Zaharaddeen Ishaq Abubakar | Katsina Times
The Katsina State Government has introduced a new competency-based interview process for Islamic scholars seeking appointment as Hajj preachers, in a move aimed at improving religious guidance and the overall conduct of pilgrims during the annual pilgrimage.
The Chairman of the Katsina State Zakat and Waqf Board, Dr Ahmad Musa Abdullahi, disclosed this in an interview with Katsina Times on Monday, September 7, 2026, during the commencement of the screening exercise for Local Government Hajj preachers at the board’s headquarters in Katsina.
Dr Abdullahi described the initiative as a new approach introduced by Governor Dikko Umar Radda to strengthen the quality of religious guidance provided to pilgrims.
He said the state government would no longer appoint Hajj preachers at the state and local government levels without first assessing their knowledge and competence.
According to him, the previous practice sometimes allowed individuals to be appointed as preachers based on considerations other than merit, despite some of them lacking sufficient knowledge of Hajj rites themselves.
“There will no longer be appointments of state and local government Hajj preachers without proper assessment. We want to ensure that those appointed are genuinely qualified and capable of educating pilgrims about the correct performance of Hajj,” he said.
He explained that each of the state's 34 local government areas was asked to nominate two Islamic scholars for the exercise, with the selection potentially comprising men, women or a combination of both, depending on the nominations made by the respective local government chairmen.
A total of 68 nominees are expected to undergo the interview.
Dr Abdullahi said the candidates would be assessed through questions relating to Islamic scholarship and the practical requirements of Hajj to determine whether they possessed the knowledge needed to guide pilgrims.
He stressed that the board was committed to conducting the exercise fairly and transparently, urging candidates not to view the interview as an attempt to embarrass or disqualify them.
“We appeal to everyone coming for this interview to be patient. This is not designed to frustrate anyone. We will be fair and base our decisions on competence and truth,” he said.
He also called on local government authorities and other stakeholders involved in nominating candidates to ensure that only qualified scholars were presented for screening, saying this would help make the process more effective.
‘Don't Compromise Hajj Guidance’ — Zakat Board Secretary
Also speaking, the Secretary of the Katsina State Zakat and Waqf Board, Dr Abubakar Musa, urged successful candidates to regard their responsibility as a serious religious trust.
He noted that the state government had committed substantial resources towards improving the Hajj experience of pilgrims and therefore expected appointed preachers to provide accurate and proper religious guidance.
Dr Musa urged those selected to conduct themselves in accordance with Islamic teachings and ensure that pilgrims received appropriate guidance throughout the pilgrimage.
Commissioner: Selection Must Be Based on Merit
The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Tanimu Gambo Dutsinma, who formally inaugurated the screening exercise, commended the Katsina State Government for introducing the initiative.
He described the competency-based selection process as an important step towards improving the quality of Hajj operations and ensuring that pilgrims were guided by scholars with adequate knowledge of Islamic rites.
Dutsinma reminded the nominees of the significance of Hajj as one of the five pillars of Islam, alongside the declaration of faith, establishment of prayer, payment of Zakat and fasting during Ramadan.
He emphasised that the responsibility of Hajj preachers went beyond delivering sermons, as they were expected to provide practical guidance to pilgrims on the requirements and procedures of Hajj.
The commissioner cited relevant Qur'anic verses and prophetic traditions to underscore the importance of the assignment and urged the scholars to prepare themselves adequately.
He said the assessment would focus on essential areas, including the meaning of Hajj, its pillars, obligatory acts and how pilgrims could correct mistakes committed during the pilgrimage.
Dutsinma warned against political, personal or other forms of interference in the selection process, stressing that competence must remain the primary consideration.
“We will ensure that the selection is based on competence and fairness. We cannot sacrifice the interest of hundreds of pilgrims simply to please one individual,” he said.
Nominees Welcome New Screening System
Some of the Islamic scholars interviewed by Katsina Times welcomed the new system, describing it as a positive development that could improve the quality of religious guidance available to pilgrims.
They said the questions were designed to assess their actual knowledge rather than deliberately frustrate candidates.
The scholars also encouraged other clerics preparing for similar responsibilities to revise their knowledge of Hajj rites and continue studying, noting that the exercise could help remind scholars of aspects of the pilgrimage that they might have forgotten over time.
The new screening initiative is expected to strengthen the process of selecting Hajj preachers in Katsina State by placing greater emphasis on knowledge, competence, accountability and the ability to properly guide pilgrims.
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!