Quran Contests Like ‘Zayen al-Aswat’ Give Youth Motivation, Purpose: Senior Qari
Ahmad Abolqassemi made the remark in an interview, adding that participants in these competitions also gain the necessary preparation and experience to take part in international Quranic events.
The first edition of the Zayen al-Aswat Quran contest was held in the holy city of Qom on October 1-2, 2025.
More than 1,600 applicants from all 31 provinces had registered, with 94 reaching the final stage. Participants, aged 14 to 24, competed in different forms of recitation under the supervision of international judges.
The competition, held under the slogan “Quran, the Book of the Faithful,” was organized by the Al al-Bayt Institute’s Quranic Affairs Center with support from cultural and Quranic organizations. All recitations were recorded and will be published through the institute’s media platforms.
In the interview, Abolqassemi described the competition as an important beginning for creating a revolution in the field of Quranic competitions, and considered its holding a step towards promoting the pure culture of the Quran.
“In order to progress, society needs role models and champions who are formed in the arena of healthy competition. Competitions like Zayen al-Aswat provide an exceptional opportunity to identify and introduce brilliant talents to society.”
He stated that “in our country, Quran reciters are not utilized to the extent of their existing capabilities. This issue can reduce motivation in people who have embarked on this arduous path. A reciter needs multiple arenas to display his capabilities in order to maintain motivation and continuous effort.”
He added, “Unfortunately, we witness that in many public and private ceremonies, the unique capacity of Quran recitation to create a spiritual and memorable atmosphere is not used. While field experiences have shown that in every gathering where Quran recitation has found its true place, the audience has welcomed it with great enthusiasm.
“It is natural that when this space is not provided for a qari, the necessary motivation and hope will decrease.”
He considered the Zayen al-Aswat contest a key solution to compensate for this deficiency, stating, “This competition gives young people motivation and purpose and provide an accurate benchmark for assessing their personal growth. In addition, participants in these competitions gain the necessary preparation and experience to participate in international arenas.”
According to Abolqassemi, the unique feature of Zayen al-Aswat is that it is managed by the private sector.
“This feature gives the competition secretariat the necessary flexibility and courage to hold a major Quranic event without facing traditional structures and to be able to design completely new and creative models and formats for the competition.”
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There is the potential for the qualitative level of competition to fundamentally transform and improve with this approach, he stated. “We have specific proposals to realize this vision and hope that, with the cooperation of all relevant institutions, we will witness the consolidation of this valuable event in the calendar of Quranic activities in the country.”
He also emphasized the role of the media in promoting such events and said, “If the media provides a true reflection of Quranic efforts through the language of art, emotion, and expertise, the motivation of the young generation to enter this path will definitely multiply.
“Popular media coverage, live broadcasts of recitations, and the publication of short documentaries about the lives of young reciters can leave a lasting impact on society’s minds and bring the Quran from the limited space of special circles to the hearts of the people.”
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