Winners emerge at Hadith memorisation competition in Abuja

Winners have emerged in the second edition of the Hadith memorisation competition organised by the King Mohammed VI Foundation of African Oulema, Morocco.

The competition, held recently at the conference hall of the National Mosque, Abuja, saw victors emerge across three categories, each receiving plaques and cash rewards in recognition of their efforts.

In the first category, which involved memorising 40 hadiths, Fatima Huseini Turbo from Borno State claimed the grand prize of N250,000.

Mohammed Muhammad Ibrahim and Abubakar Kabir Abba, also from Borno, took second and third positions, winning N200,000 and N150,000 respectively.

In the second category, requiring the memorisation of 35 hadiths, Saleh Ishaq Al-amin (Borno), Ahmed Abdul-Aziz Kolawole (Kwara), and Khalifa Ibrahim Jubril (Kaduna) secured first, second and third places with the same cash rewards.

The third category, involving memorisation of 25 hadiths, was won by Abdulkadir Abubakar (Kaduna), Abdurrahman Abubakar Ibrahim (Borno), and Ibrahim Muhammad Husaini (Borno).

Dr Abdulganiyu Tijani, a member of the panel of judges, told the media that the competition was organised for the benefit of all African countries.

He noted Nigeria’s prominence in Quran memorisation and stressed that the main aim is to instill the knowledge of hadiths as a way of life for participants.

He said: “The main objective of this competition is not the money they are winning, but the knowledge and the memorisation of the Sunnah and the Hadiths of our beloved Prophet. Nigeria today is regarded as number one in Africa in memorisation of the Quran. However, we have not been focusing on the Hadiths of the Prophet.

 “The first category involves memorising 40 hadiths. The second category covers 35 hadiths along with the chain of narration and meanings of important words. The third category includes memorising 25 hadiths with the chain and the Islamic rulings in those hadiths. Alhamdulillah, we have just completed it.”

Professor Ibrahim Maqari, a member of the organising committee and one of the coordinators, revealed that the next phase involves preparing the winners for the continental competition.

He explained that the winners will be camped and mentored to address any lapses in their presentations.

 “We are going to prepare them. There will be a camp where they will be mentored on the lapses observed during their presentations,” Professor Maqari said.

The winners expressed gratitude to the organisers and pledged to represent Nigeria well at the continental level. Approximately 560 participants competed in the event.