ABUJA, Nigeria — The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has confirmed the indefinite postponement of the national Qur’an convention, originally set to begin Feb. 22.
The planned convention had sparked debate among Islamic scholars, who expressed differing views on its propriety in Islam.
In a statement Friday night, the council’s secretary-general, Ishaaq Oloyede, said the decision to postpone was due to overwhelming interest from prospective participants.
“From the outset, our goal was to organize a meaningful and spiritually enriching event that would bring together scholars, Huffaz, and participants from across Nigeria and beyond,” Oloyede said.
Initially, organizers planned for 60,000 attendees—30,000 Huffaz (Qur’an memorizers) and 30,000 other participants. However, more than 500,000 people expressed interest, prompting concerns over logistics and capacity.
“Additionally, we have received a significant amount of interest from renowned international scholars and foreign delegations who wish to be part of this historic event,” Oloyede said.
“To ensure that we properly accommodate everyone, including our international partners, we have decided—after extensive consultation with key stakeholders and organizers—that the convention will be rescheduled to a later date to allow for a more structured and inclusive gathering.”
The Sultan said a new date would be announced after Ramadan. He emphasized that the delay would allow organizers to enhance the event’s quality, expand the venue, and refine logistics to create a more memorable experience for attendees.
