However, the Tahfiz for the Visually Impaired (TVI), as a specialized institution accommodating this group,
faces a dual challenge termed the "Ecological Paradox" in this study. On one hand, the program achieves
extraordinary spiritual efficacy perceived by both teachers and students; on the other, it is marred by systemic
failures that threaten the quality and sustainability of this success. This ecological dissonance necessitates a deep
analytical dive to explain why the physical and methodological systems fail to support the students' robust
internal (spiritual) strength.
Statement of the Problem and Specific Objectives
The core problem lies in the critical divergence when prioritizing intervention needs between teachers and
students. While both stakeholders acknowledge challenges, their perception of the "most urgent" barrier differs
fundamentally. This specific divergence represents a crucial blind spot in current policy implementation.
The principal objectives of this study are to:
1. Quantitatively measure and evaluate the level of spiritual efficacy and personal development achieved
by the tahfiz program at TVI.
2. Identify and analyze the main systemic barriers (Technology, Training, Psychosocial Support) and
determine the divergence in their severity and prioritization between teachers and students.
3. Analyze this divergence using Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory and the principles of
Maqasid Shariah, and propose detailed, actionable recommendations specifically for TVI.
Theoretical Framework and In-Depth Literature Review
To achieve the required depth, the findings must be integrated with three key theoretical frameworks: the
Maqasid Shariah framework, the Ecological Systems Theory, and the principles of UDL.
The Sharīʿah Framework: Maqāṣid and Empowerment in Tahfiz Education for Visually Impaired
Students
The educational practice of Qurʾān memorisation (ṭaḥfīẓ al-Qurʾān) for students who are visually impaired
demands a conceptual shift from welfare-based assistance to sustainable empowerment. Within Islamic legal
theory, the doctrine of maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah (objectives of Islamic law) provides an integrative framework for
understanding how such education advances key Sharīʿah objectives—namely the preservation of religion (ḥifẓ
al-dīn), intellect (ḥifẓ al-ʿaql), and life or well-being (ḥifẓ al-nafs). These objectives correspond to spiritual
fidelity, cognitive competence, and psychosocial resilience, respectively, and together they enable a holistic
model of empowerment rather than mere accommodation.
1. Preservation of Religion (ḥifẓ al-dīn) and the Integrity of Transmission (Sanad) Central to ṭaḥfīẓ
education is the safeguarding of divine revelation through accurate memorisation and transmission. For
visually impaired students, however, maintaining the precision and authenticity of Qurʾānic recitation
depends heavily on the availability of accessible learning media. Adnan and Zaharudin (2021)
demonstrated that the introduction of digital and Braille-based Qurʾāns (E-Braille) substantially
improved learning outcomes among students with visual impairment in Malaysia. Their study, published
in Journal Pendidikan Bitara UPSI, found that access to E-Braille materials not only enhanced
memorisation accuracy but also fostered independence and self-confidence—two traits directly aligned
with empowerment under ḥifẓ al-dīn. This evidence highlights that technological infrastructure is not an
ancillary luxury but a religious necessity for maintaining the sanad (authentic chain of transmission).
Inadequate or obsolete tools can compromise memorisation quality, raising theological and pedagogical
concerns regarding itqān (mastery) and validity. Consequently, Islamic educational institutions bear a
dual responsibility: preserving doctrinal fidelity while investing in modern assistive technologies that
secure the quality and authenticity of memorisation.
2. Preservation of Intellect (ḥifẓ al-ʿaql) and Cognitive Enablement: Empowerment in education involves
the cultivation of intellectual autonomy. For visually impaired ṭālib al-ʿilm, this means developing the
cognitive agility to access, process, and retain Qurʾānic knowledge on par with sighted peers. The recent
case study by Abdul Gani (2024) at Pondok Pesantren Raudlatul Makfufin in Indonesia—an Islamic