Doha, Qatar: Ministry of Endowments (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs has successfully concluded the qualifying round of the third edition of the ‘Awal Al-Awael’ International Quran Competition, the international segment of the Founder Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani Quran Competition.
The qualifying round saw broad international participation, with 82 contestants from 33 countries around the world.
The competition’s organising committee praised the prominent role played by Qatar’s embassies abroad in supporting the contestants and ensuring the success of their participation in the qualifying round. The embassies hosted the contestants at their premises and provided a suitable environment for them to take the tests remotely via video conferencing technology.
The qualifying round also featured the participation of two contestants from Qatar, Abdullah Hamad Salem Bu Shreida and Abdulaziz Abdullah Al Hamri, who competed alongside an elite group of Quran memorisers who have previously won first places in recognised international and semi-international Quran competitions.
The organising committee affirmed that close cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Qatar’s embassies in participating countries played a significant role in creating suitable conditions for contestants and providing an appropriate environment for them to take the remote tests in accordance with the highest standards of organisation and accuracy.
The committee noted that Qatar’s embassies facilitated participation procedures, hosted contestants at their premises and provided the necessary logistical and technical support. This contributed to the success of the qualifying round and ensured equal opportunities for all contestants.
The committee expressed its deep appreciation to Qatar’s embassies for their efforts and fruitful cooperation, stressing that this institutional integration embodies Qatar’s mission of serving the Holy Quran and supporting its memorisers around the world.
The ‘Awal Al-Awael’ International Quran Competition is regarded as one of the most prestigious international Quran competitions. It is distinguished by exceptional eligibility requirements, with participation limited to those who have won first place in recognised international or semi-international Quran competitions, in addition to winners of first place in the complete Quran memorisation category of the Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani Quran Competition during the three years preceding the competition.
The participants in this edition represent the elite of the elite among Quran memorisers and reciters who have previously secured top positions in major Quran competitions worldwide.
This gives the competition an exceptionally high level of strength and proficiency and makes the race for the Awal Al-Awael title one of the highest forms of international Quranic competition.
The competition will move to its second stage in November, when Qatar will host the 40 qualifiers for in-person competitions at Imam Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab Mosque, in a competitive atmosphere bringing together elite Quran memorizers from countries around the world.
The competitions will be held publicly before an international judging panel comprising leading scholars specialising in Quranic readings and Tajweed from across the Islamic world.
The top 10 contestants will qualify for the final stage, which will feature an intense final competition among the world’s elite Quran memorisers for the “Awal Al-Awael” title and the highest-value prize in the history of international Quran competitions, amounting to
QR1m.
