Parents must provide a solid religious foundation to their children. This was stated by Zahira Jiffry, an Islamic scholar who conducted voluntary classes for Sri Lankan women focussing on the correct recitation of the Qur’anic verses and Arabic language.

She was speaking at a farewell function held in her honor in Riyadh recently.

Jiffry, who has been a teacher at the Jawahir Al-Riyadh International School, is a graduate from a Saudi university and speaks fluent Arabic. She was engaged in conducting these classes on a weekly basis for the past 15 years.

“Your children will never go wrong if they have a solid religious foundation,” she told the women, adding that the parents should set an example to their children.

“I first came to Saudi Arabia 25 years ago to finish my higher education. Coming here was the first hurdle I faced in becoming who I am today,” she said.

“The years I spent studying here were some of the best of my life, and I’ve come to owe this Kingdom, the land of the Two Holy Mosques, a much greater debt than can never be repaid.”

After graduating from Saudi Arabia, she left for Sri Lanka to take up a job as a teacher. “I came back a few years later, this time accompanied by my husband,” said Jiffry.

Paying rich tributes to Jiffry, Aysha Tariq said: “When I came to Riyadh, my knowledge on Islam was limited. I have learned a lot from her, about Tajweed, Arabic, Tafseer, Salah, Haj and how to perform the final rites for the dead. She had a positive influence on us that made us better Muslims.”

Commending her voluntary service, Azra Hilmy, a schoolteacher, said: “Jiffry is a great asset to the Muslim community; her eye-opening Islamic lectures had a profound impact on everyone. She is a wonderful teacher who devoted all her time to her students.

Her lectures helped us lead the right path. I feel truly blessed to spend my time in her company.”