The Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) once said, “The best of you are those who learn it and teach it. With that in mind, Research and Development International (RDI) created a program called “Hafss , designed to help Muslims whether young, old, man or woman to read the Quran better.
RDI presented the project at a conference attended by many religious scholars, as well as ministry officials and businessmen from various technology companies.
The Kuwaiti Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs signed a contract with RDI to build its new comprehensive Quran Sciences Encyclopedia web portal. Here RDI is deploying its Quran tools as well as its novel technology for the self-learning of tajweed (proper Quran recitation).
Hafss is based on the “Hafss an Assem type of Quran reading – this style, one of seven based on the recitations of historical Muslim figures, dictates how to pronounce certain letters and words. The program is based on the technology of speech recognition, which guides the users and informing them with their mistakes.
Basically the computer would read out the word or phrase to the student, then the student would repeat it into a microphone. If pronounced correctly, the computer will say that it is correct. However, if the student pronounces it wrong, the computer points out the error, and repeats the word correctly.
The new program is intended as back-up for those who do not have the time, money or teacher available to give them one-on-one help.
Mohsen Rashwan, engineering professor at Cairo University and one of the founders of RDI, said that the one thing that makes Hafss different from other methods of learning is that it was created after many years of research in speech technology.
It also provides its students with the necessary environment to allow them to read it in the way it is supposed to be read, added Rashwan.
Apart from helping people read the Quran correctly, Hafss can also assist in learning spoken Arabic and other languages. RDI is currently in negotiations with European partners about adapting it to help teach spoken European languages.
RDI was established in 1993, with the aim of developing a base that would convert raw ideas emerging from academia into workable prototypes, as well as provide an incubator for these prototypes that would allow further development until they reach the stage of commercial interest.
“Realizing leadership and innovation in CIT worked through an economically successful corporation that provides outstanding products and services contributing to the development of society.
Their dream is to one day find Muslims from all around the world visiting their website to learn the Quran.
