First graduates finish hafiz schools in Chechnya

The two Chechen hafiz schools (of experts who know the Koran by heart) made the first release of graduates. The hafiz schools in Tsentaroy and Gudermes were finished by 61 young residents of Chechnya.

"This is a great event not only for our republic, but also in the whole region. Knowing the Koran by heart is the grace of Allah, granted not to all Muslims," the Spiritual Administration of Muslims (SAM) of Chechnya told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

The Chechen Republic has three hafiz schools; each of them educates a hundred boys aged over ten; the training takes three years.

Some local scholars believe that the notion of "hafiz" is much broader that the knowledge of the Koran by heart. "A simple memorization of the suras and verses of the Holy Koran by heart does not give a person the right to bear the name of a hafiz. He must not only know the Koran by heart, but also to be able to interpret it, to constantly improve his knowledge and share it with others. A hafiz is a sort of a lifestyle," said Ibragim, a former imam of a mosque in Chechnya.

Chechen residents treat differently the fact that in recent years the republic has opened many religious institutions and mosques. According to some people, the study of religion is paramount for the younger generation. Others are convinced that the republic's authorities give excessive attention to religion, while turning the youth away from it.