The 7th Annual Mohammed VI International Quran Competition has concluded with participants from various African nations, including Niger, Nigeria, Mali, Somalia, Mauritania, Tanzania, Mauritius, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, and Rwanda, taking center stage. The results were announced yesterday in the historic city of Fez, showcasing the remarkable talents of these readers and reciters of the Quran.
According to Professor Mohamed Maghraoui, the general coordinator of the competition, the first category, which focused on the complete memorization of the Quran with the recitation style of Warsh from Nafi, featured 26 competitors. These participants demonstrated exceptional skill in memorizing the Quran and were well-versed in the rules and regulations of this recitation style, reflecting the dedication of both the readers and their mentors to precision and clarity.
In the second category, which allowed participants to recite the entire Quran with various readings and recitation styles, 42 contestants showcased good levels of memorization and recitation. All but one participant recited using the Hafs narration from Asim, while one contestant opted for the Qalun narration from Nafi, displaying a commendable ability to recall their memorization and deliver performances effectively.
The third category focused on Tajweed, requiring participants to memorize at least five sections (Hizb) of the Quran. This segment was notable not only for its high number of 46 participants but also for the age diversity among the contestants, with a significant representation from children and adolescents. The quality of contributions in this category underscored its importance in encouraging young individuals to practice Tajweed and discover their talents.
From each category, three winners were selected from countries such as Niger, Nigeria, Mali, Somalia, Mauritania, Tanzania, and Mauritius. The organizing committee decided to offer additional awards to further encourage competitors, including three encouragement prizes for each category, along with special recognitions for the youngest male and female participants. The encouragement prizes went to readers from Ivory Coast, Liberia, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, and Rwanda.
The results of the first category were as follows: first place went to Abid Allah Abubakar Ango from Niger, second place to Bashir Younis from Nigeria, and third place to Mohamed Jalo from Mali. In the second category, the winner was Abdul Qadir Yusuf Muhammad from Somalia, with Hamoud Lahbib Talib Boubakar from Mauritania taking second place, and Ismail Youssef Hamad from Tanzania coming in third. For the third category, Ahmed Ahmadou Sidi Muhammad Abu Ubaida from Mauritania secured first place, followed by Abdullah Bah from Mali in second, and Yahya Ben Ali Malam Hassan from Mauritius in third.
The award for the youngest female participant went to Hassana Baju from Gambia, aged 10, while the youngest male participant award was claimed by reader Abdul Rahman Jalo from Guinea-Bissau, who is just 7 years old. The encouragement award in the first category was given to Diara Salima from Ivory Coast, while Abdul Aziz Muhammad Diallo from Liberia received the award in the second category, and Niarakundo Muzdafa from Rwanda was honored in the third category.
The evaluation and scoring of the contestants' performances were overseen by a judging panel consisting of scholars and specialized readers from Morocco, Senegal, Tanzania, Mauritania, Nigeria, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, the Central African Republic, Burkina Faso, and Sudan. A central technical team from Fez coordinated with the technical teams from the participating 48 countries to ensure seamless remote connections and the live broadcasting of various stages of the competition.
The Mohammed VI Foundation for African Scholars aims to strengthen the connection between the African Muslim youth and the Holy Quran through this annual competition. It encourages them to memorize, recite, and perfect their recitation of the Quran while discovering and showcasing young Quranic talents across the continent. This initiative aligns with the noble aim of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, who is committed to promoting the engagement of African youth with the Quran and its values.
The foundation conducted local qualifiers from March 29 to April 26, 2026, across its 48 branches, engaging over 1,300 contestants. This led to the selection of 114 finalists, including 16 females, who represented the foundation in the final stage of the competition. The qualifiers also saw extensive involvement from African scholars, Quranic memorization centers, and educational institutions, all dedicated to encouraging youth to engage with the Quran.
Overall, the competition was divided into three categories, encompassing complete memorization with the Warsh narration, memorization with various readings, and Tajweed with the memorization of at least five sections. The top ranks were awarded to participants from Niger, Somalia, and Mauritania. The foundation also allocated encouragement prizes and recognized the youngest participants, with a 10-year-old girl from Gambia and a 7-year-old boy from Guinea-Bissau achieving notable recognitions.
As reported by iqna.ir.
