Int’l Contests Opportunity for Quranic Activists to Enhance Ties: Tunisian Memorizer
Speaking to IQNA, Asma Shalabi, who took part in the memorization category, women section, thanked the Islamic Republic for providing such an opportunity.
The 22-year-old memorizer who is a student of law in Tunisia, said she also teaches the Quran in mosques and Quran institutes.
She said she has won awards in several national Quran contests in her country and it was her first participation in an international Quranic event.
Shalabi also said that she consider Tahir bin Ashur, a Tunisian Quran interpreter, Islamic jurist and literary figure as a role model.
As for her future Quranic plans, the Tunisian girl said that after memorizing the entire Quran, she is now seeking to learn the ten styles of Quran recitation.
She added that she is keen on listening to Quran recitations by Egyptian qari Sheikh al-Ma’asarawi.
The final round of Iran’s 39th International Holy Quran Competition kicked off here in Tehran last Saturday and concluded in a ceremony on Wednesday evening, where winners of different categories were named and awarded.
This edition of the international Quranic event was held in two stages, with the first round having been attended by 150 contenders from 80 countries.
From among them, 52 qaris and memorizers from 33 countries made it to the final round.
The motto of this year’s competition was “One Book, One Ummah”.
Sareh Mubarak from Oman was another contender in the women section. She competed in Tarteel recitation.
She told IQNA that she started learning Tarteel at the university and after that began memorizing the Holy Quran.
She said she recites the Quran with the narration of Hafs from Asim and likes the recitations of Egyptian masters like Muhammad Sidiq Minshawi and Mahmoud Khalil al-Husari.
This was her second participation in an international Quranic event after taking part in one in Saudi Arabia.
She said Quran competitions and other Quranic programs held at universities in her country play a major role in attracting the youth to Quranic activities.
And Sadia Omar Abubakra from Cameroon was a contender in the memorization category.
She said she learned the Quran by heart at home with the support of her father and sister.
The 20-year-old student of Arabic language and literature said it took her five years to memorize the entire Holy Book.
She had previously attended the Dubai international Holy Quran award in the UAE and came 7th.
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