The ancient city of Ile-Ife, Osun State, South West, Nigeria, was agog on Saturday, July 30th 2022, as Rawdotu-t-Tanzeel Tahfeez and Arabic School graduated 22 full Qur’an memorisers.
The graduands, who have now gained the mastery of the rules governing recitation and memorization of the Glorious Qur’an and Islamic etiquettes, were awarded certificates of completion during the official 2nd graduation ceremony of the Qur’an memorization and I’daadiyah (Basic Education ) in Arabic and Islamic Studies.
Speaking at the event which took place at the Wura Event centre in Ile Ife, the Director of the institute, Mallam Mutiu Uthman said the school was established for the purpose of imparting Islamic knowledge into children at early stage in life.
“One of our goals for establishing this madrasah is to assist parents in teaching their children the Qur’an and Arabic education and ensure they commit it to memory.
“We also have many of our memorisers who have gained admission into various Universities home and abroad such as the reputable Al Azhar University, Egypt and even Turkiye.
According to Mallam Uthman, in addition to the Qur’an memorization classes being manned by Hufaadh (certified memorisers), the school has provisions for intensive Arabic studies with some other conventional subjects being handled by competent teachers.
“This has made some of our students to sit for WASSCE and UTME after the completion of their Qur’an and Arabic studies.
“Between 2013 and 2022, we have trained over 200 students in Qur’an recitation, memorization and Arabic studies. For this reason, on behalf of the Board of Directors, I want to appreciate the teaching and non-teaching members of staff whose commitment to the madrasah has led to today’s celebration,” he said.
The director urged all Muslim parents to expose their children to early Islamic education due to challenges posed by globalization and modernisation to the youths.
“We live in an era where technology has taken over the role of socialisation. It is very difficult to socialise the young ones into the norms and values of their parents because there are so many media of socialization like the social media, radio, television and mobile phones where they get hooked.
He advised Muslim parents to go the extra mile to ensure their children retain the Islamic identity by putting them in schools that are Islamic-friendly.
Mallam Uthman tasked them to compliment the western education of their children with Arabic learning and Qur’an memorisation, since it is becoming increasingly difficult to find Islamic-friendly schools.
The names of the graduands are; Abdullah Akorede Moyosore, Bello Fatimah Oyenihun, Alabi Muhsinah Oluwadamilola, Lukman Muhammad, Akanbi Abdullah Oluwatobiloba, Adefeso Jafar Taiwo, Adefeso Muadh Kehinde, Shuaib-Osunleke Muadh Adegbenro, Yahya Muadh Oluwatofunmi, Adebayo Abdus-Sabur Oluwatomi, Makinde Aasiyah Ibidunni, Makinde Hafsoh Motolani, Sulaymon Muhammad Aderemi.
Others are; Hamnah Wuraola Miftahudeen, AbdusSalam Ahmad Olohunnibe, Afolabi Sherifdeen Akinkunmi, Adekunle Farooq Ajibola, Abdul Lateef Summayah Adenike, Akande Ibrahim Ayodeji, Basheer Roheemah Ajoke and Oladimeji Abdulbasit Opeyemi.
In an interview with Muslim News, one of the youngest graduands, Adefeso Jafar Taiwo explained how it feels to be an Haafidh.
Taiwo believes one of the significance of memorising the Qur’an is that it serves to protect the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Prophet. He also believes that it serves as a viable means of calling people to Allah.
According to him, the studies was a full time programme which starts early in the morning and stops by Maghrib (evening) with a short break.
He said, contrary to the impression of many, memorising the Qur’an is not a difficult task.
Dignitaries at the event included, Chief Imam of Ife Land, Shaykh Abdul Hamid Abd Samii, Chief Imam Fountain University, Ustadh Sirajudeen Bakrin, Alhaji Busari Irawo – Director, Irawo Pharmaceuticals amongst others.