Various Qurʾān Programmes in the Cape
The Cape was blessed with a visit by one of the leading Qurʾānic scholars in the world, Dr ʿAbd Allah ibn Ṣāliḥ ibn Muḥammad al-ʿUbayd. Born in Saudi Arabia, 1966, Dr ʿAbd Allah has travelled the world in his quest for knowledge, including Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Indonesia and Maghreb.
Though he loves the science of Hadith – having read the entire Ṣaḥīḥ of al-Bukhārī to more than 20 different teachers across the globe – he has a passion for the Qurʾānic sciences. It was this passion that ignited the aspiration to initiate various Qurʾānic programmes in the Western Cape during his three-month stay here.
During his short stay, 12 students completed the narration of Ḥafṣ by him via the tarīq of the Shāṭibiyyah, the Rouḍah and the Miṣbāḥ.
Four students completed the Ten Qirāʾāt via the Ṭayyibah, as well as the Four Shādhdh Qirāʾāt (Anomalous Readings) of Ḥasan Basri, Yaḥyā Yazīdī, Aʿmash and Ibn Muḥaysin. One of the four students included a female, Sister Ayesha bint Ganief Abrahams. This is the first time in the history of South Africa that a female completes the Ten Qirāʾāt via the Ṭayyibah and the Four Shādhdh Qirāʾāt.
In addition to the above programmes, a two-day workshop was conducted with the honourable Sheikh. The workshop was intense and rigorous, completing the entire reading of 10 individual works in the field of Tajwīd, spanning from the earliest book ever written on the science (al-Khāqāniyyah), to contemporary compilations of the erudite, Sheikh Ibrāhīm al-Samannūdī.
Awards were presented to those who excelled in the workshop, as well as those who memorised certain poetic works. The graduation ceremony was graced by the Qadi of the Muslim Judicial Council (MJC), Sheikh Āmin Fakir, the Qurʾānic expert, Sheikh Iḥsān Davids, as well as the honourable Sheikh Ibrāhīm Gabriels.
Sheikh Ibrāhīm presented a plaque to Sheikh Obeid on behalf of the MJC in recognition of his sterling efforts in the field of Qurʾānic study in the Cape.
History will forever note the visit of Sheikh Abd Allah al-ʿUbayd in the Cape. During his memorable stay, 16 individuals received sanad and ijāzah in the Qurʾān, while more than 100 received ijāzah in various books and texts. Sheikh al-Ubayd has left an indelible mark on our shores, and has certainly left a legacy that will continue and grow amongst us until the end of time.
