Mohammed VI Foundation of African Ulema Promotes Prophetic Tradition Through Hadith Competition in Ethiopia

Addis Ababa – The preselection rounds for the third edition of the Hadith Nabawi Asharif Competition, organized by the Ethiopian section of the Mohammed VI Foundation of African Ulema, began Thursday in Addis Ababa, with the participation of around 40 candidates representing different regions of Ethiopia.

Held in collaboration with the Ethiopian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, the competition is being staged across the Foundation’s 48 sections and aims to promote knowledge of the Prophet’s Sunnah and highlight its place in Islamic legislation.

It also seeks to encourage younger generations across Africa to take a greater interest in Hadith and draw inspiration from the noble virtues of Prophet Sidna Mohammed, Peace and Blessings Be Upon Him.

The Ethiopian candidates are competing in three categories. The first consists of memorizing 40 hadiths, along with their chains of transmission (*isnad*) and texts (*matn*), without requiring candidates to identify the narrators or provide lexical explanations of the terms used.

The second category involves reciting 35 hadith texts, identifying the final narrator of each hadith and demonstrating an understanding of the meaning of the terms contained therein.

The third focuses on memorizing 25 hadiths related to *Ahkam* (jurisprudential rulings), while highlighting the legal teachings and benefits derived from them.

The competition also provides an opportunity to highlight the importance of the Letter addressed by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Commander of the Faithful, to the Supreme Council of Ulema on the occasion of the commemoration of the 15th centenary of the birth of Prophet Sidna Mohammed, Peace and Blessings Be Upon Him.

Hadith, comprising reports of the sayings and traditions of Prophet Muhammad, is regarded by Muslims as a major source of religious law and moral guidance.