A 15-year-old learner from Lenasia has scooped top honours at the 20th National Quran Hifz Competition finals at Masjidul Khair in Mitchells Plain, Cape Town.

Zafir Patel narrowly won the 30 Juz and Hadith category beating Abduraghmaan Muhammad and Igsaan Basserdien who took second and third place respectively.

The judges for competition included Sheikh’s Abdulla Awaldien, Fouad Gabier, Moulana Saleem Gaibie, Sheikh Ismail Londt and Qari Basheer Patel among other esteemed Islamic scholars.

Speaking to Radio Islam, Zafir says all the hard he put in has yielded results.

“I am feeling very excited. All the hard works paid off and I feel I’ve accomplished something.”

Zafir’s father Ziyaad has praised his teachers saying they spent a lot of time with him to polish his Qur’an.

“As a father I am ecstatic. It’s been a lot of hard work. He had to make a lot of sacrifices to get where he is today. His hifz teacher is Ml Muhammad Ganchi from Lenasia Muslim School. Ml had spent a lot time with him getting his Qur’an where it is today.”

Zafir has walked away with a cash prize including being selected to take part in the World Qur’an competition which includes travelling to Dubai, Turkey and Saudi Arabia.

The 5 Juz category was won by Yusry Isaacs and 15 Juz by Ilyaas Abrahams.