Is there an age when it becomes too late to truly begin with the Quran? 

Soraya Omar’s life answers that question with a firm no. An Afghan-American living in Colorado, she was raised in a Muslim household, but her personal journey with the Quran began later in life, after personal hardships and the passing of her mother. Loss has a way of clarifying what matters. For Soraya, it opened a door she had been standing in front of her whole life. 

A Lifelong Wish, Finally Pursued 

Discovering Ustadh Nouman Ali Khan’s lessons gave Soraya the way in she had been missing. Since then, she has dedicated her time to deepening her understanding and fulfilling what she calls her lifelong wish: to truly connect with the text. Now in her late sixties and retired, she says her dedication is stronger than ever. 

When Familiar Words Become New 

Then came the moment that captures her whole journey. “This past Ramadan, as I finished reading the Quran, it felt as though I was reading it for the very first time,” she shares, “seeing each word and sentence with newfound clarity, MashAllah.” 

She had read the Quran before. The words had not changed. She had. This is the experience the Quran itself describes when it speaks of who its reminders actually reach: إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَذِكْرَىٰ لِمَن كَانَ لَهُ قَلْبٌ أَوْ أَلْقَى السَّمْعَوَهُوَ شَهِيدٌ “Surely in this is a reminder for whoever has a heart and lends an ear while present in mind” (50:37). Understanding turns reading into listening and listening with a present heart makes even the most familiar ayah feel newly revealed. 

A Goal Without a Deadline 

Soraya’s ambition has not softened with retirement. Her long-term goal is to read the Quran without translation and extract its deeper meanings independently. “I plan to remain on this journey for as long as it takes,” she says. 

There is something quietly powerful in that sentence. No deadline, no pressure, just a direction and a commitment. Many people in their twenties hesitate to start studying the Quran because the road looks long. Soraya started in her sixties precisely because the road is long and she wants to spend the rest of her life on it. 

If you have been telling yourself it is too late to start, let Soraya’s Ramadan be your proof that the Quran is ready to feel brand new whenever you are. 

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