The Quranic memorizer in 21st century Nigeria

Transforming the persona of the Quranic memorizer (Alaramma) to earn him the honor and recognition he deserves, towards enhancing and sustaining the quality of research, memorization and teaching of the Holy Book, in the face of the emerging challenges of today’s Nigeria, formed the fulcrum of the 1st National Conference on Alarammomi (Quranic memorizers) organized […]

Transforming the persona of the Quranic memorizer (Alaramma) to earn him the honor and recognition he deserves, towards enhancing and sustaining the quality of research, memorization and teaching of the Holy Book, in the face of the emerging challenges of today’s Nigeria, formed the fulcrum of the 1st National Conference on Alarammomi (Quranic memorizers) organized by the Centre for Quranic Studies (CQS) of the Bayero University, Kano (BUK), on Saturday, Dec. 10.

The maiden conference, organized in conjunction with Sheikh Muhammad Rabiu Foundation, had as its theme: The Challenges of Quran Memorizers in the 21st Century, also witnessed the launching of the maiden edition CQS’s Al-Maher Journal of Quranic Studies. Professor Ibrahim Muhammad is the Director of the CQS while business mogul and henchman of the Tijjaniyya Movement in Africa, Alhaji Ishaq Rabiu, is the Chairman of the Foundation.

 About 1200 Alarammomi drawn from the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory converged for the conference, which had in attendance Quranic scholars (Goni), educationists, Professors Hafizu Abubakar (Kano State Deputy Governor) Ambassador Dandatti Abdulkadir (former Vice Chancellor of BUK), Muhammad Sani Zaharaddin (Chief Imam of Kano an former Vice Chancellor of BUK), Abubakar Mustapha (former Vice Chancellor of the University of Maiduguri), Muhammad Yahuza Bello (Vice Chancellor, BUK), business mogul and Chairman of Sheikh Muhammad Rabiu Foundation, Khadimul Qur’an, Alhaji Ishaq Rabiu, among numerous others.

Ambassador (Prof) Dandatti Abdulkadir was flabbergasted by the huge convergence of memorizers and scholars of the Holy Quran of its kind, not only in the university but the entire country, saying, “I hope it will be sustained as a yearly event.”

Equally amazed was Professor Muhammad Sani Zaharaddin, the Chief Imam of Kano and Chairman of the CQS Advisory Committee, who described the event as historical, saying, “I hope from next year it will be organized as a yearly international event, inviting the participation of memorizers and scholars from all the Nigeria’s neighbouring countries and such other majority-Muslim countries as Egypt and Turkey.”

He described the conference as a sensitization exercise to make Quran memorizers in Nigeria appreciate the magnitude of their roles in teaching the children the Holy Quran for proper upbringing as righteous Muslims and patriotic Nigerians. “It is aimed at making the Alarammoni realize their responsibilities and go with the times,” he concluded.

For Professor Abubakar Mustapha, since the National Policy on Education allows people to study and obtain degrees and even become professors in the Nigerian languages, especially the three mainly-spoken ones – Hausa, Yoruba and Ibo, it should provide the opportunity for the Alaramma to study and acquire degrees and attain lofty scholastic heights in Quranic studies in the three languages without having to obtain any pass in English at whatever level of education.

The Vice Chancellor of BUK, Professor Muhammad Yahuza Bello, expressing a similar view, decried the situation where a secondary school-leaving West African School Certificate (WASC) failure is qualified to contest elections or qualify for ventures requiring the presentation of secondary school-leaving certificate in Nigeria because he has a certificate; in spite of the fact he is a certificated failure, but an Alaramma, who is tremendously educated in the Quran, cannot do so, because he has no certificate to present to qualify him for such ventures.

He called for the creation of the opportunity for the Alaramma to acquire certificates in Quranic studies in the educational system of the country to qualify him for employment by government establishments and or other ventures.

 

Kano State Deputy Governor, Professor Hafizu Abubakar, who represented Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, called the Federal Government to recognize Quranic and Islamic Education Boards in the states as it does, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and the states Universal Basic Education Boards in terms of funding to enhance the quality of Quranic and Islamic education.

Goni Yahuza Danzarga, the Chairman of the Kano State Quranic and Islamiyya Schools Management Board, dwelt on the need for the Alaramma and Quranic scholar of today’s Nigeria to acquire skills to enable them fend for themselves sufficiently to prevent from begging, which stigmatized their personalities in the society over the decades.

“The story is told of an Alaramma who went to a rich man in Kano City a long time ago to borrow him some money, promising him that he would pay him as soon as he was paid for his embroidery (Kwado da linzami). This showed that the Alaramma was proud of being self-reliant to fend for himself instead of going around begging,” he narrated, stating, “We want to hear such stories about today’s Alarammomi.”

For Dr. Aminu Isma’il Sagagi, “Today’s Alaramma should appreciate and key into government’s programs. Most Alarammomi are scared of government intervention in the tradition system of Quranic and Islamic education. They don’t see government as sincere in discharging its responsibilities. This is why they don’t accept government interference. I remind Alarammomi that we are no more under colonial administration. Now our leaders are our fellow Muslims. Alarammomi should now cooperate with such establishments as Quranic and Islamic Education Boards. The Chairman of the Kano State Board (goni Yahuza Danzarga) is a renowned Alaramma.”

The Director of the CQS, Professor Ibrahim Muhammad, praised government for its support so far for Quranic and Islamic education.

 

“We have to be sincere in our assessment of government’s support. It has done a lot, and it is still doing so,” he observed, saying, “I think what the government needs now is the collaboration and support of the Alarammomi in pursuing the integration of Quranic system into the western system of education. This university (BUK) which established this centre (CQS) is owned by the Federal Government. Even the fact that it has given us the support and freedom to organize this programme is sufficient evidence of the government’s support for Quranic education and how the two systems can be successfully integrated.”

 

 

Sheikh Ishaq Rabiu launched the Al-Maher Journal of Quranic Studies with N2 million.