Monday, February 28, 2011
The new prizes for the much anticipated Quranic Recitation Competition initiated and sponsored by the president of the Republic were announced Friday at State House in Banjul. The announcement was made at a meeting His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh President Jammeh held with top echelons of the Gambia Supreme Islamic Council (SIC) who are serving as the implementers of the initiative.
The first prize of the competition has now been raised from D500, 000 as previously announced, to D1 million; while the second and third prizes are now D500, 000 and D250, 000 respectively. The D1 million cash prize for the first winner of the competition and a cash amount of D200, 000 for administrative costs were presented to the members of the SIC (the implementers) during the meeting. Meanwhile, the organising committee is also expecting a vehicle today [Monday] to ease the constraints of transportation.
The competition, which is expected to showcase the knowledge and excellence of the different categories of the nation’s Islamic scholars, will now be organised monthly; and will start on the first Friday of every month in-line with the traditional Islamic religious norms of Quranic recitation.
In a similar but separate development, the Gambian leader’s new title honour “Nasirul-Deen’ an Arabic term meaning ‘supporter of Islam’ awarded to him during a recent Gamo at State House was also officially announced during Friday’s religious meeting.
Speaking at the occasion, President Jammeh underscored the significance of the Quranic recitation competition, while noting that he deemed it prudent to contribute to this domain in view of the fact that he has done it to other areas like sports, education and so on. He stressed that it is his duty as a Muslim to contribute further to the propagation and empowerment of the Islamic religion in such a fashion with a view to boosting the knowledge and spirit of the Islamic scholars. He said: “If you build a mosque, anyone who would lead it must be an Imam and that cannot be one without knowledge. So I realised that I have initiated a lot of competitions in the country, but a competition that is more meaningful to a human being is the one in the knowledge of God. This is why I thought it significant to bring a competition for the recitation of the Holy Quran.”
The Gambian leader explained that he initially wanted the competition to take place every three months, but was quick to realise that this was not enough, and thus proposed to the implementers that it should be organised monthly. He explained that this will give chance to a broad spectrum of participants and also ensure that all the age groups partake in it. The president also observed that the monthly organisation of the initiative will further enable the SIC to be more engaged with regards to their work in the administration of Islam in this country. “I want a competition for those going to school – 19 years below; I want those also from 19-35 years; and I want also even the imams. So if we do it every month, everyone will participate,” he stated.
The president further stated that he cannot set out the rules or criteria for the competition, adding that the task has been assigned to the Gambia SIC. He made it clear that he can only provide the resources for the competition, while the rest will be carried out by the nation’s Islamic body. He also advised the SIC to appoint a board committee to steer the affairs of the competition. The Gambian leader opined that the prizes that will be won by lucky individuals at the end of each competition would go a long way in addressing their personal and development needs. He added that a lucky winner with the intention of establishing a “Madarasa” [Arabic school] or even build a house would be able to do so through this initiative.
Speaking earlier, the minister of Justice, Edward Gomez hailed President Jammeh for the move, and described the competition as important. The Justice minister said that the president has exemplified the way men opt to live on this earth, and has proven himself in many aspects of Gambian lives. Minister Gomez further stated that the president has done a lot for Islam, noting that not only had he performed pilgrimage to Mecca, but went the extra-mile to airlift people to the Holy City every year to perform this important pillar. He also seized the opportunity to applaud the Gambian leader for extending the same kind of generosity to the Christian community by sponsoring them to perform pilgrimages to Christian Holy cities around the world. To this end, Justice Minister Gomez hailed the religious co-existence and tolerance in the country, attributing it to the good leadership.
Also speaking at the occasion, the minister of Basic and Secondary Education, Fatou Lamin Faye lauded this latest presidential move, saying it wasn’t surprising in view of the fact that the president’s commitment to continuous empowerment of the citizenry in all spheres of human development has been ever crystal clear. Given the outstanding stance of the Gambian leader towards the propagation of Islam in this country, the Basic and Secondary Education minister, like the justice minister, reiterated that the move is not surprising.
The Information and Communication Infrastructure minister, Alhagi Cham expressed similar sentiments, and commended President Jammeh for his stance for the religion. The ministers believed that the initiative will not only go a long way in enriching the knowledge base of the scholars, but will further enhance Islamic propagation in the country.
