Holy Karbala hosts annual Quran contest

By: Ismail Zabeeh

HOLY CITY OF KARBALA, Iraq: Marking the reception of holy month of Ramadan, the 22nd holy Quran competition concluded in the holy city of Karbala, home to the holy shrines of Al-Imam Al-Hussein bin Ali bin Abi Talib (p) and Hazrat Al-Abbas bin Ali bin Abi Talib (p).

Holy Quran Association organized the three-day contest for Holy Quran Hifz (memorization), Tilawah (recitation) and Tafsir (interpretation) in Husseiniyah Al-Imam Al-Hassan Al-Mojtabaa (p) in the City of Al-Imam Al-Hussein (p) – Holy Karbala.

28 contesters from Quraa (reciters), 35 Huffaz (those who memorize the Quran) and 14 contesters in Tafsir (interpretation) besides 15 little Quraa and Huffaz participated in the contest, 2nd in Holy Karbala.

The first 20 contests were held in the holy city of Qom, Iran, attended by Iraqis, Iranians, Afghanis, brothers from Gulf States and many other countries.

General administrator of Holy Quran Association, the reciter professor Hajji Mustafa As-Sarraf opened the spiritual ceremony, while Syed Muhammad Ali Ash-Shirazi, son of late Ayatullah Sayyed Muhammad Al-Husseini Ash-Shirzai, addressed the concluding ceremony and threw light on the greatness of Quran, Quranic knowledge and its signs in human life.

Later prizes were awarded to the winners of the contest.

In full Quran memorization, first prize went to Ali Asghar Al-Mansouri from Basra while 2nd prize was awarded to Hamzah Al-Fatlawi from Holy Karbala.

In 20 part memorization, Abdullah Shaghil from Baghdad stood first, Mathna Hadi from Basra bagged 2nd position while third prize went to Ali Badar Al-Khaqani from Basra.

In 10 part memorization, Arshad Abdud-Daem from Basra scored first position, Izzat Aziz from Basra stood 2nd while Abdul Hafiz Yousaf from Basra bagged third position.

In 05 part memorization, first prize went to Wael Abdul Ghaffor from Basra, 2nd prize to Bassem Muhammad Al-Fazal from Basra and third prize was awarded to Ta’athur Habib Hamzah from Basra.

In recitation, Sayyed Hasnain Al-Halw from Basra stood first, Mustafa Al-Ghalbi 2nd and Mo’tez Abdelkarim bagged third position.

In interpretation, first prize was awarded to Sayyed Haydar Abdelamir Aziz Al-Mousavi from Holy Karbala, 2nd prize went to Sayyed Alaa Abbas Nasrullah from Holy Karbala while the third to Imran Shaker Farhan from Holy Karbala.

All participants were served with dinner.

Last year, the winners were sent on the association expenses to a number of Islamic States to get knowledge of its landmarks, its civilization and visit of sacred places.

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