Today I had the privilege of supervising the thesis defense of Dhomas Erika, a Deaf student in the Interdisciplinary Islamic Studies program. Dhomas is one of the most exceptional students I’ve ever known—she stands out, even among her peers.

Back in her undergraduate days, for instance, she passed the Qur’anic reading and writing exam with flying colors—something many other students didn’t manage. At the time, I had already prepared myself to be lenient when assessing her Qur’an reading skills.

I belong to the “anti-coercion” school of thought when it comes to Deaf students and Qur’an recitation. Forcing a Deaf person to vocalize the Qur’an is like forcing a blind person to see. Sound, after all, is something she will never hear. And yet, Dhomas overcame that seemingly impossible barrier and surprised me by reciting the Qur’an beautifully.

Throughout her studies, she was also actively involved in the Disability Service Center (PLD), not just as a volunteer, but as a “relabel”—a term we use for volunteers who are themselves persons with disabilities. She was always eager to help with PLD activities and a familiar face around the center. In short, Dhomas completed her undergraduate degree smoothly, all while being socially active and engaged. When she continued on to her master’s degree, I taught her again and saw her academic abilities continue to grow. Her coursework—especially research-based assignments—consistently exceeded expectations.

Then came the thesis stage—right when the pandemic hit. We never met face-to-face. Our entire supervision process took place online, just like with my other students. We used Schoology to discuss material, annotate drafts, and make revisions. Alhamdulillah, the whole process went smoothly.

Today’s defense was also conducted online. Accompanied by a sign language interpreter, I joined via Zoom. All the examiners agreed: Dhomas’s thesis is one of the best they’ve ever read. She earned a perfect score. According to Ms. Nina, it’s even a strong contender for best thesis of the year. Alhamdulillah.

Congratulations, Dhomas. Even though you now officially hold an M.A., today is not the end of your academic journey. Keep going—aim for that Ph.D. With your strong English skills, pursuing a doctorate abroad would be a great step. May the path open up for you.

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