Eleven Siblings Pursue Higher Education In Religious Studies

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 11 (Bernama) -- Not many parents are blessed to see all their children pursue higher education. But for Mohamed Omar and his wife Siti Rushana Awang Besar, that dream became a reality when all 11 of their children achieved it.

What makes their story even more remarkable is that all their children chose to specialise in religious studies. Four of them are ‘hafiz al-Quran’ (completely memorised the al-Quran), and two hold doctorates (PhD).

Several of the siblings now serve as lecturers, teachers, preachers, writers and entrepreneurs dedicated to spreading Islamic knowledge, while the two youngest are still studying.

Siti Nurhuzun, 25, the tenth child, is currently pursuing a PhD in Usuluddin, while the youngest Siti Nurhusaini, 22, is in her final semester of a bachelor’s degree in Tahfiz and Qiraat. Both are students at Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah (UniSHAMS) in Kedah.

Reflecting on her family’s achievements, Siti Rushana, 67, a retired English teacher, told Bernama that her children’s education did not begin at university but was nurtured from a young age through daily routines at home centred on prayer, al-Quran recitation and disciplined study habits.

“We have always prioritised education and lived modestly so that all our children could study to the highest level possible. From young, they were trained to pray together, memorise the al-Quran and wake up as early as 5 am for ‘tahajud’ before revising their lessons,” she said.

Siti Rushana and Mohamed, 72, reside in Kampung Seberang Pasir Mas in Salor, Kota Bharu, Kelantan.

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When asked about the most touching moments in her life, she said it was watching each of her children, one by one, walk across the convocation stage, adding it reminded her of the years of sacrifice, effort, challenges and countless prayers their family had shared.

“We never expect anything in return. Our only hope is that our children grow up to be good people, hold firmly to their faith, and contribute meaningfully to the ummah. If their knowledge can benefit others, that is reward enough for us,” Siti Rushana added.

The family’s journey in religious education began when their eldest daughter Siti Nursima, 42, enrolled at Kolej Islam Antarabangsa Sultan Ismail Petra in Kelantan in 2003, before continuing with a 3+1 programme at Universitas Islam Negeri Sultan Thaha Saifuddin in Jambi, Indonesia.

She later earned a master’s degree in al-Quran and Hadith from Universiti Malaya and now runs her own business. Her path inspired her siblings to follow in her footsteps, most of them choosing UniSHAMS for their studies in Usuluddin, Syariah, and Tahfiz and Qiraat.

Besides Siti Nursima and the two youngest siblings, the other siblings are Mohd Rusydi, 40, Dr Siti Nuroni (38), Dr Siti Nurwanis (36), Siti Nurkhusna (35), Mohd Arham (33), Siti Nurjannati (31), Mohd Hikam (29) and Mohd Abdul Hayyu (27).

According to Siti Nurwanis, a PhD holder, one of the main reasons her family chose UniSHAMS was the presence of lecturers from countries such as Egypt, Jordan and Sudan, offering students rich exposure to Arabic, both academically and conversationally.

“When our older siblings set an example and achieved excellent results, the rest of us were inspired to follow their lead. One by one, we enrolled at UniSHAMS,” said Siti Nurwanis, who is now an author and motivational speaker.

Indeed, the journey of Mohamed and Siti Rushana’s family stands as a testament to how discipline, determination and priority towards religious knowledge can turn dreams into reality, serving as an inspiration to others.

-- BERNAMA