Diversionary trends in AL-Musabaqat ul-Qur’aniyyah
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- Category: Philosofaith
- Written by M. U. Ndagi
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The opening ceremony of the 24th edition of the Niger State Qur’anic Recitation Competition (Al-Musabaqat ul-Qur’aniyyah) took place at Agaie on Monday 10th August 2009. I was privileged to be the guest speaker at the occasion. Some of the critical issues raised in the speech centered on the distractive dimensions that are trying to undermine the sanctity of the event at all levels of the contest. This column finds it relevant to share the discourse of the speech with readers.
Allah (SWT) commands us to recite the Holy Qur’an in the best of manners and with the most beautiful voice. He (SWT) states in Qur’an 73:4 “…And recite the Qur’an in slow, measured rhythmic tones”. Inspired by the message of this particular verse, the Center for Islamic Studies at the Usmanu DanFodio University Sokoto (UDUS), initiated the National Qur’anic Recitation Competition in 1986. The pilot competition in the series was held in Sokoto under the auspices of the Usmanu DanFodio University Sokoto. Thereafter, the competition became an annual national event organized by the Center for Islamic Studies, UDUS.
The Al-Musabaqat ul-Qur’aniyyah is designed to among other objectives encourage Muslim youths to recite and memorize the Glorious Qur’an; forge unity and Islamic brotherhood among Muslim youths in particular and the Ummah in general; motivate youths to learn the correct recitation of the Holy Qur’an as well as its sciences in the manner it was revealed to the Prophet (SAW). The competition captures the youths as the main target group for the annual event probably because upon them lies the future of the Muslim world.
The clamor for monetary prizes by competitors and by extension their parents, is giving us some concern. A situation where a memorizer (hafiz), out of greed, hides the monetary prizes won at a competition not only from his teacher but also from his sponsors to the competition, puts the essence of Al-Musabaqat ul-Qur’aniyyah in jeopardy. Memorization, which should be for the sake of Allah (SWT), is now done for the sake of naira and kobo. Many of our youths now memorize not because Islam encourages them to do so but because of the N5 million or a Prado Jeep or a return ticket to Saudi Arabia, which awaits winning memorizers. This modern trend is most unbecoming as it undermines the cardinal objectives that prompted the introduction of the competition. We remind contesting memorizers (huffaz) of the first hadith in the forty traditions of Annawawi’s collection where Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim both relate on the authority of Umar bn al-khattab (RA) that the Prophet (SAW) said, “Actions will be judged (and rewarded) according to the intention that prompted them”. The diversionary trends, perhaps, are responsible for Nigeria’s inability to win any prize for the first time in her history of participating at the international level from the 2007 international competition in Saudi Arabia.
In 2003, one of the Nigerian contingents to the international event of the competition in Saudi Arabia refused (with the support of his father who had accompanied him from Nigeria) to present the prize of a bank cheque (in Saudi Riyals) he had won to Nigerian officials. The competitor’s father claimed it was his son’s personal property. A governor from one of the northern states had to pay the organizers (from his pocket) the percentage that was due to them from the monetary prize. Another case in point is the indecent attitude of a bad-tempered parent whose son had won a television set in Al-Musabaqat ul-Qur’aniyyah. He went to the house of the official who was keeping the TV set for a formal award ceremony and demanded that it should be given to him without delay. The official who was at the point of taking his wife (that was in labor) to the hospital pleaded to the man to come back later. But the ‘unreasonable’ father of the winner of the TV set said the official may go to the hospital after giving him the TV set. This is why in our view; the nature of the prizes requires a re-examination by the organizers. We would be helping these young memorizers more if the prizes to be won are in the form of scholarships to enable them study up to graduate levels in the university.
It is with dismay we observe at this juncture that Al-Musabaqat ul-Qur’aniyyah has not paid adequate attention to the roles played by teachers of competing memorizers. The huffaz couldn’t have become what they are without the sacrifice of time and efforts by their teachers. Imam Bukhari reports that the Prophet (SAW) said, “The best among you is he who learned the Holy Qur’an and teaches it”. Thus, teachers of the memorizers are best among mankind. This is why, in our opinion, we consider it appropriate that teachers of the competing memorizers should be part of the prizes to be won at Al-Musabaqat ul-Qur’aniyyah. In truth, the teachers really have more need to some of the prizes.
We conclude by suggesting to the organizers of Al-Musabaqat ul-Qur’aniyyah to widen its scope to include exhibition of the legacies of our foremost scholars. This may include manuscript copies of the Holy Qur’an, their unpublished works and other calligraphic materials that would give the present generation of scholars as well as students of Arabic and Islamic sciences an insight in to the beautiful writings of our past scholars. It is our hope that organizers of this competition will look critically in to all the issues highlighted here to preserve the essence for which the competition was instituted.
Welcome Ramadan
Having started the moon that prompted the start of Ramadan fast, this column wishes the entire Ummah in all parts of the world a peaceful and memorable Ramadan. May Allah (SWT) guide us towards the full advantage and utilize the golden opportunities offered by this glorious month, amin.
