QUR’AAN COMPETITION WINNER: MY LIFE IS THE QUR’AAN

Cape town, 11 Dzulqa’dah 1436/26 August 2015 (MINA) – A medical student, Hafidh Mohammed Sheik, has clinched the first position in the South African National Qur’aan Competition finals.

The Cape Town based, KZN born Sheik is no stranger to the contest having made his first attempt at the challenge in 2009. This Saturday, his sustained efforts paid off when he walked off with top honours in the prestigious competition.

Coming first in a Qur’aan recital competition is indeed a grand achievement as he will represent his country in King Abdul Aziz International Qur’aan Recital competition in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

Speaking to Cii News quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting, the soft spoken Hafiz expressed his gratitude to his family, saying it has been his pillar of strength.

“I think basically my family got involved in making time for the Qur’aan, small activities that we do and encouraging me listen to the Qur’aan,” he said.

The Haafiz who completed his memorisation in 2005, despite his ongoing study commitments says the Qur’aan remains a vital element in his life.

He explained how he balances between his studies and hifz:

“I think I should give gratitude to my parents who instilled this affection to the Qur’aan from a very young age and even through this very hectic studying schedule, I always make time to recite the Qur’aan.

“When I am walking to and from the campus I am constantly reciting the Qur’aan,” he said.

Sheik, who participated in the full Qur’aan reciting category shrugged off competition from three other contestants in a category adjudged by top Qur’aan tutors in the country.

The competition which has been running for 10 years has been hailed for improving extensively since its inception.

More Qur’aan, less nasheed

Presenting judges report and analysis on the completion, renowned Qur’aan tutor, Qari Ayyub Essak however bemoaned the lack of desire to memorise the holy book by the younger generation.

He said many youths are now fixated with becoming nasheed artists rather than studying the book of Allah.

“The competition is an opportunity to promote the recital of the Qur’aan, however there’s has been a shift among the youth from the Qur’aan where many youths are focusing in nasheeds than studying Qur’aan,” he said.

A guest speaker from Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Habib al-Harith, Secretary General of Commission for the Introduction to Islam praised the level of Qur’aan recital in South Africa, saying the miracle of the Qur’aan continues to spread across the universe.

“Need to spread the word the word of Islam and need to cleanse our hearts as the Qur’aan is light, guidance, constitution and path to be followed.

“We need to understand if we followed the Qur’aan it will soften our hearts and it would make us people who are free from hatred and bad qualities and it would make us people who love peace as indeed Islam stands for peace,” said Al-Harith.

The 10th National Qur’aan finals were held at Nizamiye masjid in Midrand, South Africa and were hosted by well-known Islamic scholar Mufti Ismail Menk, and were attended by hundreds in an event broadcast on Islamic media across the country.(T/R05/R03)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)