Every year during Ramadan, the prestigious International Holy Koran Competition is held in Cairo, Egypt. A test of both memorization ability and recitation talent, it draws 110 contestants from 70 countries. Everyone in attendance sees the significance of this 600-page holy book and the value of reciting this sacred text in the original Arabic language. Although there are a few girls in the competition, they still face stiff resistance from Islamic fundamentalist clerics who oppose their participation and argue that a woman's place is in the home as a dutiful wife and mother.

The Light in Her Eyes is a fascinating documentary by Julia Meltzer and Laura Nix which explores the work of Houda al-Habashy, an energetic and deeply religious Muslim woman in Damascus who has been running a girl's summer camp for the study and memorization of the Qur'an since 1982. She contends that women should be educated in all areas and is convinced that education is a form of worship of Allah.

This unconventional leader talks with her youthful teachers one of whom says: "There is a saying that a woman only goes to two places — to her husband's home, and then to her grave." Houda's 20-year-old daughter is a testament to the hope she has for Muslim women in the future. Enas Al-Khaldi is studying abroad and wants to open new doors for those who follow in her footsteps. Both mother and daughter are a mix of the old and the new: they proudly wear the hijab head covering yet go against tradition in trying to expand women's rights and choices.

We see Houda interacting with the young girls who clearly look up to her for guidance. Their announcements of how many pages of the Qur'an they have memorized are met with applause and statements of blessings. We are there when some girls take part in the coming-of-age ceremony of being given the hijab to wear and see their moving responses. And we are witness to the awards giving at the graduation ceremony.

The documentary was filmed before Syria's "Arab Spring" protests, and we learn at the end that Houda and her family left the country as the violence increased. For the sake of the devout Muslim girls of Syria, we hope she can return soon.


Special features on the DVD include 56 minute version plus trailer.