The secretary general and head of the Civil Service, reminded the gathering that in a recent State House Gamo, the scholars had acknowledged the Gambian leader’s stance for the Islamic religion, prompting them [scholars] to honour him with another prestigious Islamic title, “Nasirul-Deen”. He stressed that this is not a title that was merely given to the Gambian leader, underscoring that it is something that he has truly worked for and earned. The SG and Civil Service boss disclosed that a press release to that effect will be officially issued to bear the name of the Gambian leader as “Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya AJJ Jammeh Nasirul-Deen.”
Reaction of the SIC
Members of the SIC, who are tasked with the implementation of the Competition, showered praises on the Gambian leader for this giant leap in the propagation of Islamic knowledge in this country. They acknowledged that the move came to them as a dream come true given the fact they have been long yearning for such an intervention as part of their work. The president of the SIC, Imam Momodou Lamin Touray on behalf of his council, the Muslims in the country and the world at large, expressed most sincere thanks and gratitude to the Gambian leader for the initiative, which he said compliment’s the efforts of the nation’s Islamic body. Like the ministers, Touray described the move as not surprising in view of the unceasing support and the importance President Jammeh attaches to Islam.
The SIC chief assured the Gambian leader that they are ready to organise the competition on a monthly basis, while further assuring him of their undivided commitment to ensure that the presidential trust and confidence bestowed on them to implement this initiative is not betrayed. Imam Touray stated that for many reasons, he does not have even a slightest shadow of doubt about the fact that President Jammeh truly loves Gambia; has a good heart; and wants peace and progress to continue prevailing in the country. He hailed the president for his many support to Muslims such as pilgrimage packages, construction of mosques in the country, gifts to Muslims during the Holy month of Ramadan, amongst a host of others. Touray added that this latest initiative by the president has confirmed that he has done it all.
Imam Mbaye Kah of the SIC also expressed similar sentiments. He explained that among the steps taken to ensure a successful competition is the identification of some Gambians to serve as judges in the competition, and the setting up of a committee amongst others. Imam Abdoulie Fatty and Imam Gibriel Kujabi, erudite scholars and members of the SIC also expressed similar sentiments, and showered praises on the president for the initiative, which they also described as not surprising to them.
The first prize of the competition has now been raised from D500, 000 as previously announced, to D1 million; while the second and third prizes are now D500, 000 and D250, 000 respectively. The D1 million cash prize for the first winner of the competition and a cash amount of D200, 000 for administrative costs were presented to the members of the SIC (the implementers) during the meeting. Meanwhile, the organising committee is also expecting a vehicle today [Monday] to ease the constraints of transportation.
The competition, which is expected to showcase the knowledge and excellence of the different categories of the nation’s Islamic scholars, will now be organised monthly; and will start on the first Friday of every month in-line with the traditional Islamic religious norms of Quranic recitation.
In a similar but separate development, the Gambian leader’s new title honour “Nasirul-Deen’ an Arabic term meaning ‘supporter of Islam’ awarded to him during a recent Gamo at State House was also officially announced during Friday’s religious meeting.
Speaking at the occasion, President Jammeh underscored the significance of the Quranic recitation competition, while noting that he deemed it prudent to contribute to this domain in view of the fact that he has done it to other areas like sports, education and so on. He stressed that it is his duty as a Muslim to contribute further to the propagation and empowerment of the Islamic religion in such a fashion with a view to boosting the knowledge and spirit of the Islamic scholars. He said: “If you build a mosque, anyone who would lead it must be an Imam and that cannot be one without knowledge. So I realised that I have initiated a lot of competitions in the country, but a competition that is more meaningful to a human being is the one in the knowledge of God. This is why I thought it significant to bring a competition for the recitation of the Holy Quran.”
The Gambian leader explained that he initially wanted the competition to take place every three months, but was quick to realise that this was not enough, and thus proposed to the implementers that it should be organised monthly. He explained that this will give chance to a broad spectrum of participants and also ensure that all the age groups partake in it. The president also observed that the monthly organisation of the initiative will further enable the SIC to be more engaged with regards to their work in the administration of Islam in this country. “I want a competition for those going to school – 19 years below; I want those also from 19-35 years; and I want also even the imams. So if we do it every month, everyone will participate,” he stated.
