PERTH – In the quiet, multicultural city of Perth, a humble building stands tucked away in the corner of Langford. Once a church, the building was later taken over by Daarut Tauhiid (DT) and transformed into Al-Latief Mosque. Slowly but surely, it has become a spiritual heart for the Indonesian Muslim community in Perth.
At first, Al-Latief Mosque served solely as a place for the five daily prayers. But like a light that cannot be hidden, it began to grow—becoming a center for connection, sharing, and nurturing dreams—including the dream of creating a place where Muslim children in the diaspora could learn the Qur’an.
And it all started with a simple conversation among mothers after prayer.
A Simple Question That Sparked a Movement
It began with a casual question: Where could they send their children to learn the Qur’an? Out of this need, Baitul Qur’an Australia—an Islamic learning program for children—was born.
While there were already some Qur’an programs for kids around Perth, most of them used Indonesian as the language of instruction. For families from mixed backgrounds or non-Indonesian families, finding an English-speaking Qur’an class was difficult and often located far away.
From this concern grew a desire to establish an inclusive children’s Qur’an program. It didn’t begin under the name Baitul Qur’an—it started simply, focusing solely on Qur’an memorization, taught directly by Sheikh Ahmad.
Growing Together
Time passed, and enthusiasm only grew. Congregants, especially mothers, began requesting beginner classes, starting from Iqro 1 for children who couldn’t yet read Arabic letters. The requests were warmly welcomed. The classes expanded—from memorization to reading (tajweed and tahsin), and from one level to several.
Recognizing this growth, Ustadz Yani, one of the mosque leaders, took a big step: he reached out to Baitul Qur’an Bandung to request permission to officially use their name. That request was granted.
Thus, Baitul Qur’an Australia was officially born—not just as a name, but as a symbol of a greater mission: to safeguard the divine heritage far from home.
“Seeing how rapidly the program was growing and how clear the needs were, Ustadz Yani requested permission from Baitul Qur’an Bandung to use the name,” explained Husna, Program Coordinator, in an online interview on Thursday (April 17, 2025).
More Than Just a Qur’an School
As of April 2025, Baitul Qur’an Australia serves about 60 to 70 students from a diverse range of backgrounds: Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and even children of Egyptian and Palestinian descent. Yet according to Mrs. Husna, the main challenge doesn’t stem from cultural differences—but from adapting to the broader Australian culture itself.
“Children here are taught from a very young age to express their opinions boldly, which differs from the teaching styles back home in Indonesia. We have to adjust our approach to keep them enthusiastic while still maintaining proper manners,” she explained.
Learning at Baitul Qur’an takes place in an atmosphere that’s relaxed yet serious. The children don’t feel like they’re in a rigid school environment. They study reading and recitation (tajweed and tahsin) using Qaidah Nuraniyyah, authored by Sheikh Nur Muhammad Haqqani, through an interactive and loving method.
Currently, Baitul Qur’an has 15 volunteer teachers, with 3 of them focusing exclusively on memorization classes. Every teacher serves with a passion for spreading the light of the Qur’an across the Australian land.
A House of Light Called Baitul Qur’an
What began as a simple conversation among mothers at the mosque has blossomed into a home for the next generation of Muslims in Perth. A place where the Qur’an is taught with love brought to life with spirit, and used as a guide to navigate a rapidly changing world.
“We hope that, in the long run, Baitul Qur’an will not just produce Qur’an memorizers, but individuals who truly understand the meaning of the Qur’an and live its teachings in their daily lives. We pray they grow into people of noble character, serving as ambassadors of Islam and helping to eliminate negative perceptions among non-Muslims,” Mrs. Husna said, full of hope.
Baitul Qur’an Australia—a light that doesn’t need a grand stage to shine. It only needs hearts willing to carry its flame.
Written by: Kevin Akbar Pramadiva