The third annual competition for African scholars in Islamic studies, organized by the Mohammed VI Foundation for African Scholars, concluded in Rabat on Sunday, November 1, 2026. The competition, which was held via video conferencing, brought together 123 participants from 48 African countries. The contestants competed in three categories, testing their knowledge of Islamic sciences, including the memorization and understanding of hadiths.
The competition's three categories included memorizing 40 hadiths on prophetic guidance, memorizing 30 hadiths on the prophetic characteristics with explanations, and memorizing 30 hadiths on prophetic attributes with a focus on hadith terminology. The winners were announced during the closing ceremony, with participants from Burundi, Malawi, Sudan, Comoros, Chad, and Rwanda taking the top spots in their respective categories.
In the category of memorizing 40 hadiths on prophetic guidance, Pentirago Shima Amin Lawrence from Burundi took first place, followed by Isaac Samson Abd from Malawi in second place, and Akram Muhammad Noor Saleh from Sudan in third place. The encouraging prize went to Safia Carmen from South Africa. In the category of memorizing 30 hadiths on prophetic characteristics, Assim Ahmed from Comoros took first place.
The competition's secretary general, Mohammed Rafqi, highlighted the significance of the event, stating that it demonstrates the efforts of African scholars in serving the prophetic tradition. He emphasized that the competition is a testament to the importance of responding to the needs of the Islamic community and promoting the values of tolerance and coexistence.
Rafqi also praised the large turnout of young participants, considering them to be the future of the continent. He stressed that the Mohammed VI Foundation for African Scholars is committed to supporting and nurturing the talents of young African scholars.
The competition's organization involved a rigorous selection process, with local qualifying rounds held in 48 African countries in June and July 2026. The top 123 participants, including 30 women, were selected to compete in the final round.
The Mohammed VI Foundation for African Scholars aims to promote Islamic sciences and reward outstanding scholars. The competition is part of its efforts to support the development of African scholars and promote a deeper understanding of Islamic studies.
Key points
- The competition drew 123 participants from 48 African countries.
- The winners were announced during the closing ceremony, with participants from Burundi, Malawi, Sudan, Comoros, Chad, and Rwanda taking the top spots.
- The competition aims to promote the study of Islamic sciences and reward outstanding scholars.
