Launched in 2021, the Q-Cell national Quranic Competition is an initiative organised in collaboration with the Supreme Islamic Council to create platform to students to compete in various categories such as -Full Quran Memorization; Half Quran Memorization and Quarter Quran Memorization. It attracted over 400 students from across the country and following the preliminaries, 49 students were shortlisted for the grand finale.
However, this is the second time Azaan competition has been incorporated into the event held on the same day.
In an interview with journalists, Muhammed Jah, Chief Executive Officer of Q-Group, explained the rationale behind the initiative, saying this is the 17th year they are organising this Grand Iftar designed to celebrate ‘our religious leaders’, have a session with them and even breakfast together.
“You know today is Lailatul Qadir and is a very important in the Islamic calendar. There is a lot good things said about this day as preached by Islamic scholars on the radios and it is because of that we invited over 500 imams across the country to come an celebrate with us,” he said.
The event, he explained, also attracted Islamic students who are on their finals in both the Quranic recitation and Azaan competition.
“During this Grand Iftar we have over a 1000 Muslims who congregate and we breakfast and celebrate the day together.”
The CEO acknowledged that the country has vast Muslims population and that the Islamic religion encourages Muslims whenever they want to perform the daily prayers, they visit a mosque.
“Alhamdulillah, in The Gambia we have mosques all over but normally the challenge is call to prayer and this is an important pillar in prayer events,” he said. “When I listen to call prayer as I travelled the length and breadth of the country, I realise that there is a lot more to be done. I thought that we have students who when train, they will be able to do a proper ‘call to prayer’.”
However, he also observed that competition is good in any endeavour and that since they incorporated it in their calendar of events last year, they’ve seen hundreds of students participating in the event. “But more importantly, we’ve call to prayers, which has improved greatly.”
Commenting on the annual Grand Iftar organised for Imams and the public, CEO Jah explained that the initiative was to pay homage to his late father, Iman Jah, a renowned Islamic scholar in the country, who he said, organised the first iftar and challenged him to be organising the event for imams in the country.
The initiative, he added, is borne out of the ardent desire to celebrate Imams in the country in view of their importance in society.
Essa Darboe, president of The Gambia Supreme Islamic Council (SIC), thanked Q-Cell for the foresight in conceiving such a noble initiative.
Darboe also commended Q-Group CEO Jah for his constant support to the country’s religious leaders and called on others to emulate him.
He said the initiative is in line with the motto of SIC in promoting and propagating Islamic teachings and values in the country.
SIC prexy acknowledged that the whole country is appreciative of his efforts in strengthening Islamic values and supporting vulnerable communities in the country.
Hamat Bah, minister of Lands, Local Government and Religious Affairs, thanked Gambian business tycoon Muhammed Jah and his Q-Group for the foresight in organising such an important initiative.
He underscored the importance of the initiative from an Islamic standpoint and challenged others to emulate him and strengthen the teaching of Islamic values.
Minister Bah made reference to Muhmmed Jah’s Ramadan largesse in the form of sugar, rice and dates to the Muslim Ummah in the country, adding that this is what Islam calls for to show empathy to others.
After a keenly contested event, Abdoulie Jassey, a student from Madrassatou Al Huda in Kunkujang Jattaya, emerged as winner in Full Quran and received D100,000. Abdourahman M. Boye Jallow, a student from Madrassatou Alhuda in Fajikunda, received D75,000 as Runners-up in Full Quran.
Muhammed Sanusi A. Jallow, a student of Markaz Darul Qur'an For Tahfidh in London Corner, wins Half Quran category and received D75,000, while Ahmad M. Bah, a student of Zais Bun Thabit in Farato, received D50,000 as Runner-up.
Quarter Quran category goes to Abdoulie M. Sello Jallow of Ubaye Ibn Kaab in Banjul who received D50,000, while Muhammed A. Alpha Bah of Madrassatou Hameed Jallow in Mbolet Ba received D25,000 as runner-up in the Quarter Quran category.
In the Azaan competition, Muhammed Dembo Sanneh from Nema Kunku emerged as winner followed by Muhammad Lamin Jah of Kololi, and each received D20,000 and D15,000 respectively.
Oustass Ousman Jah, coordinator of the event, also expressed similar sentiments.
The event attracted religious leaders, cabinet ministers, diplomats, representatives from the Gambia Supreme Islamic Council and a cross section of the public.
