{
  "id": 19116276,
  "title": "‘Awwal Al-Awael’ Quran competition begins",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/09/awwal-al-awael-quran-competition-begins",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-09T07:21:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Peninsula Qatar",
    "slug": "the-peninsula-qatar",
    "url": "https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/09/11/2026/awwal-al-awael-quran-competition-begins"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Doha, Qatar - The highly anticipated third edition of Qatar's prestigious 'Awwal Al-Awael' Quran competition kicked off its first stage on November 9, pitting 42 contestants from 19 countries against one another. Organized by the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, the event is the international counterpart to the Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani Holy Quran Competition.\n\nFeaturing top Quran memorizers who previously claimed victory in international competitions or the Sheikh Jassim full Quran memorization category over the past three years, the competition brings together the brightest minds in Quranic memorization, recitation, and Tajweed. Judges, comprising esteemed scholars specializing in Quranic readings and Tajweed, will assess the participants at the Imam Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab Mosque in Doha.\n\nThe contestants, selected from an initial pool of 98 applicants from 35 countries, underwent virtual evaluations before advancing to Doha. Reflecting the competition's name, 'Awwal Al-Awael' (First Among the Best), the finalists will compete for the grand prize of QR1 million in the final rounds on November 16 and 17, culminating in a closing ceremony on November 19.",
  "summary": "<p>Doha, Qatar: The third edition of Qatar&rsquo;s international Quran competition, &lsquo;Awwal Al-Awael&rsquo;, will begin its first stage today, November 9, bringing together 42 contestants representing 19 countries to compete for the title of the best among the best Quran memorisers.</p> <p>Organised by the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, the competition is the international branch of…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}