By Zubairu Idris
A lecturer in the Islamic Studies Department, Federal University Dutsin-Ma (FUDMA), Katsina, Sheikh Hayatu Umar, has urged youth and students to intensify efforts in memorising the Holy Qur’an to raise their status in this world and in the hereafter.
He made the call on Monday in Dutsin-Ma, at the formal inauguration of the pioneer set of students of the College of Qur’an and Qira’at (Recitation methods).
The college is an institution established for the memorisation of the Qur’an via different methods that chain back to the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him).
He quoted Imam Ibn al-Jazari as saying: “A person’s status is not raised except by what he memorised and knows from the Qur’an…”
The lecturer explained that people of the Qur’an are the nobles and the righteous people of Allah amongst mankind.
Umar, who is also among the instructors in the institution, further quoted the Prophet Muhammad, who was reported as saying: “The best amongst you is the one who learned the Qur’an and teaches others.”
He said that all the 10 recognised Qira’at (recitation) methods are equal in reward, and one is allowed to choose one to read the Qur’an with.
Another renowned scholar of Qira’at, Sheikh Muhsin Abdullahi, explained that the Prophet’s companion who used to write the Qur’an during the days of the revelation, Zaid Ibn Thabit, and other companions recorded the Qur’an in different dialects of Arabs.
Abdullahi added that the wisdom behind that was to enable Muslims to read the Qur’an with ease.
The Director of the institution, Dr Gaddafi Sani, said that the college was established to enable students to have sound memorisation and be able to read the Qur’an through different methods of recitation.
According to him, a candidate has to be interviewed before admission, and they admit only qualified ones.
In his remarks, the institution’s registrar, Malam Suleiman Abdullahi, said: “The section admits students with one-third Qur’an memorised; and they complete it within a year.
“There is also a six-months certificate course and a two-year diploma course, all for those who have already memorised the Holy Qur’an.”
The Chairman and the District Head of Dutsin-Ma, Alhaji Kabir Abdussalam-Shema and Alhaji Sada Muhammad-Sada, in their separate goodwill messages, respectively, pledged to continue supporting the institution to achieve its objective.
(NAN)
