The programme concluded with a ceremony officiated by Ustaz Abang Borhanuddin Abang Ahmad Masuine, deputy director of the Sarawak Islamic Religious Department. Ustaz Haji Hazimin Shakir Said, head of the department’s Da’wah Division, was also present.
JAIS said it hoped programmes of this nature would continue to be strengthened as part of efforts to provide people with disabilities with appropriate opportunities and access to Islamic education and understanding.
The department also said continued work in this area could contribute to a more inclusive and disability-friendly da’wah environment. The stated aim is to ensure that people of different abilities have opportunities to learn about, understand and practise Islam in ways that are appropriate to their circumstances.
The Kuching programme therefore brought together not only people with disabilities and their families, but also educators and religious workers, placing inclusive Quran education within a broader discussion about accessibility and participation in Islamic learning.
