Banjul Muslim Elders conduct Quranic competition

The competition, bankrolled by Africell, was held in three categories: the Hafiz, the Tabarak, and the Aamayata.

Alhaji Bai Sainey Secka, Bilal of the committee, said the event – held at the King Fahad Mosque, Banjul – was organised under the auspices of the venerable Imam Ratib of Banjul Alhaji Cherno Alieu Mass Kah.

He said one of the main aims of the event is to encourage youth of Banjul to have more interest in the Holy Quran and make efforts to learn it.

Alhaji Secka said henceforth, the Committee of Banjul Muslim Elders will institutionalise the competition by making it an annual event, every Ramadan.

Sandigie Njie, public relations officer of Banjul City Council and member of the organising committee, said the competition was the first of its kind in the City of Banjul.

He commended Iftar Fisabililai, a Muslim charity that provided food for the attendants of the competition to break their fast.

Mam Saine Njie, public relations officer of Iftar Fisabililai and a former Mayor of Banjul, said the foundation used to go round during Ramadan to help the needy and underprivileged people with “delicious meals” to break their fast.

“So when we heard about the Quranic competition here, we decided to take up the responsibility to provide food for people to break their fast,” he said.

Imam Ratib of Banjul, Alhaji Cherno Alieu Mass Kah, and the president of Supreme Islamic Council, Momodou Lamin Touray, all commended the Committee of Banjul Muslim Elders for having the initiative and the foresight to organise such an event to promote and propagate the messages in the holy book of Allah.