In the corridors of a Jerusalem hospital, while undergoing treatment for cancer, 22-year-old Shorouq Marar placed her faith at the centre of her fight. Inspired by Quran memorisers in Gaza, she completed the memorisation of the entire Holy Qur’an — turning her struggle into a powerful testimony to hope, resilience and spiritual purpose.
A Journey Begun Amid War
The journey of Shorouq Marar began two years ago, at the outset of the war that erupted between Israel and the Gaza Strip. Witnessing the extraordinary commitment of memorisers in Gaza, she felt a stirring within: “If they can do it, then I can too,” she later told Al Jazeera.
Despite the chaos of conflict and the heavy burden of her own illness, she resolved to keep the Qur’an by her side through her long fight with cancer, using every bit of waiting time in hospital for memorisation.
Memorising in the Midst of Treatment
Shorouq spent her days at the Al-Mutala Hospital in Jerusalem, waiting for chemotherapy or radiotherapy sessions. In the silent hours of the hospital corridors, she recited and memorised verses, treating her waiting time not as wasted but as precious.
That she managed to continue these spiritual efforts in the face of pain and uncertainty speaks to both her determination and her commitment to the Qur’an as more than a text — a companion, a solace, a medicine for the soul.
A Mother, a Fighter, a Memoriser
A mother of three children, Shorouq refused to let the disease define her. Instead, she allowed it to fuel a deeper purpose. She has said: “Nothing soothes the heart like the Qur’an, and there is no deeper treatment for the soul than its verses. I recommend that anyone going through difficult circumstances take the Qur’an as their medicine and companion.”
Her words reflect a profound conversion of suffering into strength — and an invitation to others facing hardship to find in faith a source of sustenance.
A Mother’s Tears, A Daughter’s Victory
When her mother, Akram Dawood, learned that her daughter had completed the memorisation of the entire Qur’an, she could not hold back tears of joy. “When Shorouq told me she had finished memorising the Qur’an, I cried with happiness. This is the most beautiful reward I have ever received,” she said.
She added that despite the difficult circumstances, she had always encouraged her daughter — and thanked God for guiding and helping her through.
From: IQNA