Shamran family
Six siblings in Wasit master multiple Quranic recitations after years in Libya
WASIT — Six siblings from the Shamran family in Al-Suwayra are either nearing completion or have fully memorized the Quran, having begun their religious education while the family lived in Libya. The children, born abroad, studied under Sheikh Ahmad Faraj and adapted to both the Qalun recitation common in Libya and the Hafs style standard in Iraq.
Dr. Hassan Shamran, the father, said his children — Mohammed, Ali, Youssef, Ruqayya, Noor, and Sara — started the memorization process under the Libyan cleric’s supervision.
“Mohammed was born in 2004, and the youngest, Sara, was born in 2018,” Shamran said. He explained that the journey began when Mohammed enrolled in a Quran memorization center at age seven, despite a minimum age requirement of 10. The center agreed to let him attend after the family pledged to ensure he could write and apply vocalization rules accurately.
Following Mohammed’s progress, Ali and Youssef joined. A friendly family competition ensued, with daily memorization assignments of one to one-and-a-half pages. During summer vacations, the children continued studying at the sheikh’s home after attending the center.
Mohammed now holds certifications in Qalun and Hafs recitation, while Ali is certified in Warsh, Qalun, and Hafs. Youssef, still young, has familiarity with multiple styles, including Qalun and Hafs.
In Quranic tradition, recitations refer to the canonical methods of reading the holy text, which can vary in pronunciation, elongation, intonation, and sometimes word choice or diacritical marks. There are 10 recognized recitations, each named after an early Islamic scholar who transmitted it.
The daughters have also made notable progress. Ruqayya has completed the Quran under Youssef’s supervision, Noor has memorized half, and Sara, the youngest, is memorizing its final sections.
The Shamran family has received recognition in competitions across Libya, Iraq, Kuwait, Russia, and Gaza. Ali also competed in international events in Moscow, Turkey, and Kuwait.
“After we returned to Iraq, we faced curriculum differences,” Ali Shamran said. “Despite this, my brother Mohammed achieved a high grade and enrolled in medical school.”
