Kurdish Educator Translates Entire Quran into Sign Language

Kurdish educator Ezaddin Hamed Mustafa translates all 114 Quran chapters into sign language, improving religious access for deaf Muslims.

By News National Editorial Team

A Kurdish educator from Erbil, Iraq, has completed an extraordinary project to make the Quran more accessible to deaf Muslims by translating all 114 chapters into Kurdish sign language. His work represents an important step towards inclusive religious education, helping members of the deaf community engage with Islamic teachings in a format they can understand.

The educator, Ezaddin Hamed Mustafa, spent approximately two years developing the project, adapting Quranic verses into visual sign-language illustrations. His initiative was inspired by his personal experiences growing up in a family with deaf members and his years of working with deaf students.

According to a report published by The New Arab on December 26, 2024, Hamed recognised that many deaf Muslims faced difficulties accessing Quranic teachings through conventional Arabic texts and spoken religious instruction.

A personal mission inspired by family

Born in Erbil in 1978, Hamed grew up with three deaf family members. Their experiences helped him understand the communication barriers faced by deaf people, particularly when accessing religious education.

Over the years, he worked as an educator and sign-language interpreter, helping deaf individuals understand religious teachings. He also interpreted Friday sermons at a local mosque.

However, he recognised that interpreting sermons alone could not address the wider challenge. Deaf Muslims needed a practical way to study the Quran independently and understand its verses.

This realisation motivated him to begin a project that would eventually cover the entire Quran.

Two years of work to translate all 114 chapters

Hamed dedicated approximately two years to translating the Quran verse by verse into Kurdish sign language.

The resulting publication combines Arabic Quranic text with illustrated hand signs, helping readers connect the original verses with their visual representations.

The project was particularly challenging because translating religious material requires careful attention to meaning, context and specialised terminology. Sign languages also have their own linguistic structures and cannot simply be treated as word-for-word versions of spoken languages.

His work was designed to help deaf Muslims access the Quran in a more understandable and accessible format.

Religious authorities review and recognise the project

The initiative received attention from religious scholars and officials in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

According to The New Arab, a committee associated with the Kurdistan Regional Government's Ministry of Endowment and Religious Affairs reviewed the work, with participation from religious scholars and deaf-community representatives.

The report also stated that the Higher Fatwa Committee had permitted the translation following its review.

The Kurdistan Islamic Scholars Union subsequently proposed nominating Hamed's achievement for recognition by Guinness World Records.

This recognition highlighted the importance of making religious education accessible to communities that have historically faced communication barriers.

A new opportunity for deaf Muslims

The publication has significance beyond the translation itself. It addresses a wider accessibility issue affecting deaf communities, particularly those who have limited opportunities to receive religious education in sign language.

For many deaf Muslims, traditional religious instruction can be difficult to follow when it depends heavily on spoken explanations or Arabic literacy.

Hamed's work offers another way to engage with the Quran and provides an educational resource that can be used by deaf students, teachers and families.

According to Anadolu Agency's September 2024 report, the publication consists of three volumes containing approximately 600 pages. The report also noted that Hamed had initially printed 1,000 copies and hoped to make additional copies available with support from donors.

Challenges remain in religious accessibility

Despite the achievement, experts and educators recognise that more work is needed to ensure deaf Muslims can fully benefit from accessible religious materials.

The New Arab report highlighted several challenges, including limited educational opportunities for deaf students, differences in sign-language usage and a shortage of specialised teachers.

Sign-language translations also require continued guidance from qualified religious scholars and experienced sign-language professionals to ensure that complex religious concepts are communicated accurately.

Expanding training programmes, educational workshops and accessible learning resources could help more deaf Muslims benefit from such initiatives.

An inspiring example of education and inclusion

Hamed's achievement demonstrates how personal experience, education and dedication can help address barriers faced by underserved communities.

His two-year effort has created an opportunity for deaf Muslims in Iraqi Kurdistan to engage with the Quran through a visual language suited to their communication needs.

It also raises an important question for religious institutions and educational organisations worldwide: how can sacred texts and religious learning be made accessible to everyone, regardless of hearing ability?

His work offers an encouraging example of how inclusion can extend beyond conventional classrooms and religious institutions, helping more people participate in their communities.

For Hamed, the project is not simply a publication. It is an effort to make religious knowledge more accessible to people who have long faced difficulties accessing it.