Gov el-Rufa’i, agric minister, Sultan, other emirs, politicians honour young Abdul Rahman
|By Abubakar Ibrahim
For the Nurut Tilawah International School, Zaria, and young Abdul Rahman Shehu Abdul Rahman, this week, precisely Sunday, would forever be a day to remember.
On that day, Abdul Rahman, who bears the second name of his father, the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Lafia (FULafia), along with others in the school, were celebrated in an event that gathered the top echelon of the Muslim community from the northern part of the country.
The children, whose ages ranged between 12 and 18, were grandiosely and in a festival-like style celebrated and honoured for their ability to memorise the Muslims Qur’an in its entirety.
The Qur’an is the Islamic sacred book dictated to Prophet Muhammad (SAW) by the archangel Gabriel and written down in Arabic. The Qur’an consists of 114 units of varying lengths, known as suras.
The Qur’an touches upon all aspects of human existence, including matters of doctrine, social organisation and legislation.
The celebration of the Qur’anic memorisers took place in the foremost state of the North, Kaduna, and in the city of the state famously acclaimed for its intellectualism – Zaria.
Unsurprisingly, the event, led by the leader of Muslims in Nigeria, Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’adu Abubakar, had in attendance from the political class, the present and immediate past governors of Kaduna State, Nasiru el-Rufa’i and Ramalan Yero, respectively, the Minister of State for Agriculture, Alhaji Baba Shehuri, and former governor of Zamfara State, Ahmed Sani, Yeriman Bakura.
From the royals there were the Emir of Zazzau, HRH Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, Sarkin Zamfaran Anka, from Zamfara State, HRH Attahiru Mohammed Ahmed, Mai Bade, Alhaji Abubakar Umar Suleiman and Mai Fune, Alhaji Saleh Idris, from Yobe State, while the clerics were led by the famous Dr Umar Sani Rijiyar Lemu.
In his speech, the sultan called on the Muslims to accord importance to the teachings of Islamic and devote more time to learning how to read, understand and memorise the glorious Qur’an.
He, equally, called on rich Muslims to support Islam and use their resources for evangelical purposes, saying: “Whoever helps the religion of Allah, the Almighty will assist and protect him.
“Build more Islamic schools in Nigeria for the benefit of those who are eager to learn more about the religion,” said Bamalli, the emir of Zazzau, adding that the Nurut Tilawah International School, Zaria, “is undoubtedly, a source of pride to the people of my emirate.”
Bamalli called on parents to encourage their children to acquire Islamic education in the same way they showed commitment to the western education, saying that children need Islamic education to lead pious life on earth and gain Allah’s favour in the Hereafter.
In his remark, the chairman of the occasion, Yeriman Bakura, appealed to Muslims to spend their wealth in bid to please Allah, saying that “if Allah rewards you with wealth, spend your wealth in ways to promote His religion.”
Speaking on behalf of other parents, the vice-chancellor of FULafia thanked dignitaries and others who have attended the occasion to celebrate with them, praying Allah to return them home safely.
The memorable gathering was climaxed with the presentation of gifts to the young Qur’anic memorisers by the emirs and other dignitaries present.