IX Moscow International Quran Reciting Competition

The course of development of the Russian Federation in recent years enabled the country to regain the position of the leading world state and to strengthen its political, cultural and economic potential. Our country has joined as an observer the Organization of Islamic Conference, and this fact shows the country’s course for strengthening ties with the Islamic world.

Numerous guests and participants from Iran, Kuwait, Malaysia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Sultanate Oman, Russia and other countries gathered at the IX Moscow International Quran Reciting Competition. This Competition became the occasion where everybody could see and feel the atmosphere of Islam in Russia.

This religious competition is a festive present to all the believers, as the perfect reciting of the Holy Book – the Quran – invokes special, superb feelings in people and familiarizes other people with the message of the Holy Book addressed to all the humankind. Today not only Muslims but also representatives of other religions have the opportunity to get to know the beauty of the Holy Quran being present at the competition and listening to the melody of the Quran.

We are happy to greet all the participants of the competition in Moscow, the capital of Russia with the words “Assalamu Aleikum!”. I am sure that the Moscow International Quran Reciting Competition is to become another bridge between Russia and the rest of the world.

The chairman of Russia Mufties Council mufti sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin

The History of the Moscow Quran Reciting Competition

Quran Reciting Competition in Russia started with the beginning of the third millennium.  In the year 2000 the Quran reciting competition was held for the first time in Moscow where the students of madrasas and maktabs of Moscow participated. It was held in the Moscow Cathedral Mosque and the participants competed in nominations for knowledge by heart one or two djuzes from the Holy Quran. In due course the competition gained higher status. Since 2003 it became of regional scale. And in 2005 the Moscow Quran reciting competition became All-Russian and the nomination “knowledge of the whole text of the Holy Quran by heart” was added. 

In 2007 adecision was made by Russia Mufties Council to attract more participants from many other regions and countries. Thus the competition became international. The jury of the competition also was international: there were judges from Iran, Kingdomof Saudi Arabia, Turkeyand Russia.

The IX Moscow International Quran Reciting Competition on the eve of Ramadan was held not in the building of the Moscow Cathedral Mosque, but in the concert hall Korolevsky of the Television Centre of Russia.

IX Moscow International Quran Reciting Competition   

Date: September 28, 2008

Place: Concert hall Korolevsky, Moscow, Russia

Participating countries: Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Oman, Tajikistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Russia

The jury member countries: Malaysia, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Turkey , Uzbekistan Russia.

Nomination: Knowledge of the whole text of the Holy Quran by heart

The IX Moscow International Quran Reciting Competition was preceded by information campaign, in the course of which large sections of public were informed of the conditions of the competition. The press-conference with the participation of Rushan Abbyasov, the head of International Relations department of Russia Mufties Council, Muhammad Hossein Saidian, the chairman of the jury and Erhan Mete, the member of the jury from Turkey aroused great interest within mass media, printed media, radio and television.

The competition started with the traditional sortition, that determined the order of the recitation of the participants in the first selective round. In this round all the registered Quran hafizes took part. After the first round while the counting board was calculating the scores of the participants, the visitors of the competition could witness the performance of the children ensemble “Shatlyk” whose nasheeds and songs left nobody indifferent.

The final part became the most festive and colourful part of the competition. It gathered highly esteemed guests. Among them were the chairman of Russia Mufties Council mufti sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin, the ambassadors of Muslim countries, prominent scholars and others.

Most surprising and impressing for the spectators was the dramatizing of the first sending down of the Holy Quran to the Prophet Muhammad (e). The lights went down and sura “’Alak” was recited. The darkness was lighted by lights symbolizing stars and the voice behind the scene told about the history of the first revelation of the Great Book. The staging was deeply touching. “The main idea of the dramatizing was the attempt to suggest the spectators to feel themselves involved in the events, to try to understand what feelings Prophet Muhammad (e) could have had during his first meeting with angel Jibril and to remind people one more time of the boundless wisdom of the Holy Quran”, - Renat hazrat Abyanov, the staging manager said

All the guests of the competition were greeted by mufti sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin, the chairman of Russia Mufties Council, who noted that the event was being held in the last days of the holy month of Ramadan. The mufti expressed his acknowledgement to the sponsors who contributed so much to holding such colourful event that gained higher status. Ravil hazrat was glad to notice that it became possible to hold such competitions on international scale, though it was unimaginable to hold such kinds of events 10 - 15 years ago.

On behalf of the representatives of the diplomatic Body of the Muslim countries the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Sultanate Oman Abdullah Ben Zahir Al Hussni made a speech. “I am proud with the fact that now competitions of such scale are being held in Russia and I am very happy to be present here. We see how carefully the organizers prepare and arrange the competition and we are glad that Islam in Russia is being restored to life”, - he said.

The official part of the competition was followed by fascinating performance of nasheeds by the group of performers “Kyausar” from the Islamic Republic of Iran.

According to the jury’s decision six participants got through to the grand final of the competition. Assignments were more complicated and each participant was given 5-6 minutes to recite.

After the competition finished Nelly Fatehova the Honoured Artist of Russia and Tatarstan and ensemble “ Medina ” performed religious songs – munajats – in Tatar and Russian languages. In the final part of the event prior to the awarding ceremony the chairman of the jury Muhammad Saidian showed master-class in Quran recitation.

