A total of 43 memorizers and readers of the Qur'an in a challenge race at the 11-th national competition in Madan

On the 10th of August this year (Friday) the XI-th National Competition for the Memorization and Artistic Recitation of the Holy Qur'an took place in in the "hafiz city" of Madan. Тhat feast for all the believers and residents of Madan Municipality was carried out with a rich program. It was organized by the Grand Mufti’s Office of Muslims in the Republic of Bulgaria together with the Regional Mufti’s Office – Smolyan, as well as with the assistance of the Muslim Board of Trustees - Madan.

The official guests of the ceremony were the Grand Mufti of the Republic of Bulgaria Dr. Mustafa Alish Hadzhi, the Deputy Grand Mufti Birali Myumyun, as well as a number of regional muftis from all over the country. The regional mufti of Smolyan, who was also a host of the official event - Nedzhmi Dabov, the regional mufti of Plovdiv Taner Veli, the regional mufti of Kardzhali Beyhan Mehmed, and also the deputy mufti of Krumovgrad Nasuf Khalil were among them, too. The representatives of the Turkish diplomatic mission in Bulgaria - the social affairs attaché of the Embassy of the Republic of Turkey in Bulgaria Dr. Ulvi Ata, the social affairs attaché of the General Consulate of the Republic of Turkey in Plovdiv Metin Akbash also attended the event.

This year's celebration of the Holy Qur’an in Madan was also honored by the representatives of the local administration - the Mayor of Madan Municipality Fahri Molaysenov, the member of Parliament - representative of Smolyan region Hayri Sadakov, the director of the Religious High School - Momchilgrad Ahmed Bozov and many other guests from the country and abroad - representatives of Muslim trustees,imams, as well as guests from the the Republic of Turkey and Greece.

"What gathers us here today is the Book of Allah (S.T.). And we are all here to support the young participants – memorizers and readers of the Holy Qur'an, to support the future – the youth, as well as the Book and the Religion of Allah (C.T.), which is able to bring happiness and prosperity to the society. "- said the regional mufti of Smolyan Nedzhmi Dabov in his address to all the participants and guests at the national competition. He thanked the entire organizing team of the event, with the deputy grand Mufti Birali Myumyn leading, and promised such competitions to continue to be organized in the future.

Welcome speeches were also given by the social affairs attaché of the Turkish Embassy in Sofia, Dr. Ulvi Ata. The attendants were also officially welcomed by the Grand mufti of Bulgaria Dr. Mustafa Hadzhi, who said in his address: "What is happening today is a sign that despite all the attempts to extort the Holy Qur'an from the hearts of the Muslims - attempts failed. The Holy Qur'an is in our hearts, and the Book is Light on the way of everyone who declares that "There is no God but Allah, and that Muhammad is His Messenger and slave." This is the Word of Allah (S.T.), which is inexhaustible and which is not understood by language - it is understood by heart."

According to the rules of the competition this year, women had the right to take part in it, too. There were twojury teams – for men and women respectively.

The 5-member jury for male participants consisted of:

Aydan Yumerov - lecturer at Higher Islamic Institute - Sofia

Dr. Kadir Muhammed - lecturer at Higher Islamic Institute - Sofia

Hafiz Yusein Halibryam – Imam in "Yedikizlar" Mosque in the village of Podkova (Kirkovo Municipality)

Ayhan Mustafa - Imam in "Banya Bashi" Mosque - Sofia

Hafiz Yashar Atar - lecturer at the Training School for Imams - Ustina village

The women's participation in the national competition, 13 women in total, was rated by a jury team, which consisted of:

Hafiz Seniha Shefket Hassan – leader of the Qur’an course in the town of Madan

Hafiz Hatidzhe Ali Hodzha - leader of the Qur’an course in the town of Dospat

Myumyune Hayrieva Sherifova - leader of the Qur’an course in Rudozem

After the challange contest between the participants in the different 6 rounds of this year's competition, the names of the finalists in each of them were announced as following:

Juzz "Amma" by heart for participants up to 15 years of age

1. Mustafa Muhammad – 15-year old, Sveta Petka village (Velingrad Municipality) - 292.4 points

2. Eymen Soulev – 12-year old, United States of America - 281.2 points

3. Mustafa Izet - 13 years, Bukovo village (Gotse Delchev Municipality) - 271.2 points

Jazz "Amme" by heart for participants from 15 to 40 years of age

1. Myumyun Ahmed – 16-year old, Aytos (Burgas District) - 299.2 points

2. Muhammed Durlu – 17-year old, Bel kamen village (Yakoruda Municipality) - 294 points

3. Omar Karaosmanov – 15-year old, Varbina village (Madan Municipality) - 292.2 points

5 parts (juzz) from the Qur’an by heart

1. Ismail Ibrosh – 12-year old, Breznitsa village (Gotse Delchev Municipality) - 283.6 points

2. Muhammad Ahmed – 7-year, Madan (Smolyan District) - 283.4 points

3. Muhammad Ushev – 12-year old, Madan (Smolyan District) - 267 points

15 parts (juzz) from the Qur’an by heart

1. Shaban Callyor – 15-year old, Breznitsa village (Gotse Delchev Municipality) - 284.2 points

2. Sevdi Suleyman – 18-year old, Madan (Smolyan District) - 280.4 points

3. Abdurrahman Ushev – 12-year old, town of Madan (Smolyan District) - 259 points

The whole Holy Qur'an by heart (30 juzz)

1. Ibrahim Kambach – 16-year old, Breznitsa village (Gotse Delchev Municipality) - 299.6 points

2. Abdullah Hasan – 18-year old, Madan (Smolyan District) - 288.4 points

3. Abdullah Afuzov – 16-year old, town of Madan (Smolyan District) - 288 points

Artistic reading of the Holy Qur'an

First place in Men's category:

Ahmed Hasan – 29-year old, Sredsko (Kirkovo Municipality) - 96.2 points

First place in Women’s category:

Nour Murad – 12-year old, Mitovska village(municipality of Madan) - 95.67 points

Within the award ceremony, the winners of the national competition received diplomas, plaques, material and cash prizes in different sizes, according to the place of classification. Prizes were also awarded to all other participants in the competition. They were provided by the Grand Mufti’s office of the Muslims in the Republic of Bulgaria and by other different sponsors. 

After the official awarding of the finalists and participants, the XI-th National Competition for Memorization and Arttistic Reading of the Holy Qur'an was officially closed with a du’a, made by the grand mufti of the Republic of Bulgaria Dr. Mustafa Hadzhi.