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Conscious of placing Quranic events in a social justice context, the International Qur’aan Recital Awards (IQRA) that took place from September 13 to 15, 2024 at Masjidul Bahr in Strandfontein Cape Town, incorporated recitations and reflections of the Quran imbibing pertinent lessons and messages related to Palestine and the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
The event, organised by the South African Qur’aan Union, Madrasah Tarteelul Quraan, Awqaf SA and the Strandfontein Islamic Assembly, was used as a platform to train upcoming local reciters for international competitions and to maintain high standards of recitation.
This year’s event also showcased the diversity of Quranic recitation talent in the global ummah with reciters from Malaysia, Tanzania and Egypt participating.
The event was consciously designed to highlight the ongoing genocide in occupied Palestine. The verses selected for recital included Surah Al-Isra, and relevant portions of surahs Al-Baqarah and Al-Ahzab, and the commentary by the resident imam and various speakers highlighted relevant lessons and drew inspiration for the struggle to liberate Bayt al-Maqdis and the rest of Palestine.
The Palestine Information Network commended ‘the initiative for maintaining the centrality of Gaza in the discourse and emphasising the importance of the Quran in the trajectory of uplifting the ummah’.
Preceded by preliminary programmes throughout the country, the three-day event at Masjidul Bahr in Strandfontein was a culmination of months of hard work and preparation on the part of the participants.
The best-performing reciters in the various categories were:
Under 15-year category:
- Muhammad Bham, Johannesburg
- Muhammad Sauliegh Abduraghman, Cape Town
Under 18-year category:
- Abdurahmaan De Vries, Cape Town
- Adam Brenner, Cape Town
- Ismaeel Ahmed, Cape Town
Under 23-year category:
- Zuhair Isaacs, Cape Town
- Gaazim Adams, Cape Town
- Ammaar Haroun, Cape Town
24 years and over:
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- Hamidu Bakary Ally, Tanzania
- Musa Brown, Cape Town
- Abdul Muizz Lakay, Cape Town
There was only one category for female participants and the best-performing reciters were:
- Nabeelah Brown, Cape Town
- Saadiqah Rhoda, Cape Town
- Ruqaya Adams, Cape Town
In the special feature, ‘Champ of Champs category’, winners from the previous competitions were engaged in an open-aged recital challenge. These contestants were required to recite unprepared from a randomly selected portion of the Quran.
Mujaahied de Vries from Cape Town was adjudicated the top reciter in this section followed by the 13-year-old, Abdul-Fattaagh Allie, also from Cape Town, whilst Tanzanian national Abdullah Mohammed Sidon clinched the third place position.
The recitals were judged in accordance with strict international standards by a panel of qualified and proficient Quran recitation experts.
Qari Mahmoud Abdussalaam from Egypt and Shaikh Ismaeel Berdien from Cape Town evaluated the tajweed sections. Both scholars have completed advanced studies in the sciences of Quran recitation.
Egyptian Qari Muhammad Salaah Sha’rawi judged the voice section whilst the Malaysian national reciter, Qari Amirahmaan Abbas, adjudicated the presentation style.
In his address, Shaikh Ismaeel Berdien noted that there was a marked increase in the standard of recitations this year and that reciters should continue to give due regard to the application of tajweed rules.
The verses that were recited in the context of the occupation of Palestine and the ongoing slaughter of innocents by the Zionist regime were expounded upon by Mualliamah Magboeba Davids, Moulana Anees Kara, the Imam of the Maraisburg Masjid in Johannesburg, and Shaikh Ebrahim Dawood, principal of Darul Arqam High in Cape Town.
A further programme with the international guests was held at various mosques and Hifdh institutions in Cape Town.
Founder member and head of the organising committee, Shaikh Muntahaa Kenny, considers the event to be a success in that it worked towards its aim which is to recognise local talent and develop it to international standards.
‘The inclusion of international reciters continues to bring a different dimension to the programme,’ he added. ‘With contestants coming from Tanzania this year, it broadened the development and experience of local and international Quran reciters whilst adding to a continued high level of healthy competitiveness among the youth.’
Making special mention of the achievements of Muhammad Bham and Abdul-Fattaagh Allie, Shaikh Muntahaa foresees a bright future for the development of young reciters in South Africa. At only 10-years-old, Muhammad Bham was the youngest contestant in the competition finals.
The participation of a record number of females in the preliminary rounds of the competition was equally encouraging, said Shaikh Muntahaa.
IQRA 2024 was supported by the Muslim Judicial Council’s Department of Quranic Affairs, Cape Town Muslim Events, Rygate Tactical Solutions, Bagazio, Akays Photos and MRM sounds. The event was broadcast on the media channels of Al Jeem International, Bilaal TV, and Hilaal TV.
The organisers, in expressing their thanks and appreciation to all the role players that contributed to the success of the event, also stressed the need for greater support for future projects of this nature. The organising committee, under the leadership of Shaikh Muntahaa Kenny, invites other institutions to partner or support them in preparing for next year’s IQRA.
Recordings of the event are available on the South African Qur’aan Union’s FaceBook page. For further information regarding the event, Shaikh Muntahaa Kenny may be contacted on the mobile number +27833773216 or email, chairman@quranunion.co.za.
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