Following the successful launch of the 10th Annual Quran Memorization Competition on Friday, organizers have announced that the competition will be heading to the Western Cape on Saturday the 7th March. The regional rounds officially commence a week earlier in Kwazulu Natal, on the 28th February.

South African National Quran Committee (SANQC) national coordinator, Maulana Mohammad Seedat said the competition was initially instituted to ensure that students who have or are currently attempting to become Hafith, are able to maintain their revision of the Holy Quran.

“Alghamdullilah in South Africa we are so fortunate with so many Hufath, and this is why we stress the importance that the revising of the Quran is done on a continuous basis,” he stated.

The regional rounds are seen as the first phase of the competition, and winners in each of the provinces will subsequently proceed to the national finals. The winners thereof will travel to the holy city of Makkah to participate in the 37th Annual King Abdul Aziz International Quran Memorization Competition.

“Basically this is phase one for the students treading this path of the memorization competition, to ultimately make their way to Makkah. Alghamdullilah last year we had a very successful result, where one of our students from the Western Cape took first position in the 5 Juz category (in Makkah),” he noted.

The competition will be divided into four separate categories for 1, 5 and 15 Juz memorization, as well as the full Quraan. The 1 Juz category will have an age limit of 12, while the overall age limit for the other categories is 24. There will however be no limit for how many participants may enter the competition.

A monetary prize will be awarded to winners in both the regional and national rounds. Furthermore, the winners nationally will receive an all expenses paid trip to Makkah, to participate in the King Abdul Aziz International Competition.

“The King Abdul Aziz International Quran Memorization competition on international standards is probably the highest in terms of the prize for the Full Quraan category, which is in the region of a share of 1 million Saudi riyals,” explained.

Those seeking to enter may do so by registering online via the website www.alquran.co.za. A registration cutoff date for the Western Cape has been set for the 6th March.

The Western Cape leg of the regionals will take place from 8:30am on the 7th March, at the DQA offices in Athlone. For more information, contact regional coordinators Sheikh Zaid Dante and Sheikh Saleem Gabie, at 084 261 2376 and 072 141 7977. VOC (Mubeen Banderker)