Cape Town has again proven that when it comes to the recitation of the Quran, we have a pool of local talent. Two of the winners of 9th National Quraan Memorisation Competition held at Nizameye Masjid in Midrand on Saturday come from the Mother City. Adeeb Harneker took first place with the recitation of the full Quran, while fellow Capetonian Ighsaan Bassadien, took first position in the 5 Juz category. The winner of the 10 Juz Category was Muhammad Bhamjee from Mpumalanga.

The competition saw a total of 18 participants and included some of the top hifz students from across South Africa, who demonstrated their ability to recite by memory from randomly selected sections of the Quran to the competition panel.

On average, each student recited 90 verses of the Quran to a panel of three judges, including Qari Ayub Ishaq, Qari Basheer Ahmed Patel and Qari Rasheed Ahmed Dabelia – all of whom are from the most senior reciters of the Quran worldwide. The three winners will take part at the International Quraan Memorisation Competition finals in Makkah.

National coordinator Basheer Patel said: “The competition was a great success and was widely broadcast. The feedback we have received was that the programme was inspiring and uplifting.”

Attendees at the event included Sheikh Khalid al Ghamidy, the imam of Masjid Khaif, Masjid Nabawi, Quba and Masjid al Haram in Makkah; the Basic Education deputy minister, Anver Surtee, Mohammed Almadhi, Ambassador of the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, representatives from the Religious Attaché of the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, members of the diplomatic corps and senior leaders of the Muslim Community.

“We ask the listeners to make dua for us to continue to carry on the work of trying to revive and motivate our youth to learn the Quran,” said Patel.

 The competition was sponsored by Absa Islamic Bank for the fourth year running.

“Absa Islamic Banking has a clear sense of its business purpose – to help individuals, communities and businesses prosper and grow. We are proud to be associated with the National Quraan Memorisation Competition, as it holds a special place in the heart of the community which Absa serves,” said Uwaiz Jassat, acting head of Absa Islamic Banking.

In 2012 the first independent research into the attitudes and behaviours of Muslims related to Islamic Banking was conducted in South Africa by TNS Surveys. The research revealed the importance that Muslim parents place on introducing their children to the concept of Shari’ah compliant banking, the underlying principles of which are guided by the Quran and Hadith. Absa Islamic Banking sees its sponsorship of this youth focused event as a means to support the aspirations of Muslim parents.

“Absa acknowledges the personal sacrifices that these students have made to compete at such a level of excellence. They are the pride of their families and communities and the bank is committed to supporting their endeavours through this sponsorship.” VOC