Today, too, some countries hold international competitions with the same purpose, that is, to create division and split up Muslims.
Iraqi Quran activist Ibtisam Abdel Karim Ali Hussein Al-Madani made the remarks in an interview with IQNA, criticizing those countries that refuse to invite certain Islamic states to their international Quran contests.
She said international Quranic events should be venues for strengthening Islamic unity, fraternity and friendship but organizers of some of these events forget this fact and refuse to invite participants from certain Islamic states.
Dean of Kufa Teachers Training College said there is no good in such competitions because of their divisive role.
She said such events are like Al-Dirar Mosque whose main purpose was to foment division and discord among Muslims and, thus, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) ordered it to be demolished.
Ms Al-Madani underlined the role of international Quran contests in the development of the Quranic culture and fostering morality in society.
She said organizing Quran competitions is a blessed activity and congratulated everyone who is involved in organizing such events.
The Iraqi Quran activist said the intention of the organizers and overseers of the contests is of paramount importance. “If the intention is serving the Quran and the human society, then Quranic competitions are among the best ways to promote Quranic education.”
She said Quran contests encourage the youth and teenagers to learn the Quran and its concepts and teachings, provided that the purpose behind them is not to spread discord.
She underlined that unity among Muslims, especially the contestants, is an important outcome of Quran competitions, adding that the Quran in all of its verses and Surahs calls for unity and fraternity.
Elsewhere in her remarks, Ms Al-Madani referred to the categories of Quran contests saying that most of these Quranic events are held in recitation and memorization while the categories of Quranic concepts and interpretation are usually neglected.
She regretted that these two important categories are not paid enough attention and Quran activists only focus on areas like Lahn, recitation and Tajweed.
The Iraqi Quran activist stated that while there are a large number of Quran reciters and memorizers, there is little attention paid to the content of the Quran.
She also referred to the participation of women in Quranic activities and said the level of women’s participation in this area is very low and that is regrettable.
Dean of Kufa Teachers Training College said the Quranic and Islamic culture is spreading in society today and women, as part of the society, should get involved in this process.
Desecration of the Quran was another issue that Al-Madani referred to in this interview, saying that there should be proper responses to insults against Islamic sanctities and that international Quran competitions are good venues for that purpose.
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