TEHRAN – Iranian Qari Seyed Mostafa Husseini recites in the 17th contender to showcase his Qura’n recitation talents in the competition.
Representatives from 21 countries are competing at the 20th edition of the Moscow international Quran competition underway in Russia.
The Qur’anic event was launched in a ceremony in the Russian capital city on Friday and will run until Monday.
The competition is being held again after a two-year hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Qari, in Islamic terminology, refers to one who recites the Qur’an according to the tajwid, or proper rules of recitation.
The Muftis Council of Russia has organized the competition in cooperation with the World Union of Muslims.
Addressing the opening ceremony, Sheikh Rushan Abbyasov, the deputy chairman of the Russian Muftis Council, on behalf of the council’s president Sheikh Rawil Gaynutdin, welcomed the participants and said hosting the contest is a great honor for Moscow.
He expressed pleasure to see the competition is being held again after a two-year hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The cleric also said anyone taking part in such contests is a winner with the blessing of the Holy Quran regardless of the outcomes.
According to Ismail Gundulin, the coordinator of the organizing committee, representatives of 21 countries are taking part in this year’s event.
Iran, Kuwait, Iraq, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates, Sudan, Egypt, Morocco, Kazakhstan, Syria, Tanzania, Bangladesh and Yemen are among the other countries taking part in the international Quranic event.
Members of the panel of arbiters are Quran experts from Yemen, Turkey, Lebanon, Russia, and Saudi Arabia.
The contest will run in the Russian capital until Monday, according to the organizers.