From Vision to Reality: Dr. Aisha’s Legacy
From Vision to Reality: Dr. Aisha’s Legacy in Nurturing Quranic
Education and Community Spirit
MAC Al-Furqan full-time Quran School stands as one of Canada’s pioneering institutions dedicated to
Quranic education, with a track record of graduating over 70 successful huffaz.
This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
During a time when Muslim students face challenges balancing their faith and societal pressures in the education system, Dr. Aisha Sherazi, former principal of MAC Al-Furqan’s full-time Quran school, immerses us in her journey as a full-time volunteer educator. She reflects on the profound impact of the Quranic education on students and parents, how to keep students motivated, and what her future aspirations are.
Embracing Islam and education
Dr. Aisha embraced Islam in 1998. She struggled to balance her time between learning Arabic, studying the Quran, and pursuing her degree. However, despite these challenges, she was driven by a strong desire to teach kids and see them flourish through the words of Allah (SWT).
After moving to Ottawa in the early 2000s with her husband, she volunteered as a grade 4 and 5 teacher at MAC Abraar School before she became their principal. A few years later, she took on a new initiative: to start MAC Al-Furqan full-time Quran school.
Starting MAC Al-Furqan full-time Quran school
Already established in Ottawa, MAC Al-Furqan school existed, but only as a part-time institution that extended to grade 5. The desire to expand on the potential of student knowledge motivated Dr. Aisha to pursue the project.
Paved with many challenges, Dr. Aisha and her team prevailed through with the guidance of Allah (SWT). Through His help, they overcame various obstacles, leading to the success and growth of MAC Al-Furqan’s full-time school.
For Dr. Aisha and her team, the experience of planting a seed and watching it grow was immensely fulfilling. During her 14 years as a principal, the passion of the kids and their parents to learn the Quran and be a part of their kids’ journey, from having some knowledge to complete memorization by grade 8, was a significant source of motivation. She told us that, “Just working with the community, seeing the kids’ smile in the morning, and helping kids and teachers develop and grow—those things are very addictive. They are hard to give up.”
“Just working with the community, seeing the kids’ smile in the morning, and helping kids and teachers develop and grow—those things are very addictive. They are hard to give up.”
Managing a niche school
Dr. Aisha recognizes that this model of Quran school is niche and unlike any other school system. As she described it, it is standalone and not for the fainthearted. Parents who want to enroll their children have to be prepared to support their children every step of the journey, ready to be excited, and to celebrate their every milestone. Their love for the Quran must be there. Otherwise, it would be difficult for them and their children to continue in school.
“Their love for the Quran must be there. Otherwise, it would be difficult for them and their children to continue in school.”
What motivates students to learn the Quran
Similar to how parents act as pillars for their kids, engaging with them through every part of the journey, the students on their own aren’t to be underestimated. The thirst for knowledge within them drives their daily efforts to learn, memorize, and recite the Quran.
But another part of what steers their motivation is the family environment and being surrounded by like-minded people who inspire them to stick to their Deen. Like many children, the feeling of not wanting to be left behind as others memorize their pages of the Quran keeps them on their toes. These emotions are what push students to maintain their dedication and discipline towards the religion.
“Like many children, the feeling of not wanting to be left behind as others memorize their pages of the Quran keeps them on their toes.”
Balancing Deen and Dunya
Within the last 2-3 years, Dr. Aisha felt like her and her team had finally reached a point where the program held purpose for the community.
The strong connection to the Quran has helped the program develop in that identity, but also flourish and spread to other cities, something Dr. Aisha feels the Muslim Association of Canada (MAC) does a great job of—balancing between Deen and Dunya.
MAC’s balance and initiatives have provided her with the space to grow and love herself. It’s through this space that she has learned to help others grow, offering consultations and mentorship to aid many other MAC chapters establish similar full-time Quran schools. Her experience has also taught her not to take for granted the relationship she has with Allah (SWT).
No Islamic schools?
Her advice for Muslims is not to give up, to utilize the resources around them, be it YouTube videos or their community to learn and prosper. This is especially true for Muslim parents who may not have access or can’t afford Quran schools, but want to educate their kids the best way they can.
“Her advice for Muslims is not to give up, to utilize the resources around them, be it YouTube videos or their community to learn and prosper.”
Dr. Aisha’s future aspirations
Though Dr. Aisha’s journey at MAC Al-Furqan school has come to end, her journey with MAC continues in education curriculum and development. As a person with a passion for engagement and advocacy, she will continue to advocate for Muslim students within the public system by voicing their concerns and troubleshooting any issues to give them the best educational opportunities.
As we conclude this enlightening interview, we ask Allah (SWT) to accept the efforts and sacrifices of Dr. Aisha, her family, and her team, and bless them in multitudes for their work in the community. May Allah (SWT) continue to bless our community with individuals like Dr. Aisha, who serve important causes around them and build a legacy of Islamic presence in Canada that is rooted in the worship of Allah (SWT).
Bio
Dr. Aisha Sherazi is an Ottawa-based educator, writer, and community advocate. She served as the principal of MAC Al-Furqan full-time school, an elementary school program designated to helps students memorize the entire Holy Quran. She also served as a spiritual care worker at Merivale High School and sat on the Steering Committee for the OCDSB Spiritual Care for Secondary Schools program. She formerly represented the Muslim community on COMPAC, a diversity committee containing community and members of the Ottawa Police Service.
