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Instead, a solemn echo filled the air – verses of the Quran recited aloud. Rows upon rows of Palestinian men and boys dressed in white cloaks filled the mosque’s yard for one single purpose: to recite the entire Quran before sunset. Some sat on chairs while others lay on the floor, but all remained focused on the sacred task before them.
Two hundred and fifty-six Quran memorisers – Palestinians who have committed the entire holy book to memory – sat in the place while companions beside them listened attentively, following each word carefully to ensure the recitation remained flawless. The gathering, titled “Safwat Al-Huffaz” – “The Elite of Quran Memorisers”, has become a special collective way of observing Ramadan in Gaza. Yet after nearly two years of Israel’s genocidal war on the enclave, its meaning has grown far deeper.
Memorising the Quran is considered one of the most noble Islamic honours, one that requires years of disciplined study, repetition, and devotion. Over the years, Gaza has developed a rich tradition of Quran memorisation circles that nurture spiritual values and strengthen connection with religious faith. The massive recitation sessions, where Quran memorisers collectively recite the entire book by heart, have become one of the most distinguished expressions of that tradition.
Despite the devastation created by Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza – which has killed more than 75,000 Palestinians – participants have insisted on holding the gathering again this year in an act of spiritual perseverance. Among those carefully reciting was 51-year-old Mohammad al-Qiranawi, a Quran memoriser whose dark glasses concealed the fact that he has been blind since childhood. Losing his eyesight early in life never prevented him from memorising the Quran.
