*Seeks continuous peaceful coexistence
*Saudi Embassy, As-sunnah Academy host Qur’an competition for youth in Ilorin
*Best reciters get cash prizes
By BILIQIS ONAOLAPO OLAJUMOKE, Ilorin
Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has said that memorisation and recitation of the Holy Qur’an greatly helps mental development in the reciters, especially young people, urging the Muslim community to never abandon constant reading and memorisarion of the holy text.
The governor spoke on Sunday in Ilorin at the closing ceremony of the Qur’an and Hadith Competition organised by the Cultural Attache Office of the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Abuja and As-Sunnah Academy of Da’awah and Research, Ilorin, Kwara State.
The competition involved six categories, each featuring brilliant reciters and memorisers of the Qur’an/Hadith.
The Governor was represented by the Secretary to the State Government Prof. Mamman Saba Jibril.
Prominent guests at the event included the Cultural Attache of the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Nigeria and Chief host Sheikh Dr. Nami Ibn Jaarillah Asshamari; Grand Kadi Kwara State Shari’ah Court of Appeal and Chairman of the occasion Justice Abdullateef Kamaldeen Al-Adabiy; State Commissioner for Education Sa’adatu Modibbo Kawu; Chief Press Secretary to the Kwara State Governor Rafiu Ajakaye; representative of the Emir of Ilorin and former Grand Kadi State Shari’ah Court of Appeal Hon Justice Idris Haroon; Danmadami Ilorin Alhaji Shehu AbdulGafar; Vice Chancellor University of Ilorin Prof Wahab Egbewole, SAN; Ag. Vice Chancellor Kwara State University Malete (KWASU), Prof Shaykh Lukman Jimoh; and Director of As-Sunnah Academy of Dawah and Research, Kwara State, Nigeria and Chairman Local Organising Committee Prof Abdulrazaq Abdulmajeed Alaro (mni).
The event was also attended by some royal fathers and leading Muslim leaders such as the Olupako of Share Oba Haroon Olawale; Olomu of Omu-Aran Oba Raheem Oladele Adeoti; and Olomu of Omupo Oba Yakubu Buari; Chief Imam Ilorin Sheikh Muhammad Bashir Soliu; Imam Imale Sheikh Abdullahi AbdulHameed; and Chairman of the Muslim Stakeholders Alhaji Abdulkareem Albarka.
The leading reciters of the day included Abdulrahman Hadiyatullahi Ismail; Ahmad Abdulsalam; Abdullateef Zakariyah; Khadijah Ajijolakewu; Zainab AbdulGafar; Naeem Abdulsalam; Usman Ayinde; Kamaldeen Suleiman; Abdulmajeed Abdullateef; Ahmad Abdulazeez; Muslimah Abdullateef; Sofiyullahi Murtadha; Maryam Abdulkareem; Maiyaki Muktar; Salimah Abubakar; Aisah Abdulrahman; Zainab Abubakar; and Ali Muhammad.
In an interview with reporters on the sideline of the event, the Governor said it was imperative for Muslim faithfuls, particularly youths, to pursue the knowledge of Qur’an and Hadith, including memorising them to advance the cause of Islam and to guide their ways of life.
AbdulRazaq described the holy book as the root and science of all knowledge and tasked the faithful to dedicate themselves to regular recitation and study of it, while congratulating the organisers and various winners of the competition for a successful host.
He pledged the commitment of his government to continue to create an atmosphere that allows for peace and religious tolerance among all faiths in the state.
Sheikh Dr. Nami Ibn Jaarullah Asshamari, for his part, said the competition was a testament of the dedication of Saudi Arabia to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His noble Messenger.
He said Saudi Arabia is committed to fostering the foundations for peaceful coexistence among the people of the world and to showcasing the true voice of Islam based on the guidance of the Quran and the Sunnah.
“Dear noble gathering, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is constantly working to serve the interests of Islam and Muslims wherever they may be. It is also committed to fostering the foundations of peaceful coexistence among the people of the world and to showcasing the true voice of Islam based on the guidance of the Quran and the Sunnah, free from all forms of extremism, excess, negligence, and decay, in line with the words of Allah, the Almighty,” he said.
He thanked the Governor and all royal fathers for creating a suitable environment for hosting the competition, and the organising committee for making the ceremony a huge success.
Justice Kamaldeen, in his opening remarks, described the gathering as a scholarly one that not only recognises the importance of Qur’an but also honours the committed memorisers, whose efforts and commitment cannot be overemphasised.
Prof Alaro said the event served to spur mental development and positive exposure, especially among the youth.
“This programme is principally organised to encourage our youths of different ages to use their God-given mental ability in positive ways. From experience, whoever Allah has blessed to memorise the complete Quran will find other things in life in terms of educational achievements easier. And it is a way of using what Allah has given you in positive ways,” he said.
“We also want to strengthen the relationship between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Some of the winners, who shared their experiences in the course of study, said it takes great sacrifice and commitment to achieve the goal, adding that a serious memoriser would recite Qur’an on a regular basis.
They said they are inspired to memorise Qur’an by the promise of a great reward of Almighty God in the hereafter.
