CAIRO – A three-year-old girl is amazing Nigeria after memorizing the whole Qur’an, becoming one of the youngest Muslims in the world to learn the Noble Book by heart.

“Honestly, I can’t say much but I am very grateful to Allah for this,” Sayyada Maimunatu Sheikh Dahiru, the girl’s mother, told Sunday Tribune.

“This is indeed a blessing from Allah. I’m grateful to Allah for this.”

Her daughter, Rukkayatu Fatahu Umar, has completed the memorization of the Noble Qur’an at the age of three year and eight months.

The young Muslim girl began memorizing the Noble Book at an Islamic school founded by prominent Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi.

“We were using a big parlor, which was divided into classes for the learning of the Qur’an,” Maimunatu, who teaches at the school, said.

“At that time, I always carried her on my back while teaching. From there, she started reciting along with the students and before long, she had memorized some verses.

“That was how she started attending memorization class.  Right now, she has completed memorizing the whole Qur’an,” the proud mother said.

The Noble Qur’an is consisted of 114 Surah (chapters) of varying lengths.

Going to the school between 7a.m. and 6p.m. daily, the young girl found little time to play with her peers.

“It is not as if she does not play with her mates. She does, especially with those who are memorizing the Qur’an like her,” Maimunatu said.

“This makes it easier for them, as their focus and attention are directed towards achieving the same goal, which is memorizing the Qur’an.”

Education

The Muslim girl does not believe she has completed the memorization of the Qur’an as this young age.

“I thank Allah,” she said.

The young Muslim girl is now preparing to go to school soon, breaking a family tradition of sending girls to study at the age of ten.

“My husband has, however, said that the world is changing now, and that there is civilization all over the place,” the mother, who herself memorized the whole Qur’an at the age of 12, said.

“As such, our daughter will have the opportunity of going to a proper school whenever she reaches the age of six.”

The Muslim mother has paid tribute to her father for offering her child the chance to memorize the Qur’an at this young age.

“I’m also grateful that I have a father like Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, who planted my feet, like other people, on the path of Islam,” she said.

“May Allah grant him longevity of life so that he will continue to serve Allah and be useful to Islam and humanity in general.”

Teaching children the glorious Qur’an and the Islamic principles is the responsibility of their parents from an early age which is the best period for implanting Islamic ethics.

Memorizing the Holy Qur’an is one of the most important ways to preserve Allah’s message.

The others are to publish and distribute the book, or the text on the Internet and to recite the parts that one knows to other people.

Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessing be upon him) said: “The best amongst you is the one who learns the Qur’an and teaches it.”