Considering the general preoccupation with religion in Saudi Arabia, you might think the kingdom has more than enough people willing and able to teach the Qur'an. Not so, according to Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah Hanafy, chairman of the Charitable Society for Holy Qur'an Memorisation in the Mecca region.

"Saudis show no interest in teaching the Qur'an because we only pay SR1,000 [$265] per month," he told Arab News. 

"Qur’an lessons also start in the afternoon, which is when most Saudis have their siestas," he continued. "There are other sessions that are held during the evening, but Saudis usually refuse to attend them because this is the time when people usually socialise."

The society has only about 100 Saudis teaching tahfiz (Qur'an memorisation) and has been supplementing these with 1,240 non-Saudi teachers. It has now been instructed by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs to get rid of the foreigners but is struggling to replace them.

A report by the ministry recently accused the foreign teachers of committing "violations", though Mr Hanafy says he has no idea what the violations were.

Posted by Brian Whitaker, 8 November 2010.