The 34th National Qur’an Recitation Competition ended on Sunday, January 4 2020 and I had the privilege of watching proceedings from a vantage point. Below are 13 points from the event which should be of interest to Nigerian Muslims.
The Centre for Islamic Studies of Usmanu Dan Fodiyo University is the brainchild of this programme and the first competition took place in Sokoto in 1986. Yesterday’s event was the 34th for male competitors and 28th for female participants.
The just concluded edition was the second of such hosted by Lagos – the first being in 1992. Oyo (1989) and Ogun (1996) were the only other two hosts from SW Nigeria.
The event confirms Kano as the home of the Qur’an in Nigeria. The first five editions of the male events were won by delegates from Kano State (1986-1990), while four of the first five of the female editions were also won by girls from Kano State.
Kano alone has won 12 of the 33 male editions held before now, while Kano girls have also won 11 of the previous 27 female versions.
Amina is the commonest name among girl winners over the years (four out of 27). While there is no dominant name among the male winners (Muhammad x2 and Ahmad x2), by the time middle and surnames are factored in, then boys with Muhammad as part of their names have won the male events 11 times. (11/34).
*****WINNERS FROM NIGERIA HAVE WON THE WORLD SERIES EIGHT TIMES BETWEEN 1988 AND 2019. AND THE CURRENT (2019) WORLD CHAMPION IS ALSO A PAST WINNER OF THE NIGERIAN EVENT – MALE EVENTS ONLY.
Winners from Nigeria have taken 2nd position in the World Series 13 times between 1988 and 2019.
And winners from Nigeria have taken 3rd position in the world editions three times between 1988 and now. These last three points show not just the quality of the Nigerian events, but that of the Judges as well.
352 children took part in the Lagos event with the youngest boy being six years’ old. The youngest girl was eight years’ old.
The winner of the 34th edition – male event – is ‘Umar Kabir from Kaduna State while Kano – as usual – clinched the female event through Diya’atu AbdulKadir Sanni . She became the 12th winner from Kano in the female editions. That’s 12 out of 28.
No state outside of northern Nigeria has ever won the competition, but if it’s any consolation to the Yorubas, then Kwara has won the male event once (in 1999).
Lagos won six out of the sixty prizes on offer across the six categories for males and females.
And Oyo State has the bragging rights of fielding the youngest reciter – six years’ old child prodigy who took part in the 40 Hizb (2/3rd) category. He is actually an Haafidh (complete memoriser), but yet to attain the maturity to take part in the 60 Hizb (whole Qur’an) category.
In addition to excellence of recitation, the competitions measure theoretical and practical application of tajweed, understanding of the meanings of selected verses and tafseer (explanations) of same. In essence, the winners are not just excellent reciters but potential scholars with reasonable knowledge of the language of the Qur’an.
A brand new car for each, a trip to ‘Umrah for themselves and their parents, as well as scholarships – are just part of the endless chain of rewards for the overall male and female winners.
I am aware that the amount of money spent on organising these competitions has attracted attentions in certain quarters, but personally, I was delighted to see a Muslim event give rewards which are at par with Big Brother Nigeria.
Yours truly shed tears of joy as the winners were unveiled – and then cloaked as champions.
May Allah’s baaraka remain with these children and everyone connected with this programme.
