There was a time in Russia under the Communist rule when it was a crime to recite the Quraan and to take the name of Islam. For a long period no Azaan was heard nor any Salaah was performed. When Communism had just ended, a very inspiring incident had taken place. An old woman who was standing at the door of her house saw some foreign Muslim brothers passing by. They were out in the path of Allah Ta‘ala. She called them and asked them if they have a copy of the Quraan. So they presented a copy of the Quraan to her as a gift. The moment she saw the Quraan, she took it, held it close to her chest, and then burst out crying uncontrollably. She then said, “Seventy years have passed and I have never seen the Quraan. I made du‘aa to Allah Ta‘ala that let not death come to me until I am blessed with the sight of Your Quraan”. Thereafter she presented a huge box to them. They refused to take it. She told them that they must take it since she took an oath in the name of Allah Ta‘ala to present it to the one who allows her to see the Quraan. They opened it and found it full of gold and silver jewellery.
Lesson: This is the appreciation of the Quraan in places where there is no Quraan. Yet in many places in almost every home there is someone who has memorised the Quraan, but there is no appreciation for the Book of Allah Ta‘ala.