Raaso, a city in the Somali region of Ethiopia witnessed a joyful carnival for the graduation of around 400 male and female memorizers of the Quran. The celebration took place with both official and popular participation, filling the squares of the “Dar Al-Quran” Center for Quran Memorization and Islamic Education, in what is locally known as the city of knowledge and scholars.
Raaso, one of the main cities in the Ethiopian Somali region in the east of the country, is one of Ethiopia's 12 regions. Its capital is Jijiga, located 620 km from the capital Addis Ababa. The people of Ethiopian Somalia are known for their unique dances and distinctive dishes, which prominently feature milk and meat, especially camel meat, a significant livestock and source of pride for the region's inhabitants.
A Joyous Celebration for the 13th Batch of Graduates
Raaso celebrated the graduation of its 13th batch of students from the Dar Al-Quran Center, with 320 male and female memorizers of the Quran. In addition, the fourth batch of students from the Dar Al-Hadith graduated, comprising 87 male and female students. The event was highly attended and remarkably celebrated, with the presence of Sheikh Abdulaziz Abdulwali Mohammed, Deputy President of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Dr. Abdullah Khidr Ahmed, Director of Education at the Council, and Sheikh Ahmed Mohammed Ali, President of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs in the Ethiopian Somali Region, who hosted the event.
The festive atmosphere in Raaso was filled with joy and happiness as families celebrated the graduation of their beloved children. These graduates join a noble legacy that this tranquil city has maintained annually. Founded by a group of esteemed scholars, the city has produced a comprehensive system of institutions dedicated to preparing and training scholars.
“Dar Al-Quran” Center and Islamic Education
The “Dar Al-Quran” Center in Raaso, in the Ethiopian Somali region, includes memorization and Hadith center, and recently, Raaso University. Students receive a rich educational experience in various Islamic sciences such as jurisprudence, hadith, tafsir, qira'at (Quranic recitations), Usul Al-Fiqh (principles of Islamic jurisprudence), and Arabic language, among others. These carefully designed curricula aim to cultivate a generation committed to promoting the tolerance and moderation of Islam. This was explained by Dr. Mohammed Ahmed Abdulghafar, Vice President of Raaso Islamic University for academic affairs.
Dr. Abdulghafar, in an interview with “Al-Mujtama” magazine following the grand Quranic ceremony, stated that the graduation ceremony was organized and sponsored by Raaso University, the first Islamic university in Ethiopia. The university crowns an era of this unique educational system that begins with the memorization and Hadith center and culminates with the university. Its establishment marks a new dawn and documents a bright history in a region where Islam was introduced by some of the Prophet's esteemed companions, whose pure bodies rest in some of its areas.
Honorable Attendance
The grand ceremony saw significant participation from various segments of the Raaso community and high-level representation from the Federal Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs in Ethiopia. The council's participation was in response to a kind invitation from the university administration. This high-level representation reflects the council's care and attention to Islamic educational and advocacy institutions.
Representatives of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, participating in the ceremony, expressed their great joy and immense happiness at this Quranic blessing, which brought them comfort about the future of Islam in this region. They affirmed their support and backing for Raaso University and the educational system it leads.
At the end of the ceremony, the university administration and representatives of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs awarded the graduates their academic certificates and appreciation diplomas, concluding an unforgettable day in the eternal history of Raaso as it takes its first steps towards becoming a comprehensive Islamic university that embodies all the values of Islamic civilization for the Ethiopian society and the region.
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