A young man from Madan presented Bulgaria at a prestigious international competition for Qur’an memorizers in Dubai

He is one of the graduates of the only in Bulgaria center for training of Qur’an memorizers – this in the mining town of Madan. His name is Mehdi Musakev and is 18 years old.He took his first steps to the memorization of the Qur’an in his early childhood, the young man managed to learn by heart the text of the Holy Qur’an just for three years. This happens under the guidance mainly of Shefket Murad Hadzhi and with the help of Bayram Ushev, who are also memorizers of the Qur’an and teachers in the training course in Madan.

Mehdi undertook the endeavor together with his brother, who is also already a memorizer of the Qur’an (hafiz). Today the young boy is a formergraduate of the Training course for hafizes in the mining town and works for the family business.

For his young age Mehdi Musakev has participated in a number of international competitions for hafizes – in Turkey, Macedonia and Croatia, and do not hide his happiness of this.

        This year during the Holy month of Ramadan the young man from Madan had the opportunity to participate in the international competition Dubai International Holy Qur’an Award – one of the most prestigious competitions for hafizes in the world. The prestigious award is presented every year in the framework of the spectacular competition, financed by the Government of Dubai. This year was the 22^nd edition of the competition, and Mehdi Musakev from Bulgaria was one of the total 104 participants from more than 160 countries round the world. Since 1997 to nowadays nearly 1800 hafizes have participated in this competition, but the present year their number is a record.

         “People often say that the participation in Dubai International Holy Qur’an Award is a dream of every hafiz round the world. What did you got from the participation in the international competition? – I asked the young hafiz Musakev.

“This is true. Personally for me visiting Dubai has always been a dream of mine. And the opportunity to be there at a competition for memorization of the Qur’an, where to present entire Bulgaria, is just unique! A dream of mine became reality” – Mehdi shared for Grandmufti.bg.

     This year the program of the international competition in Dubai was opened on May 17 and continued 20 days in total from the Holy month of Ramadan. It was traditionally divided into 3 panels – panel for lectures during the first six days, and then it continued with the 12-day competition for memorization of the Holy Book and ended with presenting the prestigious award “Islamic Person of the Year”, part of the international event.

        Taking into consideration that it is the month of Ramadan, the audition of the competing hafizes took place in the evening, and they were divided into groups for each of the days. The participation of Mehdi Musakev, who presented Bulgaria, was scheduled for June 2 this year (Saturday).

I asked him what is the feeling to recite the Qur’an in front of so many people, among whom are for example people like Sheikh Al-Hudhaifi – imam of the mosque of the Prophet (pbuh) in Medina, and a number of other prominent hafizes, imams and sheiks from all over the world?

         “The feeling to stand in front of such people in order to recite the Holy Qur’an is just indescribable. You must be happy and to thank the Almighty Allah for giving you such an opportunity” – said the young Muslim.

While talking about the preparation of the young man for this year’s major competition for memorization of the Qur’an in Dubai, he did not miss to thank the people near him with the words: “I thank my teachers, who despite of the fact that I have already completed the course for hafizes, helped me in the preparation. I thank them for their efforts during all these years in which we have been together in order to achieve this. For me they are part of my family.”

 It is a fact that the Muslim community in the native town of Mahdi, Madan, with a great excitement watched the performance of the hafiz at the competition in Dubai. Days after the end of the competition he expresses gratitude to everyone from the community who has somehow supported him during his participation. - “The success in not only mine. The success is ours”. – concludes the 18-years old hafiz from Madan. 

Mehdi Musakev (center) during his participation in the tight competition 

        At the end of our conversation we reached to the often used metaphor for the hafizes. “The Guardians of the Qur’an”. In the light of this I asked him how does he accept this role, what is the meaning for him of knowing the Holy text of the Qur’an by heart?

“According to me “the Guardians of the Qur’an” is the most exact phrase, which can describe the people like me. Because after memorizing the Holy Qur’an comes the more difficult part, to preserve it in your heart” – replied hafiz Mehdi, who just a few days ago presented with dignity our country at the prestigious competition in memorization of the Qur’an in Dubai - Dubai International Holy Qur’an Award 2018.

***Video of the participation of hafiz Mehdi Musakev at the competition Dubai International Holy Qur’an Award 2018 in the United Arab Emirates can be seen here.

 Author: L. Chausheva