Regimented Lives: Coming of Age in a Madrassa

An older student recites lines of the Koran aloud as he participates in his daily studies. It usually takes two to three years to memorize the Koran; and it is believed that once it is memorized, the student is guaranteed an entrance to heaven along with ten people of his choice. The hundreds of pages in the Koran are written in an ancient form of Arabic that is rarely spoken and that the majority of students cannot understand.
An older student recites lines of the Koran aloud as he participates in his daily studies. It usually takes two to three years to memorize the Koran; and it is believed that once it is memorized, the student is guaranteed an entrance to heaven along with ten people of his choice. The hundreds of pages in the Koran are written in an ancient form of Arabic that is rarely spoken and that the majority of students cannot understand.