Al Wafi Islamic Boarding School holds the third national Quran and Hadith memorization competition, aiming at meeting the needs of mosque imams in leading congregational prayers and giving sermons, especially during the month of Ramadan.

Bogor, W Java (Indonesia Window) – Al Wafi Islamic Boarding School is holding the third national Quran and Hadith memorization competition, which was opened on Tuesday and will end on March 8, 2024.

"Musabaqah (competition) for memorizing the Quran is our routine agenda to welcome the holy month of Ramadan, the month of the Quran, because in it the noble Quran was revealed," the founder of Al Wafi Islamic Boarding School foundation, Dr. Ali Saman Hasan, said in his opening remarks, at the Al Wafi Islamic Boarding School’s campus in Indonesia’s Depok city, West Java province on Tuesday.

He said that Indonesia, which has nearly 250 million Muslims and hundreds of millions of mosques, needs more and more imams to lead congregational prayers, especially during the month of Ramadan.

Therefore, he continued, Al Wafi together with the Association of Indonesian Islamic Da'wah (propagation) and Education Institutions (PULDAPII) held the event, which was participated in by 350 male and female participants from elementary school to university students across Indonesia, after going through a selection of at least 2,500 registrants.

"We hope that those who take part in this musabaqah would become mosque imams as the need of these prayer leaders continues to increase in Indonesia," Sheikh Ali Saman said, adding that this year's musabaqah is different from before as it is accompanied by a hadith memorization competition.

“This is also to meet the needs of preachers in Indonesia. They are expected to give sermons by memorizing the hadiths they have," he added.

He emphasized that preparing the golden generation of Muslims today is a big challenge, and "the risk is very high if done without the Quran, because the essence of this Islam’s holy book is noble morals."

Sheikh Ali quoted a hadith from 'Aisyah radhiallahu 'anha who was once asked about the morals of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and she answered, "His morals are the Quran."

"This is the role of Islamic education and Islamic boarding schools, namely to produce golden generations with noble characters, who contribute to the society, and are useful for their nation and country. Without the Quran, a golden generation cannot be born. The splendor and luxury of science and technology are meaningless without noble morals," he noted.

Meanwhile, the Religious and Educational Attaché of the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Jakarta, Dr. Ahmad bin Isa Al-Hazimi, in his speech welcomed the holding of the national Quran and Hadith memorization competition.

"This event is a great event," he said, while emphasizing that, "The best of you are those who study the Quran and practice it."

Dr. Al-Hazimi conveyed greetings from Saudi Ambassador to Indonesia Faisal bin Abdullah Al-Mudi, and motivate all competition participants who have studied and taught the Quran.

Encouragement to continue studying the Quran was also conveyed by the regional secretary of Depok City, Zikrullah Kamali in his speech. He hoped that the Quran and Hadith memorization competition would push Muslim generation to keep studying the Quran and practicing it in everyday life.

"The Quran is a life guide so that we are safe in this world and the afterlife," he said.

The national Quran and Hadith memorization competition is held in five categories, namely memorizing two chapters, five chapters, 10 chapters, 20 chapters and 30 chapters.

Memorizing the noble Quran, which has 30 chapters and 604 pages, are obliged for Muslims as it has religious benefits.

Reporting by Indonesia Window