Qur’an readers romp away with plum prizes

DAVAO CITY—THREE Qur’an readers were P100,000 richer last week after emerging as champions in the annual Qur’an reading competition held in Cotabato City.

Sadhan Zacaria and Muzaher Bito, both representing the Second School District of Maguindanao (Maguindanao II), and Najaah Kadafie of Lanao del Sur II received P100,000 each for being champions in their respective category.

Zacaria was champion in Qur’an recitation, or Al-mujawwadah, and Bito in Qur’an memorization of Tahfeez, both in the male category, and Kadafie in Qur’an memorization.

Kadafie was also hailed as a Hafidha, or someone who has not only learned to read the Qur’an but has memorized and retained its verses according to the book.

The competition was the third to be organized the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE) through its Directorate General for Madaris Education (DGME).

Participants from Maguindanao del Sur and Lanao del Sur were hailed as winners of the recently concluded region-wide 3rd Qur’an recitation and memorization competition for male and female categories held here at the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex (SKCC), Bangsamoro Government Center, from January 20 to January 22.

Qur’an reading

THE annual competition is part of the Bangsamoro Government’s commitment to promote the value of Qur’an reading among the Bangsamoro people, officials said.

The champions of the competition received certificates and cash prizes worth P100,000.00 while the first placers took home P75,000.00, followed by the second placers with P50,000.00.

The following are the list of winners:

■ Qur’an recitation (Al-mujawwadah): Champion, Sadhan Zacaria (Maguindanao II); first place, Kamaroddin Zaidon (Cotabato City); and, second place, Ahmad Muhammad Nazir Asgar (Lanao del Sur II)

■ Qur’an Memorization (Tahfeez)

Male Category: Champion, Muzaher Bito (Maguindanao II); first place, Mohammad Asiddin (Basilan); and, second place, Abduljalal Hassan (Maguindanao II)

■ Qur’an Memorization (Tahfeez) Female Category: Champion, Najaah Kadafie (LDS II); first place, Rohaima Guiafar (LDS I); and, second place, Fairods Zacaria (Maguindanao II)

Way of life

NAJAAH Kadafie, 14, is from Maa’had Amal in Marantao, Lanao del Sur. Kadafie expressed her gratitude to the Bangsamoro government for allowing them the opportunity to compete.

“Maliit pa ako ay itinuro na sa akin ang Qur’an hanggang sa ito na ang nakasanayan ng aking puso,” Kadafie said. [The Qur’an was taught to me when I was still a child and it has become my way of life.]

In the awarding ceremony, Education Minister Mohagher Iqbal emphasized “the essence of promoting Qur’an literacy and teaching its recitation, and memorization to every Muslim.”