On the 24th day of the month of Muharram (July 19), the 8th All-Russian Open Qur’an memorization contest among men was held in the Aznakaevo Muhtasibat (local Muslim religious authority). Contestants in the category “Memorization of the last two Juz’ of the Qur’an” competed at the “Ak Mechet” Mosque in Aznakaevo, while the remaining participants took part at the “Tau” Youth Center in the same city. The event was organized by the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of the Republic of Tatarstan, the Aznakaevo Muhtasibat, with support from the local district administration.
The competition aimed to encourage Muslims to memorize the Qur’an and learn the rules of proper recitation (tajwid), deepen their knowledge of the Holy Qur’an, and support their continuous efforts to master it.
Three categories were presented at the contest:
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Complete memorization of the entire Holy Qur’an (Hifz)
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Memorization of the last two Juz’ of the Qur’an
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Memorization of the “Haftiyak Sharif” (including Surah Al-Fatihah, the first five verses of Surah Al-Baqarah, Surah Ya-Sin, and from Surah Al-Fath to the end of the Qur’an) with adherence to tajwid rules.
More than 70 participants from various regions of Russia and Tatarstan took part in the event. The contest began with a welcome from respected religious leaders. On behalf of the Mufti Kamil Hazrat, warm greetings were delivered by the Qadi of the Southeastern Region of Tatarstan, Imam-Muhtasib of Yutazinsky District, Marat Hazrat Mardanshin.
Azat Hazrat Talibullin, Imam-Muhtasib of the Aznakaevo District, explained the competition’s format and rules. The contest was open to male Russian citizens of all ages, with each participant eligible to enter only one category.
Participants were evaluated by a highly qualified jury headed by Sheikh Ma’mun Ar-Rawi, a renowned master of Hifz with the highest degree of Qur’anic memorization, chief judge in Qur’an contests across the Gulf countries. He is a descendant of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and a member of the Commission on the Manuscript Qur’an in Kazan.
Contestants were judged based on three main criteria: memorization accuracy, vocal performance, correct pronunciation and tajwid.
During the event, participants and guests also honored the memory of Valiulla Hazrat Yakupov (1963–2012) – a prominent Tatar-Muslim figure and former imam-khatib of the Apanayevskaya Mosque – by offering a du’a (supplication) on his behalf.
Winners:
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Ahmad Shahmamedov from Kazan took 1st place in the Complete Qur’an Memorization (Hifz) category and was awarded a certificate for Umrah.
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Gabdulgali Sharipov from Kukmor District won 1st place in the Memorization of the Last Two Juz’ category.
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Zinnur Khayrutdinov from Nizhnekamsk became the winner in the “Häftiyäk Sharif” Memorization category.
Among the youngest participants recognized were Ahmed Bibarsov from the Penza Region and Khalim Nizamov from Zelenodolsk.
Source: dumrt.ru
