The Qur'an Memorization Process and Perception of God among Female Students in Qur'an Courses: The Case of Ankara–Sincan

Qur'an Courses: The Case of Ankara–Sincan This study aims to understand and explain the memorization process and the perception of God among individuals who continue their Qur'an memorization education during adolescence. Adolescence is widely recognized as a challenging developmental stage marked by cognitive, physical, and psychosocial changes. When an intensive and demanding educational process such as Qur'an memorization is added to this period, it becomes essential to understand the students and guide their lives in a meaningful direction. The Qur'an memorizationprocess also constitutes a form of religious education. Understanding how individuals perceive and make sense of God during this time, as well as their attitudes toward the Divine, is significant for religious educators, particularly in terms of comprehending the psychological states of their students. In this context, the main research question focuses on how adolescents engaged in Qur'an memorization education perceive the memorization process and conceptualize God. The study group consists of 20 female students receiving boarding education. Participants were selected through purposive sampling, and data were collected using a semi-structured interview form. The data obtained from the interviews were analyzed using content and descriptive analysis methods. Within the scope of the study, participants were asked about their relationships with their families and instructors during the Qur'an memorization process, the course environment, the progression of the memorization process, their thoughts about the future, and their perceptions of God. The findings revealed that while participants generally reported negative relationships with their families, their relationships with instructors were predominantly positive. Although a negative perception of God might be expected due to strained parental relationships, the positive impact of their relationships with instructors was associated with a more positive perception of God. The results of this study are expected to provide guidance for both educators and families. Additionally, understanding individuals' perceptions of God during a critical developmental period such as adolescence is anticipated to contribute to the field of the psychology of religion.