Every Child Needs Religious Knowledge, Says Mujaddidun Institute Proprietor

Parents have been urged to ensure that brilliant and promising children are equipped with sound moral and religious education alongside modern academic knowledge, rather than reserving religious institutions only for children perceived to be academically weak or troublesome.

The Proprietor of Mujaddidun Islamic Institute for Qur’anic Memorisation, Arabic and Islamic Knowledge, Ustaz Habeeb Shittu, made the call at the 4th Islamic Convention, Complete Qur’an Memorisation and I’daadiyah Graduation Ceremony held in Okuku, Osun State.

Shittu said every child, irrespective of academic ability, deserved to be exposed to religious knowledge, moral training and the virtues needed to become responsible members of society.

He lamented the practice whereby some parents send their troublesome or average-performing children to religious institutions while directing their academically brilliant children exclusively towards conventional universities.

According to him, obedient and brilliant children also require proper moral and spiritual upbringing to enable them to achieve greater success in life.

“Many graduates of this institute are doing marvellously well in higher institutions in Nigeria and across the world — the United States, United Kingdom, Egypt, Dubai, Jordan and many other great countries.

“This is because they are well nurtured with the right virtues, morality, refined civilisation and modern knowledge, in addition to memorising the Qur’an and learning Islamic knowledge,” he said.

Shittu explained that the institute had observed that some parents erroneously believed that only average students should be enrolled in religious institutions.

“We have, however, noticed that many parents erroneously believe only average students deserve to be pushed to religious institutions. On the contrary, every student needs the knowledge. No knowledge is a waste.

“In fact, from experience, we get better results by putting just 30 per cent effort into willing and brilliant students than what we get when we put 100 per cent into an average student,” he added.

The proprietor, who stressed the importance of exposing children to education from an early age, congratulated the parents and graduands for their patience, sacrifices and commitment.

He urged Nigerians to ensure a balance between the academic and moral development of their children so that the knowledge acquired in both conventional and religious institutions would translate into meaningful contributions to society.

‘Do Not Be Carried Away by Monetary Rewards’

The guest speaker at the ceremony, Sheikh Ibraheem Raji, advised the graduating students to memorise and study the Qur’an for the sake of Allah, the Deen and humanity, rather than being motivated primarily by financial rewards or material gains.

Raji acknowledged the recent international recognition and financial reward received by Nigerian Qur’an memoriser, Maryam Ibrahim Dan’Azumi, who won the women’s category at the 46th King Abdulaziz International Qur’anic Competition in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

Maryam, who defeated contestants from 132 countries, reportedly won SAR300,000, equivalent to about N120 million.

The cleric, however, urged the graduands not to allow such monetary rewards to become their primary motivation, stressing that the spiritual and eternal benefits of memorising the Qur’an were far greater than any financial reward.

His comments came against the backdrop of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s congratulatory message to Maryam over her achievement.

President Tinubu had described the feat as a source of national pride and also commended Maryam’s elder sister, Hajara Ibrahim Dan’Azumi, who won the 18th Hashemite Jordan International Qur’anic Competition for Females in 2024.

The President described the sisters as inspirations to young Nigerians and praised their parents, teachers and mentors for supporting their development.

Another guest speaker, Sheikh Qamarudeen Ballo, reminded the graduands that their graduation marked the beginning of a greater academic and spiritual journey rather than its conclusion.

He urged them not to rest on their oars or become carried away by the euphoria of the celebration, but to remain committed to learning, character development and service to humanity.

Ballo also charged parents to serve as practical guides and role models to the young graduands, stressing that the knowledge acquired by the children would only become meaningful if it was reinforced by good examples at home.

Graduand Appreciates Parents

Responding on behalf of the graduands, Balqees Yisa-Adeniji, who emerged as the Best Graduating Student in Qur’an, expressed appreciation to the parents for their sacrifices and commitment to their education.

She thanked the parents for considering it worthwhile to enrol their children at Mujaddidun Institute despite the distance and financial challenges involved.

Yisa-Adeniji also urged her fellow graduands to regard the achievement as the beginning of a new chapter and an opportunity to attain greater heights in the future.

The Qur’an memorizers who graduated are Haafidh Waliyullah Oyerinde Omotayo, Haafidh AbdulLateef Ibrahim Oloyede, Haafidh Abdullah Abdul-Azeez, Haafidh Isa Abdullah Khalifah, Haafidh Umar-Faruq Sulayman, Haafidh AbdulRahman Jum’ah Ayomide and Haafidho Balqees Adedoyin Yisa-Adeniji.

The Qur’an reciters are Qaari Sa’eed Adebowale Kehinde, Qaari Abdul-Baasit Adebayo, Qaari Umar Ayandeji, Qaari Sherif Aderibigbe, Qaari Adam AbdurRahman, Qaari Abdus-Sobuur Abdul-Jaleel Irewole and Qaari Muhammad Raji Desire.