Awqaf Minister praises high standards of contestants in ‘Awwal Al-Awael’ Quran contest

Doha, Qatar – The Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs’ leader, H E Ghanem bin Shaheen bin Ghanem Al Ghanim, has commended the exceptional level of talent showcased by participants in the third edition of the international Quran recitation contest, ‘Awwal Al-Awael’. The minister’s praise highlighted the contestants’ exceptional command of the Quran, top-tier recitation quality, and dedication to excellence.

During a visit to the first-round competitions at the Imam Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab Mosque in Doha, the minister observed a diverse group of contestants from 19 nations competing before an esteemed international panel of Quranic scholars and Tajweed experts. The competition aims to identify the most outstanding Quran reciters, with only ten participants advancing to the finals to vie for the ‘Awwal Al-Awael’ title and a first prize of QR1 million.

Out of 98 applicants from 35 countries, 82 contestants representing 33 nations made it to the in-person stage after the preliminary qualifying round. The assessment criteria encompassed memorization of the entire Quran, vocabulary understanding based on Al-Siraj fi Bayan Gharib Al-Quran, recitation, Tajweed application, vocal quality, and overall performance.

The first-round competition will continue until November 14, with final results expected on November 15. The final round will be held on November 16-17, followed by a closing ceremony on November 19. The event has also shed light on the inspiring personal stories of participants who have excelled academically and professionally alongside their Quranic memorization, such as Egyptian orthopedic surgeon Ahmed Mohammed Ali Amer and Doctor of Quranic Studies Hamada Mohammed El Sayed Khattab.