This article appeared in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences' digital publication VIVUS. Visit www.sun.ac.za/FMHSpublications to subscribe.

Qari* Hafiz** Muhammed Sheik, a fourth-year medical student at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, won the South African National Qur’aan Memorisation competition held in August 2015 at the Turkish Nizamiya Masjid*** in Midrand, Johannesburg. He will represent South Africa in the international competition which will be held in in October 2016 Makkah in Saudi Arabia.

Over the years, Muhammed has represented the South African Muslim community at international Qur’aanic memorization competitions in Egypt, Sudan, Makkah, Russia and Dubai. He has been honoured by international dignitaries for his dedication towards the Qur’aan – in particular the presidents of Egypt and Sudan. 

“One of the highlights of my life was to be asked to lead congregational prayers during the holy month of Ramadan at Mosques in Egypt, closest to the Military Hotel,” says Muhammed, who delivered his first sermon at the tender age of 12. He is presumably the youngest religious leader, orator and counsellor in the South African Muslim community. 

Muhammed is not only a diligent student of medicine and the Qur’aan, he is also very involved in his community, particularly with the youth.  He currently serves as an advisor to Stellenbosch University’s Tygerberg Islamic Society (USTIS). He is also the Chairperson of the Muslim Students Association (MSA) of the Western Cape and previously held various leadership positions in the Tygerberg student community.

In his spare time he does youth counselling – related to religious, marital, social and emotional well-being and also practises complimentary medicine – cupping therapy in particular. He has a keen interest in youth dynamics and issues of social justice that are prevalent in the South African youth community. He is an avid participant of comparative religious discussions and debates. Muhammed is mutli-linguistic with English as his mother tongue followed by complete fluency in Afrikaans, Arabic and Urdu/Hindi.

He was born in South Africa and later moved with his parents, Dr Allie Bin Haroon and Apa Fareeha, to Saudi Arabia where he did his primary schooling. He began his initial training in Qur’aanic recitation and memorisation under his father and other teachers in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. Upon his return to South Africa in 2003, he completed his memorization of the Holy Qur’aan at a religious institute for boarding students in Camperdown, KwaZulu-Natal.

Muhammed matriculated with eight distinctions in 2011.  In conjunction with his schooling, he did training in the Aalame - Faadil course (a religious training course of classical Islamic texts in philosophy, jurisprudence and exegesis) and completed the equivalent of five years in total. He also delivers lectures and Arabic Khutbahs (sermons) all over Cape Town and other areas nationally.

This young man, who has featured on many national and international radio stations, is a regular presenter on a programme called ‘Borne to Serve’ on the Voice of the Cape radio station.

Reflecting on his career path, he says: “Medicine is a field for you to groom responsibility and respect so that you are deemed reliable and rewarding. Aim and believe for everything that you’d love to achieve.”

*Qari - an expert reciter of the Qur’aan and understanding all the rules of recital

**Hafiz - one who has memorized the entire Qur’aan from cover to cover

***Masjid – a place of Muslim Worship

Photo: Qari Hafiz Muhammed Sheik (dressed in white) pictured with Saudi Arabian Embassy dignataries, and Anver Ebrahim Surty, Deputy Minister of Basic Education (far left) who attended the South African Quraan Memorisation competition