Within the period from August 26 to 28, 2020 the Muslim Denomination in the Republic of Bulgaria held the XII National Competition for Memorization and Artistic Reading of the Holy Qur’an. The competition was organized by Grand Mufti’s Office and Regional Mufti’s Office – Smolyan with the assistance of the Muslim boards of trustees of Smolyan and Madan. The preliminary and the final rounds of the competition took place in the central mosque of the town of Smolyan and the administrative building of the Regional Mufti’s Office on August 26 and 27, and on August 28 in the central mosque in the town of Madan was held the official and solemn part of the event. Due to the pandemic this year the competition was held with a strict compliance with the anti-epidemic measures.

In the three-day competition there were 36 participants in total – 26 boys and men and 10 girls and women. The jury that assessed the participants was in two separate compositions – respectively for men and for women. The five-member jury for the male participating consisted of a Chairman – Beyhan Mehmed – Regional Mufti of Kardzhali, Dr. Kadir Muhammed – a lecturer in the HII in Sofia, hafiz Azis Mehmed – imam of the town of Velingrad, hafiz Ibrahim Hodzha – imam in the village of Breznitsa, and Mehmed Terzi – Secretary at the Embassy of the Republic of Turkey. A secretary and a spokesperson of the jury was Hafiz Shefket Hadzhi – a Director of the Training course for hafizes “Hafiz Murad Hadzhi” in the town of Madan.

The women were assessed by a jury, chaired by Hafiz Seniha Shefket Hasan – head of the Qur’an course in the town of Madan, Hafiz Hatidzhe Hodzha – head of the Qur’an course in the town of Dospat, and Myumine Sherifova – head of the Qur’an course in the town of Rudozem

After the tough race between the participants in the different categories of the competition, there were selected the finalists in each of them.

The girls and the women competed in 3 categories, and in the category for memorization of juz “Amma” above the age of 15, the  winner was Zaide Ibrosh from the village of Breznitsa. At second place ranked Alide Kapo from the village of Breznitsa, and at third place – Vahdia Arnaudova from the town of Rudozem.

In the category for memorization of juz “Amma” under the age of 15 old at first place ranked Amber Hodzha from the village of Breznitsa. At second place ranked Nur Murad from the town of Madan, and at third place – Nayle Molaismail from the village of Bel Kamen.

In the category for memorization of 5 ajza at first place ranked Fatme Kapanak, and at second – Adile Kambach.

The boys and the men competed in 6 categories. The winner in the category for artistic reading was Mehmed Kyamil from the village of Mominsko, Plovdiv region. At second place ranked Sinan Ahmed from the town of Momchilgrad, and at third place – Yashar Efendi from the town of Krichim.

In the category for memorization of juz “Amma” above the age of 15 the first place won Enes Syuleymanchelebi from the town of Madan, the second place – Erkut Aptula from the village of Benkovski, and the third – Hayridin Sakali from the village of Breznitsa.

The fist place in the category for memorization of juz “Amma” under the age of 15 won Halis Halil from the village of Kandyovi, Pazardzhik region, the second place – Sami Eminev from the town of Madan, and the third place – Ali Hodzha from the village of Breznitsa.