BARMM SGADA Administrator Malang initiates the 1st SGA Qur’an Competition

COTABATO CITY (April 4, 2023) — The 1st Qur’an Competition of Special Geographic Area (SGA) is being conducted by the SGADA Administrator Butch P. Malang in collaboration with Alhuffaz Charity Foundation in Southern Philippines, Inc. (ACFISPI), Union of Muslim Youth Organization, Inc. (UMYO), United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) and Bangsamoro Multimedia Network (BMN) Inc. this holy month of Ramadhan.

Ten participants coming one each from qur’anic learning centers namely Markaz in Barangay of Pikit Cotabato Markaz Al-ansar, Markaz Salman, Markaz Talitay, Markaz Lagundi, Markaz Cameem, Markaz Darulmawizan, Markaz Darul Ulum, Markaz Uti-man, Markaz Attadabbur, and Markaz Darul-Abpar.

The main objective of the Qur’an competition is promoting Da’wah to the young generation of Muslims.

In his message, Special Geographic Area Development Authority (SGADA) Administrator Malang highlighted the importance of seeking all forms of knowledge and skills. He also encouraged the young Qur’an memorizers (Hafidh) to continuously pursue their education, being the agents of peace in the Bangsamoro, especially in Special Geographic Area (SGA) of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

“Indaw din i kina papagagayan tanu syaba, na, tuden ba i itago sa ginawa tanu a nasisita panun I kadtabang tanu kanu Da’wah, panun i kapatindig tanu kanu Da’wah a kapid tanu a makadtabang lun.”
[As we sit here, we consider how we push for and be able to support the Da’wah].
He also added that “Bityala nami antu na patalus’n din sa indaw taman i magaga tanu sa mga makakatundog lun a niya mga timpo sa dikena bu siya sa ulan-ulan na Ramadhan a niya. Kagina niyaba mga activity tanu ba anya na legal i kapinggalbik lun, mandatory kanu galbekan. Kanu kapig upisina na tu manimba i ikami a kapigkailay. Pananding nu kagina si Engr. Zubair ba niya na kapid sikanin sa kanu technical working group na inorganized tanu.”
[We will conduct his kind of activity not only during this Ramadhan. This activity is legal one and mandatory. Try to look at it. Engr Zubair is one of the members of the technical working group that we organized.]

Engr. Zubair A. Guiaman, SGADA Coordinator and Executive Director of Alhuffaz Foundation, on his message said that, “Su 1st SGADA Qur’an competition anya na under sa administration ni Sir Butch na yanin sekanin background na kina si Sir Butch Malang, sa da mapiya a katapinay kanu kalilintad siya sa likanin a p’gkamalan 63 barangay a niya yatabiya pagampaganayan na plataporma na makabitad nin su plataporma nu Islam. Na kagina ka Islam dadin limawan lun sa upama nin a niya programa na Taw na su Qur’an banya ba. Kagina katawan tano samaya andang a naganatan niya committee na MILF anya niya sa ceasefire anya, niya den number one ipaginggat nin na kalilintad, na katawan tanu i agama tanu anya Islam na nyabay number one papinganggat sa kalilintad a mana niyaba Qur’an anya.”
[As a background, this first SGADA Qur’an competition, without Sir Butch, this would not come into reality. He handles 63 barangays wherein the platform on Islam was established and putting into program the Qur’an, nothing will surpass it. We all know that the MILF’s Committee on Ceasefire used the Qur’an to draw support for peace. We use the Qur’an in promoting peace.]

Mas’od Lantong Mohammadali, Chairman of Shu’unol Qur’an and BOD Chairman of Alhuffaz Foundation, reminded everyone that looking back on the history of Islamic propagation, all the nations who strongly upheld the principles and teachings of the Qur’an and Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam were elevated by Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala.

Representing the youth sector, Ustadh Hamzah A. Salik, Executive Assistant of SGADA and Chairman of the UMYO Steering Committee emphasized the great importance of youth’s participation in nation building, getting a concrete example from the life of Ali (Radhiyallahu Anhu). He was one of the youngest who embraced Islam and strenuously propagated the essence of peace and development in Islam.

Also present were MILF Ligawasan Municipal Chairmen including Ustadh Abdulkadir Musa, Committee on Da’wah, who emphasized that giving wealth as a form of charity for the propagation of the Qur’an is one of the forms of Jihad a person could render for Islam, especially in this month of Qur’an – Ramadhan; Ustadh Saidali Abu, Committee on Tarbiyyah, who highlighted the importance of unity and collaboration of different stakeholders in the community to be able to sustain harmonious coexistence; and Bobby Safra, Political Committee, who commended the activity as one of the manifestations of their success in their quest for the right to self-determination of the Bangsamoro.

The 2nd weekly competition was held on 11 Ramadhan 1444 AH (2 April 2023) at Mara’s Place Garden, Barangay Fort Pikit, North Cotabato, SGA, BARMM wherein ten contenders from the Pikit Cluster participated. In the competition, there are only three winners, the first winner is Aiman Bito from Markadz Salman), followed by Marhan Mohammad of Markadz Al-ansar and the last one is Fraizy Abdulsamad of Markadz Qameem. The seven contestants who were not lucky enough to win were they were still given a consolation prize, it was Kudama Salik, Daud Abdulkarim, Yusif Salidatun, Ali Sabir Tambilawan, Johari Depak, and Al-Amir Mandalugan.

The organizer of the said program extended their gratitude to Member of Parliament Mohagher Iqbal, Member of Parliament Suharto Esmael, MENRE Energy Director Nasiri Abas, LGU Pikit, and other concerned partners from the private sector who sponsored the 1st SGA Qur’an Competition.

The first week competition was held in Midsayap Cotabato, SGA on March 26, 2023 at Barangay Tomras, Midsayap, Cotabato. The program will continue until the end of Ramadhan. ### (Tu Alid Alfonso with report from BMN-USM BSIR Interns/BangsamoroToday, Photo by Ali-emran U. Abutazil & Mohamiden G. Solaiman/BMN)