Tahfiz Programme Opens Door To Spiritual Rehabilitation For Kajang Prison Prospects

By Ahmad Aidil Syukri Hamzah

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 (Bernama) -- The melodious recitation of Quranic verses fills a small classroom at the Kajang Prison’s Centre for Spiritual Empowerment (PPIC), reflecting the dedication of inmates, referred to as prospects, in deepening their understanding of the holy book.

Behind high walls and iron bars, a new light begins to shine for some prisoners through the Khairul Ummah Tahfiz Programme, a government-supported spiritual-based rehabilitation initiative aimed at guiding inmates back to the right path.

The programme’s chief coordinator Muhammad Taufiq Norazimi said the initiative, introduced in November 2023, currently has 26 participants, including one inmate who completed memorising all 30 juzuk (sections) of the Quran before being released.

“They are selected based on their interest and capability. Out of 50 candidates interviewed, only 20 were accepted. We saw that they genuinely wanted to change,” he told Bernama in a recent interview.

According to Muhammad Taufiq, the tahfiz classes are conducted Monday to Thursday from 9 am, covering Quran memorisation and fardu ain (basic Islamic studies), while Fridays are dedicated to reciting Surah Al-Kahf and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), including tailoring, computing and barbering.

“When they are close to the Quran, their hearts become softer and they develop a fear of wrongdoing. Many of them are not inherently bad, they just took a wrong turn. This programme helps them rediscover their life’s direction,” he added.

For Jamil (not his real name), 38, currently serving time and just three months into the tahfiz programme, life behind bars has given him the space to truly understand Islam.

“I had tried memorising the Quran outside before but failed. Here, the soul is more at peace. There are no distractions, no sinful temptations. I can focus on memorisation and self-improvement,” said Jamil, who has already memorised three juzuk.

Previously employed in a professional field, Jamil now hopes to continue studying the Quran and eventually become an imam or a religious teacher after his release.

“I don’t see prison as merely a punishment, but a form of education from Allah. This is my chance to return to religion and atone for my past mistakes,” he said calmly.

Meanwhile, Azhar (not his real name), 52, who will soon complete his sentence after receiving a pardon from a death sentence in 2015, admits his life changed after participating in the prison’s religious and skills training programmes.

“Before, I was only a Muslim by name. In prison, I studied Tafaqquh Fiddin (comprehensive religious understanding) for five years, followed by tahfiz and skills workshops. It was here that I began to understand the meaning of a life grounded in the Quran and Sunnah,” he said.

Azhar now holds a Level 2 Tafaqquh Fiddin Certificate and a Malaysian Skills Certificate (SKM Level 2) in tailoring. Among the surahs he has memorised are Juzuk 30, Al-Baqarah, Al-Insan and Al-Waqi‘ah.

“This knowledge cannot be stolen. It protects us. I want to use my skills in tailoring and religion to educate my grandchildren and the community when I’m released,” said the grandfather of two.

He also views the prison’s drill routines and disciplinary system as a form of spiritual training, teaching prospects to obey instructions and heed advice, essential foundations for self-transformation.

The Khairul Ummah Tahfiz Programme, run by the Malaysian Prison Department, goes beyond Quran memorisation. It offers a holistic balance of spiritual education and vocational training, integrating religious and worldly knowledge.

This integrated approach aligns with the government’s objective to strengthen spiritual rehabilitation, offering prospects a second chance to return to society as upstanding and productive individuals.

For the prospects at Kajang Prison, the verses they repeat daily are more than just memorisation. They represent a promise of change, a confession of repentance and the beginning of a new life, one that deserves recognition beyond the prison walls.

Hence, the wider community must discard prejudice and welcome former inmates as renewed members of society, forged through dedicated spiritual and moral reform behind bars.

-- BERNAMA