Saudi Arabia backs Qur’anic preservation with national memorisation, Tafsir contest

* Sokoto, Nasarawa emerge overall winners at second edition

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has continued its support for the preservation and promotion of Qur’anic memorisation and learning in Nigeria as its Royal Embassy in Abuja concluded the second National Qur’anic Memorisation and Tafsir Competition.

The five day competition, which ended on Sunday, September 27, at the National Mosque in Abuja, brought together 132 Qur’an memorizers from 22 states, with Sokoto and Nasarawa producing the overall male and female winners respectively.

Muslim News gathered that the competition was organised by the Cultural Attaché Office of the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Nigeria, with participants tested on the memorisation and recitation of 20, 40 and 60 Hizbs.

Ahmad Abubakar of Sokoto State emerged the overall male winner, while Shafa’atu Jibril Ibrahim of Nasarawa State claimed the overall female title. Each received a ₦3 million cash prize.

The contest featured separate male and female categories, while Tafsir was assessed across all categories, placing emphasis on understanding and applying the meanings of the Qur’an.

Sokoto, Nasarawa claim overall titles

Sokoto produced a strong performance in the male categories, taking first place in both the 40 Hizb and 60 Hizb male categories.

Ahmad Abubakar attributed his success to sustained dedication to memorising the Qur’an, saying his mother had been one of his strongest sources of encouragement while his passion continued to drive his preparation.

Nasarawa claimed the overall female title through Shafa’atu Jibril Ibrahim, who won the 60 Hizb female category.

Jibril said the achievement carried a responsibility to encourage other Muslim girls to pursue Qur’anic learning.

She added that competing alongside women from different parts of Nigeria deepened her appreciation of the commitment young women were devoting to memorisation.

Zamfara records most podium finishes

Although Zamfara did not produce either of the overall winners, it recorded the highest number of podium finishes across the six categories.

The state won the 40 Hizb female category, finished second in the 20 Hizb male and 60 Hizb male categories and placed third in the 20 Hizb female category.

Jigawa, Kano and Nasarawa also secured first place in different categories, while Abuja FCT finished second in the 60 Hizb female category.

Other category winners and podium finishers received cash prizes ranging from ₦2 million to ₦700,000, depending on their positions and categories.

In addition to the cash prizes, all male and female contestants who finished first to third in the three memorisation categories were awarded Umrah, courtesy of the Charge d’Affaires and Cultural Attaché of the Saudi Embassy.

Tafsir takes centre stage

One of the organisers, Sheikh Sufyan Abdullah, said the introduction of Tafsir was a defining feature of the competition.

He explained that the initiative was designed to address a gap where some Qur’an memorizers could recite large portions of the Qur’an without necessarily understanding their meanings.

“The wisdom behind it is that many of our Qur’an memorisers used to memorise the Holy Qur’an off head but they don’t know even the meaning of one word,” Abdullah said.

He said Tafsir was compulsory for male and female contestants in all categories to encourage deeper understanding and application of Qur’anic teachings.

According to Abdullah, the approach was expected to contribute to the character, conduct and intellectual development of young people.

He also described the competition as one of the initiatives supported by Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to promote Qur’anic learning among Muslim communities.

Abdullah said 22 states participated in the second edition and expressed hope that the remaining states would join subsequent editions.

Saudi Arabia highlights wider purpose

The Deputy Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Nigeria, Ustadh AbdurRahman bin AbdulLateef Al Tuwaem, said the significance of the competition went beyond the prizes.

He told the contestants that taking part in the competition was itself an achievement and urged them to maintain their relationship with the Qur’an and allow its guidance to shape their lives.

Al Tuwaem thanked the Cultural Attaché Office, teachers, parents and others who supported the contestants and prayed for Allah’s blessings on the participants.

He also linked the initiative to broader efforts supported by Saudi Arabia’s leadership to promote Qur’anic learning among Muslim communities.

Beyond memorisation

The Assistant Commissioner of Police and Chief Imam of the Nigeria Police Force, Dr Al Hassan Yakub, stressed the need for contestants to translate Qur’anic knowledge into conduct.

He said the significance of the programme went beyond recitation, with understanding and application forming essential parts of the Qur’an’s message.

According to Yakub, applying Qur’anic teachings could promote peace, togetherness and understanding, while Nigeria would benefit when young people combined Qur’anic knowledge with the values derived from it.

The Chairman of the Edo State Musabaqah, Oba Aliyu Kelvin Danesi II, the Aidonogie of South Ibie Kingdom, said the competition provided young people with an avenue to study the Qur’an beyond memorisation.

He said its value lay not only in committing verses to memory but also in internalising their teachings and allowing them to influence conduct.

Danesi linked the emphasis on Qur’anic teachings to social challenges facing young people, saying Islamic values and moral education could promote responsible behaviour.

The Secretary General of the Ogun State Muslim Council and Secretary of the Forum of State Coordinators of Musabaqah, Asiwaju Kamaldeen Akintunde, said the addition of Tafsir had broadened the purpose of the competition.

“This competition has the potential to encourage memorisers of the Holy Qur’an to go beyond just memorisation,” Akintunde said.

He said the benefits extended beyond prizes and monetary rewards, adding that although Ogun State did not win one of the major prizes, the result would encourage its contestants and teachers to prepare harder for future editions.

Wamakko urges contestants to live by Qur’an

The special guest of honour, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, the Sarkin Yamman Sokoto, urged contestants to keep revising the Qur’an and reflecting on its teachings.

“The greatest honour is not simply memorising the Qur’an, but living by it,” Wamakko said.

He prayed for continued friendship between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia, alongside peace, unity and prosperity in Nigeria.

Ogun contestant wins Umrah

Ustaz Ibrohim Adekola Abdulgafar, a 19 year old contestant from Ogun State who competed in the category covering the complete Qur’an, delivered the closing recitation and was also awarded Umrah based on the judges’ recommendation.

The award came with a condition that he complete the Tafsir section from where he stopped and undergo a further assessment.

Abdulgafar, who also participated in the inaugural edition, said he intensified his preparation after learning about this year’s competition only two to three weeks before it began.

He said the prize would be particularly meaningful because it would be his first visit to Makkah.

“My message to them is they should not give up at all. They should keep preparing and keep making dua,” Abdulgafar said.

Dignitaries attend closing ceremony

Dignitaries at the closing ceremony included the Saudi Ambassador to Nigeria, the Cultural Attaché and other officials of the Saudi Embassy.

Also present were Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, former Governor of Sokoto State and member of the National Assembly; Oba Aliyu Kelvin Danesi II, Chairman of the Edo State Musabaqah Committee; and state coordinators whose states participated in the competition.

– With additional information from As Salam Magazine.

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