The winners of the IX Moscow International Quran Reciting Competitionbecame:

1^st place – Akhmed Zalikhaev ( Dagestan , Russia ) – the prize of 3 000 USD

2^nd place – Magomed Magomedov ( Dagestan, Russia ) – the prize of 2 000 USD

3^rd place – Khaidarali Murodov ( Tajikistan ) – the prize of 1 000 USD

The prize of sympathy was awarded to Rushan Akshov, the participant from the Republic of Tatarstan (Russia).

“The competition was definitely held on a very decent level. We in Russia Mufties Council  hope that such kind of events will be developed in future and gain more and more admirers from different countries. We also think that the jury will be as impartial as it was this year. We hope that all the participants and the guests will keep their best recollections and only positive emotions in their hearts. We’ll welcome everybody to the jubilee X Moscow International Quran Reciting Competition”

Rushan Abbyasov, the head of the organization committee of the Competition

Jury members' impression

In the name of Allah, the most Merciful, the most Gracious. I am happy that Russia Mufties Council holds such events. The only thing I can do is to express my gratitude to them and pray Allah to help them in their future plans. I’d like to note that one of the features that speaks for the high level of the event is the fact that jury is represented by various countries. Behind all these is hard work and great efforts on behalf of Russia Mufties Council.

I’d like to note that although the level of the recitation is high still there are some remarks on the rules of Quran recitation. It is worth to work on it. I’d like to say that in case Russia Mufties Council is going to organize educational camps for development of the Quran recitations skills, we are ready to help and assist.

Sheikh Muhammad Saidian (Islamic Republic of Iran ) – the Chairman of the jury

In the name of Allah the most Merciful, the most Gracious

I am thankful to Russia for providing the opportunity for such a Competition. I express gratitude to Russia and Russia Mufties Council and the Religious board of Muslims of European part of Russia for organizing the event in a best way. I am glad that good friendly relations are being developed between Russia and Turkey.

Erhan Mete (Turkey)

I’d like to thank the organizers for the opportunity to be on the jury. This year the level of the competition is rather high. I can also highly appraise the preparation level of the participants. We were strongly impressed by the competition and we liked it very much.

Sha Ri Bin Abdullah (Malaysia)

I am very glad to be on the jury of the Competition. I’d like to thank the organizers for such a serious arrangement. The level of the recitation of the participants was very high, despite the fact that the Arabic language for many participants is not native. We are very glad that Islam is reviving in Russia.

Nabil Muhammad al Ibrahim (Saudi Arabia)

The high level of the participants and of the organization prove how much work has been done to make possible such a feast for the believers on the Blessed month of Ramadan. The Quran Reciting competition being held in Russia shows how deep and strong the roots Islam in Russiahas.

Nurmatov Zhabborali (Uzbekistan )

 

Abstracts from the Interviews with the Participants

I learn Quran for the sake of Allah. I studied a lot, both in a group and individually with the private teacher. It is not for the first time that I participate in such a competition. I took part in a Quran Reciting Competition in Saudi Arabia . And I am very happy that I participated in this competition.

Akhmed Zalikhaev. Republic of Dagestan.

I studied in Pakistan, in Moscow and Dushanbe . I had learned Quran for five years at Moscow Islamic University. I liked the competition very much. It is for the first time that I participate in such an event. In sha Allah I will take part in this competition next year. I want to thank the organizers for the invitation.

Umar Fattaev. Moscow

This is a very good country with very kind people. This is praiseworthy competition with strong participants, and it is honour for me to compete with them. For those who only start to learn Quran I advise to pay attention to the rules of tajweed.

Muhammad Ibrahim, Malaysia.

I learnt to read Quran when I was 5 years old. At 12 I became a hafiz. I studied in Turkey . I have very good impression of the competition. It is for the first time that I participate in such a competition. But in Turkey the competitions are held on a higher level. It is not easy to be Quran hafiz, it is a great achievement. I would like such competitions to be held more often.

Hasan Avci. Turkey.

I liked the competition very much. It was a great pleasure for me to participate in it. I hope that in sha Allah next year I will have an opportunity to participate in such competition here in Moscow . People are very good here. I liked to be in Russia very much.

Imad bin Nasser bin Amar. Oman.

Prospects

We are hoping in the Russia Mufties Council that the Moscow International Quran Reciting Competition where persons of high rank from Russia and abroad, scientists and cultural workers as well as all comers, no matter what religion, say Islam, Christianity or Judaism they follow, were present and could feel deeply the beauty and sense of the verses of the Holy Quran, and share the holiday devoted to the Holy Scripture, will be imparted the dimensions and reputation in Russia and abroad.

Russia Mufties council also hopes that as a consequence of the competition the good image of Islam will be enhanced in the opinion of Russian and International society.

In the year 2009 the X Moscow International Quran Reciting Competition will take place. The Jubilee Quran Reciting Competition by Allah’s will in sha Allah will be a great and colourful feast with more participants and rich and diverse cultural programme.

Russia Mufties Council welcomes Muslims of Russia as well as those from friendly Muslim countries to cooperation in carrying out the next competition that will take place in 2009.

May Allah the Most High bless all our kind undertakings and deeds and multiply them many times on the Holy month of Ramadan.