Articles
Diversionary trends in AL-Musabaqat ul-Qur’aniyyah
Category: Philosofaith Written by M. U. Ndagi Hits: 1076
The opening ceremony of the 24th edition of the Niger State Qur’anic Recitation Competition (Al-Musabaqat ul-Qur’aniyyah) took place at Agaie on Monday 10th August 2009. I was privileged to be the guest speaker at the occasion. Some of the critical issues raised in the speech centered on the distractive dimensions that are trying to undermine the sanctity of the event at all levels of the contest. This column finds it relevant to share the discourse of the speech with readers.
Allah (SWT) commands us to recite the Holy Qur’an in the best of manners and with the most beautiful voice. He (SWT) states in Qur’an 73:4 “…And recite the Qur’an in slow, measured rhythmic tones”. Inspired by the message of this particular verse, the Center for Islamic Studies at the Usmanu DanFodio University Sokoto (UDUS), initiated the National Qur’anic Recitation Competition in 1986. The pilot competition in the series was held in Sokoto under the auspices of the Usmanu DanFodio University Sokoto. Thereafter, the competition became an annual national event organized by the Center for Islamic Studies, UDUS.
The Al-Musabaqat ul-Qur’aniyyah is designed to among other objectives encourage Muslim youths to recite and memorize the Glorious Qur’an; forge unity and Islamic brotherhood among Muslim youths in particular and the Ummah in general; motivate youths to learn the correct recitation of the Holy Qur’an as well as its sciences in the manner it was revealed to the Prophet (SAW). The competition captures the youths as the main target group for the annual event probably because upon them lies the future of the Muslim world.
The clamor for monetary prizes by competitors and by extension their parents, is giving us some concern. A situation where a memorizer (hafiz), out of greed, hides the monetary prizes won at a competition not only from his teacher but also from his sponsors to the competition, puts the essence of Al-Musabaqat ul-Qur’aniyyah in jeopardy. Memorization, which should be for the sake of Allah (SWT), is now done for the sake of naira and kobo. Many of our youths now memorize not because Islam encourages them to do so but because of the N5 million or a Prado Jeep or a return ticket to Saudi Arabia, which awaits winning memorizers. This modern trend is most unbecoming as it undermines the cardinal objectives that prompted the introduction of the competition. We remind contesting memorizers (huffaz) of the first hadith in the forty traditions of Annawawi’s collection where Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim both relate on the authority of Umar bn al-khattab (RA) that the Prophet (SAW) said, “Actions will be judged (and rewarded) according to the intention that prompted them”. The diversionary trends, perhaps, are responsible for Nigeria’s inability to win any prize for the first time in her history of participating at the international level from the 2007 international competition in Saudi Arabia.
In 2003, one of the Nigerian contingents to the international event of the competition in Saudi Arabia refused (with the support of his father who had accompanied him from Nigeria) to present the prize of a bank cheque (in Saudi Riyals) he had won to Nigerian officials. The competitor’s father claimed it was his son’s personal property. A governor from one of the northern states had to pay the organizers (from his pocket) the percentage that was due to them from the monetary prize. Another case in point is the indecent attitude of a bad-tempered parent whose son had won a television set in Al-Musabaqat ul-Qur’aniyyah. He went to the house of the official who was keeping the TV set for a formal award ceremony and demanded that it should be given to him without delay. The official who was at the point of taking his wife (that was in labor) to the hospital pleaded to the man to come back later. But the ‘unreasonable’ father of the winner of the TV set said the official may go to the hospital after giving him the TV set. This is why in our view; the nature of the prizes requires a re-examination by the organizers. We would be helping these young memorizers more if the prizes to be won are in the form of scholarships to enable them study up to graduate levels in the university.
It is with dismay we observe at this juncture that Al-Musabaqat ul-Qur’aniyyah has not paid adequate attention to the roles played by teachers of competing memorizers. The huffaz couldn’t have become what they are without the sacrifice of time and efforts by their teachers. Imam Bukhari reports that the Prophet (SAW) said, “The best among you is he who learned the Holy Qur’an and teaches it”. Thus, teachers of the memorizers are best among mankind. This is why, in our opinion, we consider it appropriate that teachers of the competing memorizers should be part of the prizes to be won at Al-Musabaqat ul-Qur’aniyyah. In truth, the teachers really have more need to some of the prizes.
We conclude by suggesting to the organizers of Al-Musabaqat ul-Qur’aniyyah to widen its scope to include exhibition of the legacies of our foremost scholars. This may include manuscript copies of the Holy Qur’an, their unpublished works and other calligraphic materials that would give the present generation of scholars as well as students of Arabic and Islamic sciences an insight in to the beautiful writings of our past scholars. It is our hope that organizers of this competition will look critically in to all the issues highlighted here to preserve the essence for which the competition was instituted.
Welcome Ramadan
Having started the moon that prompted the start of Ramadan fast, this column wishes the entire Ummah in all parts of the world a peaceful and memorable Ramadan. May Allah (SWT) guide us towards the full advantage and utilize the golden opportunities offered by this glorious month, amin.