Pakistani Memorizer Hails High Level of Iran Int’l Quran Contest
Hafez Omar Khaled, who was the first contender going on to the stage for performance in the memorization category, told IQNA that he has taken part in a number of other Quran contests and compared to those events, Iran’s competition is being held at a higher level in terms of organization and the quality of performances.
He also said that his participation in the competition serves as a motivation for his students and other Quran learners to strive to enhance their Quranic skills.
Asked about Quranic education in Pakistan, Hafez Omar Khaled said teaching the Holy Book in his country is mostly done in traditional schools where students start by learning the basic and then entering the field of Tarteel, recitation or memorization in accordance with their talents and keenness.
No matter which field they choose to enter, he noted, they are all given lessons on Tajweed and enhance their skills in this area.
The Holy Quran has a very high status in Pakistan and qaris and Quran memorizers are held in high esteem, he added.
The Pakistani memorizer noted that he runs a Quran teaching center in his country whose focus is on teaching Tajweed and memorization.
Elsewhere in his remarks, he thanked the Islamic Republic of Iran for organizing the prestigious Quran contest.
The inauguration ceremony of Iran’s 39th International Holy Quran Competition was held Saturday afternoon concurrent with Eid al-Maba’ath (marking the appointment of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as the last messenger of God).
A total of 52 participants from 33 countries vie in the final round of the event. The competitions of men’s categories are staged on February 19-21 from 3:30 to 9:00 PM, local time, while the women’s categories are held on February 19-20 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, local time.
The categories include memorization, recitation and Tarteel for men and memorization and Tarteel for women.
The competition’s closing ceremony is scheduled to be held on Wednesday, February 22, with Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi in attendance.
A total of 149 Quran reciters and memorizers from 80 countries, including 114 men and 35 women, took part in the first round.
The motto of this edition, like the previous one, is “One Book, One Ummah”, a testimony to the significance that the Islamic Republic of Iran attaches to unity and fraternity among Muslim nations.
Iran’s Awqaf and Charity Affairs Organization annually organizes the international Quran contest with the participation of Quran activists from various countries.
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