On October 9, on blessed Friday, Moscow International Qur'an Reciting Competition opened its doors in the conference hall of the new building of Moscow Jum'ah Mosque.

For the first time in the history of the contest, it brought together reciters from 44 countries who will contend in the nomination of hifz (recitation of the Holy Text by heart). Russia will be represented at the contest by Bilyal Adbulhalikov of the Republic of Dagestan who won the elimination rounds this summer.

Greeting the contenders, first deputy chairman of Russia Muftis Council and the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of the Russian Federation Rushan hazrat Abbyasov conveyed the greeting words of mufti sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin and specifically stressed the fact that all contenders were all, in fact, winners since they follow God-given covenant.

The contest was attended by Qur'an reciters from 44 countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bulgaria, Brunei, Canada, China, Croatia, Egypt, England, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Jordan, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Mauretania, Morocco, Netherlands, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Slovenia, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Turkey, UAE, USA and Yemen.