South Africa hosts international Qur’aan challenge
Excitement is mounting for the eagerly awaited International Qur’aan Recital Award (IQRA) that is due to take place from 18 to 21 September 2014 at Masjidul Baghr, in Strandfontein, Cape Town.
The event is an attempt by the South African Qur’aan Union to honour the efforts of students and teachers of the Holy Qur’aan throughout the world. The event serves as an added encouragement for individuals to improve, and hence the aim of the program is to promote and maintain high levels of Qur’anic learning and service, as well as to train and earmark successful local candidates for international platforms.
Apart from featuring reciters from other countries, the event also comprises a female contest, a special section for past winners (champs of champs’ category), and the annual Servant of the Holy Qur’aan Award.
Evaluation and judges
The judging of the recitals are done in accordance with strict international standards and covers the areas of Tajweed, eloquence, voice, and beautiful presentation. The adjudication panel comprises a number of highly qualified experts and reciters of the Holy Qur’aan. Among them are Qari Ayoob Esack, head of Tajweed and Qiraa’aat at Daarul Uloom Zakariyyah in Gauteng, as well as Sheikh Sami Shahaat Abdul Baqi and Sheikh Eid Abol-Hasan from Egypt.
Program of events at Masjidul Baghr
Thurs, 18 Sept, after Maghrib- female recital contest. This section, which is a female- only occasion, is one of the later features of the event since its inception nine years ago.
Fri, 19 Sept after |Maghrib- Preliminary rounds of all the male reciters under the ages of 15 and 18 years respectively.
Sat, 20 Sept from 9am till 1pm- Preliminary rounds of the (male) under 23 and over 24 year categories.
Sat, 20 Sept after Maghrib- Presentations by the finalists in the under 15 and 18 year categories.
Sun 21 Sept from 10am to thur- competition finals for the under 23 and over 24 categories. This will be followed by the Champs of champs tournament and the announcement of the category winners.
Side programs
Listeners will be in for a treat over the four- day period with performances by some of Cape Town’s top Nasheed groups and exposure to Qur’aan reciters from all over the country.
Among the highlights will be the recitations by Qari Abdurahman Faraj from Egypt. The 19 year old youth whose recitation is reminiscent to the late Sheikh Mustafa Ismail from Egypt, will be reciting at a few venues in Gauteng before going to Cape Town for recitations at a number of Masaajid.
Reciters from Turkey, Malaysia, Tanzania, Reunion, etc., will also be participating at the event at Masjidul Baghr. The Cape Town programs will be video- streamed live on www.livestream.com/channel4sa.
The International Qur’aan Recital Award is supported by [highlight]Awqaf SA,[/highlight] Madrasah Tarteelul Quran (Pietermaritzburg), South African National Zakaah Fund, Sport taxis, Muslim Views, Radio 786, Channel 4 SA productions, Golden Feather Spur Vangate, Park Avenue stationers, Shaante lodge, MRM sounds, and Blush Media.
For any further information, participant guidelines, etc., visit: www.quranunion.co.zaor contact 083 277 3216/ 083 488 3441/info@quranunion.co.za