Ghana’s Zainab returns home after historic King Abdulaziz Qur’an Finish
Accra: Zainab Abdul Rahaman, Ghana’s historic second-place winner at the 46th King Abdulaziz International Qur’an Competition in Saudi Arabia, has returned home to a warm reception.
Zainab, a recent senior high school graduate from Kumasi, performed remarkably at the prestigious global contest by securing a second-place finish in the full Qur’an memorisation and Tajweed category of the female division.
She received a prize of 190,000 Saudi riyal, equivalent to $50,000, in recognition of her achievement.
Speaking in an interview at the Accra International Airport, Zainab expressed gratitude to Allah for giving her the opportunity to participate in what she described as a prestigious international competition, saying the experience had also motivated her to continue studying the Qur’an.
“Alhamdulillah, I’m very grateful to Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala for granting me the opportunity to participate in such a prestigious competition,” she said.
She also expressed appreciation to the organisers for bringing together contestants from 133 countries to compete in the memorisation and recitation of the Qur’an.
“I would sincerely thank the organisers of this competition for making it possible and giving about 133 countries the opportunity to compete with the Book of Allah. May Allah reward them with Khair,” she said.
Zainab said the achievement was not hers alone, attributing her success to the support and encouragement she received from her teachers, parents and people who prayed for her.
“To everyone back home in Ghana, I say a very big thank you to everyone who supported me, prayed for me and encouraged me,” she said.
“This achievement is not mine alone; it’s a reflection of the support I received from my teachers, parents and those who stood behind me,” she added.
She described the moment as an overwhelming experience, saying, “For me, I think this happiness, I have never seen it.”
Yahya Suleyman Tuntumba, Public Relations Officer of the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Ghana, described Zainab’s performance as historic, noting that Ghana had participated in the competition for many years without recording such a high placement.
He said the achievement should make Ghanaians proud and serve as an inspiration to young people pursuing Qur’an memorisation and recitation.
Mr Tuntumba said Zainab had balanced preparation for the international competition with her senior high school studies, describing her performance as evidence of what could be achieved through commitment, discipline and support.
The 46th edition of the competition featured five categories, including recitation of the Qur’an in seven modes, Qur’an and Tafsir (interpretation), full Qur’an memorisation with Tajweed, half-Qur’an memorisation and memorisation of five Juz (parts) of the Qur’an.
Ghana presented four contestants at this year’s competition.
Abdul Latif Yacoub represented Ghana in the Qur’an and Tafsir category, while Zainab Abdul Rahaman and Abdul Razzaq Musa competed in the full Qur’an memorisation and Tajweed category. Fatima Mohammed Thani represented Ghana in the half-Qur’an category.
Mr Tuntumba said Ghana could not participate in the five-Juz category because it was reserved for countries that are members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
He explained that the usual process for selecting Ghana’s representatives involved regional and national competitions, but the short notice for this year’s event prevented the organisation of a fresh national selection exercise.
The organisers therefore relied on data from previous competitions to identify the four contestants who represented Ghana.
Mr Tuntumba said plans were underway to strengthen the selection process ahead of future editions by organising district, regional and national competitions to give more Qur’anic schools and institutions the opportunity to present contestants.
He urged Qur’anic institutions, scholars, parents and other stakeholders to intensify efforts to improve the standard of Qur’an memorisation and recitation in Ghana.
He said Ghana’s Qur’an education sector was developing, although the country still had work to do to match the standards of countries such as Nigeria, which have a long tradition of producing highly skilled Qur’an reciters.
Mr Tuntumba noted that the introduction of the women’s category in 2026 had created a new opportunity for Ghanaian female reciters, making Zainab’s performance particularly significant.
He called for greater investment and support from government, Muslim leaders, Qur’anic institutions and parents to create an environment conducive to Qur’an memorisation.
He stressed that the responsibility should not rest solely on Islamic schools, mosques or Qur’anic learning circles, saying parents also had a critical role to play in supporting children at home.
“The home environment itself should be tuned towards the memorisation of the Qur’an,” he said, urging parents and teachers to work together to develop structured learning schedules for children.
Mr Tuntumba said the Saudi Arabian government’s continued organisation of the competition also contributed to strengthening relations between Saudi Arabia and Ghana while promoting Qur’anic education and bringing Muslims from different parts of the world together.
The King Abdulaziz International Qur’an Competition, named after King Abdulaziz, founder of modern Saudi Arabia, has been held for 46 years and attracts participants from across the Muslim world.
Mr Tuntumba said Ghana’s historic second-place finish should motivate stakeholders to build on the achievement and develop more talented Qur’an reciters capable of competing successfully on the international stage.
Join our whatsapp channel for all the latest updates.
For news coverage, article publication, and advertisement, send an email to ghanaianminaret@gmail.com or reach us via whatsapp, telegram or phone call on +233266666773.
