Students from the training course for hafizes in Madan presented Bulgaria at the 25^th European Holy Qur’an Reciting Competition in Zagreb

Hafiz Ibrahim Kambach during his performance at the competition in Zagreb

75 Qur’an memorizers and reciters from 42 countries in total from all over the world took part in the 25^th edition of the European Holy Qur’an Reciting Competition. It is traditionally held in the autumn in the Croatian capital Zagreb, and this year took place from September 27 to 29. Among this year’s participants in the prestigious international competition were also three students of the only in Bulgaria raining course for hafizes, which is located in the town of Madan in the Rhodopes.

Islamic Center – Zagreb, Croatia

The competition was opened on September 27 this year (Thursday) with an official ceremony in the Islamic center of Zagreb. It was attended by a number of official guests, among whom representatives of the state authorities, representatives of different diplomatic missions in Croatia, as well as representatives of the other religious denominations.

Photo:  www.islamska-zajednica.hr

The Mufti of Zagreb Aziz Hasanovic welcomed all participants and guests and emphasized on the importance and the prestige which the international competition for Qur’an memorizers and reciters has, and said that it is one of the first which are held in non-Muslim European countries.

The competition took place in 4 categories in total, where three of them were for memorization of the Holy Qur’an, respectively – the entire Qur’an, 15 ajza’ (parts) and 5 ajza’, and the forth category was for literary and expressive reading of the Holy Book. Bulgaria was represented in the first three categories. Hafiz Ibrahim Kambach presented our country in the category for memorization of the entire Qur’an. Shaban Kalyor and Ismail Ibrosh who are currently studying in the training school for hafizes in Madan took part in the competing categories for memorization – respectively of 15 and 5 ajza’ of the Holy Qur’an.

                     Shaban Kalyor                                                                                    Ismail Ibrosh                      

The winners in the 25^th European Holy Qur’an Reciting Competition in Zagreb were officially announced at the closing ceremony of the competition, which took place on September 29 (Saturday). And their names are as follows:

“Literary and expressive reading of the Holy Qur’an” Category
1. Kazim Azar Pira (Iran) - 97,21 points
2. Abdulkerim Ileri (Turkey) - 96,21 points
3. Ibrahim Bilčević (Bosna and Herzegovina) - 94,13 points

“5 ajza’ by heart” Category

1. Ahmed Alili (Croatia) - 96,29 points
2. Bilal Hamidovic (Bosna and Herzegovina) - 93,46 points
3. Abdel Rahman Abdel Monem (Bosna and Herzegovina) - 92, 96 points

 „15 ajza’ by heart“ Category
1. Sameero Nuur Mualim (Finland) - 95,67 points
2. Otullo Zarifi (Russia) - 94,04 points
3. Ayoub Dhisi (France) - 93,58 points

“Entire Qur’an by heart” Category
1. Musa Madfaa (Palestine) - 98,21 points
2. Abdulrahman Magomadov (Chechnya) - 97,42 points
3. Ismail Salman Tahir (Saudi Arabia) - 97,17 points
3. Muhammad Shih Abdullah (Bangladesh) - 97,17 points

After the awarding ceremony on September 29, 2018

Although they were not ranked among the finalists of the international competition the boys from Bulgaria presented themselves at a very high level and once again proved that the training course for hafizes in the town of Madan educates people – “guardians of the Qur’an”, who seamlessly compete with Qur’an memorizers and reciters from all over the world including from big Arab countries.

The recordings from the 25^th European Holy Qur’an Reciting Competition in Zagreb and respectively from the performances of the three students from the training course for hafizes – Madan can be seen HERE.

Author: L. Chausheva