The latest electronic gadget to become all the rage in Indonesia is the Digital Koran. As this month Muslims partake in the fasting rituals of Ramadan, the new gadget is selling in Jakarta at an average of 50 per day per store of Islamic merchandise.
With nearly 220 million people — 90 percent of them adherents of Islam — Indonesia, has the world’s largest Muslim population. Approximately the size of an iPod, the new device includes the Koran in Arabic, with an Indonesian translation and its audio recitation. It also has a full LCD screen and a video player and additionally, sayings of the prophet Mohammad, prayers, prayer time and the direction towards Mecca that Muslims face to pray.
Weighing only 60 grams, it’s a handy alternative to the bulkier printed version of the sacred writings of Islam. As most Indonesians don’t understand Arabic, students listen to and recite the verses repeatedly in order to memorize them. One of the most popular voices in the device is that of Sheikh Abdul Rahman al-Sudais, the iman of the Grand Mosque of Mecca, who is known for his emotional yet precise recitations.
Many Indonesians carry the device when travelling on the haj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, as it contains the prayers to be recited during the annual ritual. But people also simply use it on the bus, going to and from school or work. As the gadget looks like an iPod, they appear to be listening to their favorite pop music, when in fact they are studying their scriptures. The device, produced by South Korean and Chinese companies and sold under the brand name Iqra’a, ranges in price from $98 (900 000 rupiah) to $205. This is equivalent to a month’s salary for many Indonesians.
This article was published Friday, September 28, 2007.