The president further stated that he cannot set out the rules or criteria for the competition, adding that the task has been assigned to the Gambia SIC. He made it clear that he can only provide the resources for the competition, while the rest will be carried out by the nation’s Islamic body. He also advised the SIC to appoint a board committee to steer the affairs of the competition. The Gambian leader opined that the prizes that will be won by lucky individuals at the end of each competition would go a long way in addressing their personal and development needs. He added that a lucky winner with the intention of establishing a “Madarasa” [Arabic school] or even build a house would be able to do so through this initiative.
Speaking earlier, the minister of Justice, Edward Gomez hailed President Jammeh for the move, and described the competition as important. The Justice minister said that the president has exemplified the way men opt to live on this earth, and has proven himself in many aspects of Gambian lives. Minister Gomez further stated that the president has done a lot for Islam, noting that not only had he performed pilgrimage to Mecca, but went the extra-mile to airlift people to the Holy City every year to perform this important pillar. He also seized the opportunity to applaud the Gambian leader for extending the same kind of generosity to the Christian community by sponsoring them to perform pilgrimages to Christian Holy cities around the world. To this end, Justice Minister Gomez hailed the religious co-existence and tolerance in the country, attributing it to the good leadership.
Also speaking at the occasion, the minister of Basic and Secondary Education, Fatou Lamin Faye lauded this latest presidential move, saying it wasn’t surprising in view of the fact that the president’s commitment to continuous empowerment of the citizenry in all spheres of human development has been ever crystal clear. Given the outstanding stance of the Gambian leader towards the propagation of Islam in this country, the Basic and Secondary Education minister, like the justice minister, reiterated that the move is not surprising.
The Information and Communication Infrastructure minister, Alhagi Cham expressed similar sentiments, and commended President Jammeh for his stance for the religion. The ministers believed that the initiative will not only go a long way in enriching the knowledge base of the scholars, but will further enhance Islamic propagation in the country.
The secretary general and head of the Civil Service, reminded the gathering that in a recent State House Gamo, the scholars had acknowledged the Gambian leader’s stance for the Islamic religion, prompting them [scholars] to honour him with another prestigious Islamic title, “Nasirul-Deen”. He stressed that this is not a title that was merely given to the Gambian leader, underscoring that it is something that he has truly worked for and earned. The SG and Civil Service boss disclosed that a press release to that effect will be officially issued to bear the name of the Gambian leader as “Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya AJJ Jammeh Nasirul-Deen.”
Reaction of the SIC
Members of the SIC, who are tasked with the implementation of the Competition, showered praises on the Gambian leader for this giant leap in the propagation of Islamic knowledge in this country. They acknowledged that the move came to them as a dream come true given the fact they have been long yearning for such an intervention as part of their work. The president of the SIC, Imam Momodou Lamin Touray on behalf of his council, the Muslims in the country and the world at large, expressed most sincere thanks and gratitude to the Gambian leader for the initiative, which he said compliment’s the efforts of the nation’s Islamic body. Like the ministers, Touray described the move as not surprising in view of the unceasing support and the importance President Jammeh attaches to Islam.
The SIC chief assured the Gambian leader that they are ready to organise the competition on a monthly basis, while further assuring him of their undivided commitment to ensure that the presidential trust and confidence bestowed on them to implement this initiative is not betrayed. Imam Touray stated that for many reasons, he does not have even a slightest shadow of doubt about the fact that President Jammeh truly loves Gambia; has a good heart; and wants peace and progress to continue prevailing in the country. He hailed the president for his many support to Muslims such as pilgrimage packages, construction of mosques in the country, gifts to Muslims during the Holy month of Ramadan, amongst a host of others. Touray added that this latest initiative by the president has confirmed that he has done it all.
Imam Mbaye Kah of the SIC also expressed similar sentiments. He explained that among the steps taken to ensure a successful competition is the identification of some Gambians to serve as judges in the competition, and the setting up of a committee amongst others. Imam Abdoulie Fatty and Imam Gibriel Kujabi, erudite scholars and members of the SIC also expressed similar sentiments, and showered praises on the president for the initiative, which they also described as not surprising to them.
Author: by Hatab Fadera
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