By AbdulMumin AbdulQuadri
• Muslim parents should pay for quality Islamic education – Amir Ajala
• I am a living witness to the lives the madrasah has transformed – Alhaji Adeniji
• Why we founded the school in Ota, Sheikh Tijani
It was a dream come true for Mutmainnah Moromoke Daudu and her family on Sunday, 8th September, 2024 as she celebrated the completion of her Qur’anic memorization (Hifz) at Darul-Uloom As-Sobiha Islamic Center for Qur’an Memorisation, Arabic and Islamic Studies, in Ota, Ogun State.
She felt on top of the world for being able to accomplish her lifelong dream of memorising the entire Qur’an in 15 months.
She thanked Allah (SWT) for making the impossible possible, saying, “I wouldn’t have achieved this on my own, Allah alone made it possible. Alhamdulillah.”
The young Hafizah was among the nine (9) Hufaadh (full memorisers of the Noble Qur’an) and fifteen (15) Maktab students that graduated from the Arabic School during the 2024 Haflah ceremony for the completion of Qura’n Memorisation and Academic Graduation held over the weekend at the school premises.
Other Hufaadh are: Shorinola Sherifdeen, Yussuf Abdulmalik, Balogun Fareed, Daudu Ayatullah, Musa Abdulsomod, Bankole Abdulrahman, Lasisi Ismail and Odusiji Hafsah.
The Maktab graduands include Tajudeen Ismail, Muse Abdulqayyum, Muse Abdulmalik, Muse Abdulmuiz, Jimoh Usman, Sholola Muhammad, Kilani Abdullah and Adisa Mustapha.
The remaining Maktab students are Bolaji Abdulrahman, Aremu Al-Ameen, Olaiya Qoriba, Oduroye Hamdala, Tajudeen Shukroh, Sikiru Mutiat and Aremu Azeezat.
Muslim News gathered that while the Hufaadh are boarders, the Maktab students learn Arabic and memorise significant part of the Qur’an on a programme that runs only on weekends.
Apart from Arabic and Islamic studies, Darul-Uloom As-Sobiha also houses D.U.A Academy, a government approved western education with state-of-the-art facilities for primary to secondary levels.
The elated Mutmainnah recounted the challenges she faced and the sacrifices she made in the cause of memorising the Qur’an.
She said: “I’ve always been passionate about memorising the Qur’an. It has been my lifelong dream, so I was so excited when I stepped into the journey. I was willing to give it my all. I didn’t even know what awaited me, I was just optimistic.
“The experience was not a bed of roses though. It was very challenging at some point, but my passion for it kept me going.”
She told Muslim News that she felt special on her graduation.
The Haflah, 9th in its edition, was attended by leading Muslim personalities, including the Grand Chief Imam of Ota Awori land, Sheikh Muhammad Sabeeq Aina Aladi; National Missioner of NASFAT, Sheikh AbdulAzeez ONIKE (represented); Chairman NASFAT Ota Branch, Alhaji Nurudeen Dolapo Adeniji; Alhaji Sulayman Akinwande (co-host); and Chief Imam Ajadi Lawa Central Mosque, Lagos, Amir Qamarudeen Ajala who was a guest speaker.
During his lecture, Amir Qamarudeen Ajala urged Muslim parents and caregivers to be ready to pay handsomely for quality Islamic education.
He also advised Muslim clergies to get meaningfully engaged and shun unlawful or illegitimate earnings. He said:
“Islamic scholars should also acquire lucrative skills and explore legitimate means”.
The eloquent Islamic preacher pleaded with parents to model ideal Islamic values for their children and wards, so they will not take the celebrated nonentities out there as role models in life.
“Education and orientation begin from the home. Parents should have adequate knowledge of Islam and train their children to rely on Allah alone. Make them understand that they will account for all the wealth they acquire in this world, and it’s not even relevant in the hereafter. So, our children have to be pious because that’s the only way their choice of mentors and role models will be guided.
“Allah made us understand in the Qur’an that wealth and riches of this world are nothing but vanities. The Abrahamic religions recount a number of cases where apostles of God counselled their children on maintaining cordial relationship with the Almighty. Hence, instilling the fear of God in our children is mandatory. ”
On his part, Alhaji Adeniji, who chaired the occasion attested the good work the School has been doing for the Ummah.
He said: “I’m more than delighted to chair this occasion because of the good work Darul-Uloom has been doing. At least, if I can’t even name how many lives the school has transformed, I know I’m a living witness.
“Two of my children graduated from here, and as we speak, they are doing very well in faraway Canada.”
He charged parents to hold Islamic education in high esteem.
Also speaking at event, the Grand Chief Imam of Ota Awori Land described the gathering was a noble one.
He said: “We are here today to celebrate the graduands who trode a noble path for a reasonable amount of time. They have done something great and we have come to celebrate and motivate them. The teachers, learners and their parents have sacrificed so much for the Qur’an and they deserve the honour.”
• Why we founded the school in Ota, Sheikh Tijani
Proprietor of the school, Shaykh Sherif Ishaq Tijani felt greatly accomplished because the citadel of learning which also offers western education with ideal boarding facilities is fulfilling the purpose for which it was established 14 years ago.
He made it known that on getting back to Nigeria in the 90s, after his studies in Pakistan, he realised that Islamic Da’wah was wanting around Ota and its environs, so, the Madrasah was founded to educate Muslims and arouse their consciousness about Islam, the pristine way of life.
He said: “After I returned from Pakistan, I realized that the community was dominated by non-Muslims. There was virtually no place where people could learn and understand the deen. So, I decided to do something about it. That was why we started evening Arabic classes and students were coming in trickles.
“Darul-Uloom As-Sobiha was officially founded in August 2010 precisely. That was when we had the conviction and resolution to make our students preservers of the Qur’an. We had our 10th anniversary in 2020.
Alhamdulillah, over 200 Hufaadh have graduated from here between that 2010 and now and they’re all doing very in different walks of life.”
He noted that it was necessary to celebrate the graduands, to motivate and make them happy.
He said: “The essence of the Haflah is to celebrate the Hufaadh and make them feel fulfilled. People are being celebrated for achieving worldly things, so why don’t we celebrate achievements that will be beneficial in this world and the hereafter too. Let’s celebrate them because they’ve made noble accomplishments.”
He alerted the public to keep close tabs with the school – that offers Arabic, Islamic and Western education, as it remains steadfast in its promise to deliver quality Islamic and western education to every Muslim child and extended his gratitude to families, friends and well-wishers who came from far and near to grace the occasion, including his Pakistani contacts.
Muhammad Ahmad, a guest from Pakistan expressed great joy at the occasion. He disclosed that he came all the way from Pakistan to honour the Qur’an. He lauded Nigerians for the culture of adorning the Qur’an.
He said: we came all the way from Pakistan to honour the Qur’an. We want to witness beautiful recitations and I must say Nigerians are doing well. They are adorning the Qur’an. We love what we’ve seen here so far.”
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