Celebrating the Winners of the Muhammad VI International Quran Competition
The seventh annual session of the Muhammad VI International Quran Competition has witnessed remarkable participation from readers and reciters across various African nations, including Niger, Nigeria, Mali, Somalia, Mauritania, Tanzania, Mauritius, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, and Rwanda. The finals were announced recently in the city of Fes, showcasing the profound dedication and talent of the participants in memorizing, reciting, and perfecting the recitation of the Holy Quran.
During the presentation of the competition report, Professor Mohamed Maghraoui, the general coordinator of the event, elaborated on the first category, which focused on the complete memorization of the Quran with the Warsh recitation from Nafi. This category featured 26 competitors who displayed exceptional skills in memorization and recitation, demonstrating their mastery of this style and its associated rules. This not only reflects the rigorous training that the participants have undergone but also the commitment of their teachers to ensure a high standard of performance.
Categories and Achievements
The second category, which allowed for the memorization of the Quran with various recitations and readings, included 42 participants. The level of performance in this section was commendable, with all competitors reciting in the Hafs narration from Asim, with the exception of one participant who utilized the Qalon narration from Nafi. All participants exhibited strong ability in recalling their memorized verses and delivering them with clarity and precision, further highlighting the diverse talents present in the competition.
In the third category, which required participants to master the art of Tajweed while memorizing at least five sections of the Quran, there were 46 competitors. Notably, this category attracted a wide range of age groups, with many children and adolescents taking part. The quality of submissions was impressive, emphasizing the importance of this category in encouraging younger generations to engage with Tajweed and nurture their talents in Quranic recitation.
Three winners were announced from each category, representing countries such as Niger, Nigeria, Mali, Somalia, Mauritania, Tanzania, and Mauritius. Additionally, the organizing committee decided to offer extra awards to encourage contestants, including three special prizes for each category and two additional awards for the youngest male and female participants. These encouragement prizes were awarded to reciters from Ivory Coast, Liberia, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, and Rwanda.
The results of the first category featured Abid Allah Abu Bakr Ango from Niger taking first place, followed by Bashir Younis from Nigeria in second, and Muhammad Jalo from Mali in third. In the second category, the first prize went to Abdul Qadir Yusuf Muhammad from Somalia, with Hamoud Lahbib Talib Boubakar from Mauritania and Ismail Yusuf Hamad from Tanzania securing second and third places, respectively. The third category saw Ahmed Ahmedou Sidi Muhammad Abu Ubaida from Mauritania take the top spot, followed by Abdallah Bah from Mali and Yahya bin Ali Malam Hassan from Mauritius.
Among the youngest participants, Hasna Baju from Gambia, aged 10, won the prize for the youngest female contestant, while 7-year-old Abdul Rahman Jalo from Guinea-Bissau received the award for the youngest male contestant. The encouragement prize in the first category went to Diara Salima from Ivory Coast, while Abdul Aziz Muhammad Diallo from Liberia won in the second category, and Nirarakondo Muzdifa from Rwanda in the third category.
A panel of judges, consisting of scholars and specialized readers from Morocco, Senegal, Tanzania, Mauritania, Nigeria, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, the Central African Republic, Burkina Faso, and Sudan, oversaw the evaluation and scoring of the participants' performances, conducting their assessments from Fes. A central technical team from Fes, in coordination with the local technical teams from the participating 48 countries, ensured seamless remote connections for the event, enabling contestants to participate from their respective nations.
The Muhammad VI Foundation for African Scholars aims to enhance the connection of young African Muslims with the Holy Quran through this annual competition, encouraging them to memorize, recite, and perfect their recitation skills while uncovering and promoting young Quranic talents across the continent. This initiative aligns with the high regard and attention that His Majesty King Mohammed VI, the Commander of the Faithful, pays to the Quran and its adherents, emphasizing the importance of instilling Quranic values in the youth.
The local eliminations were held from March 29 to April 26, 2026, across the foundation's 48 branches, with over 1,300 participants vying for a chance to qualify. Ultimately, 114 contestants, including 16 females, advanced to represent their branches in the final stage of the competition, showcasing the extensive involvement of scholars, Quranic reading centers, and educational institutions in promoting Quranic memorization within the African community.
As reported by iqna.ir.
