Nigerian Girl Wins the World's Best Quran Reciter Award
Nigerian student Hajara Ibrahim Dan'azumi, 19, won first place in the international Quran memorization competition in Jordan, competing against participants from nearly 40 countries. Photo credit: Social media
At just 19 years old, Hajara Ibrahim Dan'azumi from Gombe State, Nigeria, accomplished something extraordinary. She won first place at the 18th Women's International Hashemite Competition for Quran Memorization in Jordan, competing against participants from nearly 40 countries.
Hajara earned an impressive score of 99.5%, bringing international recognition to her country and demonstrating what dedication, discipline, and perseverance can accomplish.
She is a second-year Botany student at Gombe State University and also attends Abubakar Siddiq Islamiyya School in Gombe. She was selected to represent Nigeria in the competition, held February 17–22, 2024, under the patronage of the Jordanian royal family.
Her achievement is particularly remarkable because Arabic is not her native language.
A person who memorizes the entire Quran earns the honorable title of Hafiz (male) or Hafiza (female). Memorizing the words of Allah requires years of dedication, patience, and perseverance.
For readers unfamiliar with Islam, the Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad over approximately 23 years, beginning in Mecca and continuing after his migration to Medina.
A standard printed Quran contains 604 pages, 114 chapters (Surahs), and approximately 6,236 verses (Ayat). The longest chapter, Al-Baqarah, contains 286 verses, while the shortest, Al-Kawthar, contains just three. For easier reading and memorization, the Quran is also divided into 30 sections, known as Juz'.
Reciting the entire Quran can take approximately 15–20 hours, depending on the reader's pace and style.
I have a personal confession: Over the years, I have tried several times to memorize the Quran, but with little success. The longest chapter I managed to memorize was Surah Yasin (Chapter 36), which contains 83 verses. I remember reading it to my twin sons every night to help them fall asleep. Usually, they were fast asleep before I finished!
With that said, congratulations to Sister Hajara Ibrahim Dan'azumi. Her achievement deserves recognition far beyond Nigeria and Jordan. She has demonstrated that dedication knows no borders and that language need not be a barrier to excellence.
May her accomplishment inspire a new generation of young women to pursue knowledge, embrace their faith, and reach for greatness.