Four friends' efforts lead to opening of Quran centre at home in Liberia

Dubai: Their long and ambitious quest to learn more about their Islamic faith and to memorise the Quran in a different country led them to establish the first Quran centre in their home country, Liberia, upon their return.

Living as a minority in Liberia posed a challenge for then 13-year-old Abu Baker Yahya Jallu. "I was encouraged by my family members, especially my father, to pursue the knowledge of our Islamic faith but unfortunately due to the lack of Quran and Islamic centres in Liberia, I had to travel at a young age to reach that goal.

"And praise to God for sending in our way a generous Lebanese donor who covered and sponsored our living expenses in Gambia," Jallu said at the Dubai International Holy Quran Award (DIHQA).

The 19-year-old spent four years in Gambia. Upon returning to Liberia, he decided with the four friends who had accompanied him to start a centre which opened in 2007.

Ubi Bin Ka'ab, named after a sahabi (companion of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) hosts around 35 to 40 students who are taught to memorise the Quran, basics of Islamic teachings, and the Arabic language.

Jallu is a recent high school graduate who used to study during the day and teach Quran during the night to help his community and nearby Muslims to have the opportunity to learn more about their religion.

Although the centre is still sustained by the same Lebanese sponsor, they are seeking funds to further develop the centre and to further educate themselves in the Quranic sciences, said Jallu, who is currently seeking a scholarship to further his Islamic studies.

The students at the centre pay a nominal fee for their Islamic education, he said. The first two Quran memorisers completed their task this year.

"Our centre needs a lot more for it to become a professionally functioning centre.

"Most importantly, we need Islamic scholars. We are just students trying our best to benefit our community with the gift that has been bestowed upon us.

"I dream of becoming an Islamic scholar," he said.

Juma Mukaba from Kampala, Uganda, also did not stop working hard despite his childhood struggles. Mukaba is also a participant at DIHQA.

Mukaba, who is fluent in Arabic and English, said he is the only member in his family to memorise the Quran. He undertook this task to honour to his Nubian, Sudanese mother and late father who converted to Islam late in his life.

Mukaba's father was killed by the rebels during the aftermath of Uganda's civil war. He was too young to even remember his father's face, says Juma.

From his father's first marriage he has around six Christian siblings, while following his father's death his Muslim mother remarried to bare six children.

"I am in touch with both my Christian and Muslim siblings and [we] have a good relationship among us," he said.

Mukaba travelled alone at the age of 14 to a distant city, Jinja, where he learned to memorise the holy Quran in three years. He still lives there.

His curiosity for knowledge pushed him to join gatherings in different mosques, that also serve as Islamic centres in Uganda. He learned the basic of the Quranic science, memorising the Quran, and Arabic.

Mukaba and 20 students used to reside in a khalwa - considered to be one of the most traditional centres for the teaching of the Holy Quran and Arabic in Africa. It dates back more than 400 years.

Its presence has historically played a crucial role in maintaining the religious values of a country and served as the main centres of educational opportunity for many rural people during the 1970s and 1980s, especially in northern Africa.

It is a traditional mosque school that teaches boys from the ages of 6 until 13 to learn and memorise the Quran. There are some khalawa for girls located mainly in urban areas.

Mukaba currently preaches at the same mosque where he learned the Quran, and sometimes leads the prayer in the mosque along with teaching youngsters.

This is Mukaba's first international competition.