Hafiz Abdullah Abdul Mateen Usmani, winner of the annual Qur’an memorization contest organized by Jamiat Khairokum Li Tahfizul Qur’an Kareem (Khairokum Qur’an Memorization Society) for Makkah region, was recently felicitated by Global NRIs Youth Club here recently.

Abdullah Usmani won the first prize from among 1,000 participants out of which 13 candidates were bracketed in the category of those securing between 95 and 99 marks. In the ensuing round involving the 13 finalists of the competition, he was declared the winner.

Abdullah Usmani was presented a car by Jeddah Governor Prince Mishaal Bin Majed.

Jamia Al Khairiya Li Tahfiz-ul-Qur’an Kareem is a semi government institution and center established for the students to memorize and recite Holy Qur’an. It holds the competition every year to encourage students and other participants.

Hafiz Abdullah Usmani is an Indian national and belongs to the city of Hyderabad in Telangana state.

Syed Abdul Hadi, vice president of Global NRIs Youth Club presented a Mishla’h (an adornment cloak wore by men) to Hafiz Abdullah Usmani as a token of appreciation. It was followed by a memento presented by Azmat Ali Emran, president of the club. Bouquets were presented to the contest winner by Fysal Ali, Farhan Baig and Syed Khaja Viqaruddin.

Speaking to Al Bilad English daily, Hafiz Abdullah Usmani said: “It took me four years to memorize the Holy Qur’an. I was 11 years when I started the memorization.”

He is also the alumnus of IISJ from the batch of 2017. Initially he was admitted to Muaz Bin Jabal School where he memorized about one/sixth of the Qur’an. Later he got enrolled in Dar Ul Furqan School from where he completed his memorization of the Holy Qur’an while learning Tajweed. He completed the memorization of the Quran four years back. It was last year when the Masjid Al-Aziziyah officials advised him to appear for the Qur’an memorization contest.

Hafiz Abdullah Usmani grabed the opportunity and appeared from Masjid Al-Aziziyah under the supervision of Sheikh Hamza Rayyan, imam and khateeb of the mosque.

Abdullah Usmani continued with his worldly pursuits along with his Qur’an memorization and took an open school examination from 6th to 8th standard from IISJ. He became a regular student of IISJ from 9th standard after the his Qur’an memorization was completed.

Initially, he started memorizing of Holy Qur’an on the instructions of his mother. Later after getting admitted in Muaz Bin Jabal School he gained interest in memorizing and was very much motivated by seeing his peers doing so. While memorizing the Qur’an, he got a chance to meet Sheikh Ayman Rushdi Suwaid, and learnt Tajweed from him. He is known to be the Sheikh Ul Tajweed in Jeddah. In his early days of memorizing Qur’an, he used to listen to the Qirat to Sheikh Abdurrehman Al-Sudais and learnt the ayats (verses) of the Qur’an that made him memorize the Qur’an in a fast mode.

Talking about his future plans, Abdullah Usmani said he would like to learn more Arabic language, Islamic history and Qur’an. He said he was interested in pursuing advance accounting courses and build his career. He also has plans to lead Taraweeh prayers during Ramadan in any of the mosques of Jeddah.

Listening to the recitation of Sheikh Meshary Alafasy, Sheikh Mohammed Ayub and Sheikh Al-Sudais helped him learn the correct pronunciation and also helped him in the memorization process.

Speaking to Al Bilad English daily, the award winner’s father, Abdul Mateen Usmani, said: “I would first thank and express my gratitude to Almighty Allah for the honor bestowed on my son.” In this context, he said, efforts of Jamia Tahfiz-ul-Quran. “This prize is more than a hundred billion dollar for me. I have not even dreamt that my son Abdullah will be winning the first prize.”

He said all his children initially received their early education having British curriculum. “Me and my wife decided that we will invest money on good education system for our children. All my children were enrolled in Al-Waha International school for their primary education. It was my wife’s plan that we will encourage Abdullah to be a Hafiz. So after completing 5th standard, we removed Abdullah from the school and admitted him in the institute for Qur’an memorization. I was a little reluctant but my wife played a major role in making my son Hafiz.

“I advise all unmarried as well as married people not to waste or kill their time by watching movies and TV serials and spoil their future but instead focus on their education both for the deen (religion) and duniya (world). Even the Prophet (peace be upon him) said that one should give priority to the Seerah of anbiya (prophets).”

He said his wife started attending religious classes with other women in our neighborhood soon after she landed in Jeddah. She sacrificed her sleeping hours during daytime to attend these classes.

“It’s the parents responsibility to mold their children as they want. One can lay the right foundation from the word go,” he said.

Speaking to Al Bilad English daily, Azmat Ali Emran, president of Global NRIs Youth Club said: “It’s an honor for our club to be the first to felicitate Hafiz Abdullah Abdul Mateen Usmani. Syed Abdul Hadi, vice president, said: “Abdullah made the Indians and specially the people of Hyderabad very proud by winning this award. I would like to thank Allah the Almighty and also congratulate his parents on behalf of Global NRIs Youth Club.

SOURCE : ALBILAD