Mohan Kuthar
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Jan 29: With the objective of conveying the importance of Quran recitation to the younger generation and drawing them towards spirituality, South India’s first open national-level Quran Qira’at competition was held successfully in the city. The historic competition was organised at the Indian Convention Hall as part of the decennial celebrations of the Dr Abdul Shakeel Charitable Trust.
The prestigious national-level competition received an overwhelming response from across the country. As many as 2,252 participants, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, submitted their Qira’at videos online. Following technical scrutiny by renowned scholars, 50 contestants — including 40 boys and 10 girls — were shortlisted for the final round. Finalists from Karnataka, Kerala, Goa, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh competed in the concluding stage.
The competition was judged transparently by eminent scholars Shaikh Sarfaraz Azhari from Uttar Pradesh and Qari Ahmad Muneer from Hyderabad.
“Youth should be kept away from drug abuse and criminal activities and guided towards spiritual education. This is the first major open national-level Qira’at competition held in South India, and it is my wish that many more such programmes should be organised,” said Dr Abdul Shakeel, organiser.
Dakshina Kannada district Qazi Thwaka Ahmed Musliyar delivered the benedictory address at the programme. Several dignitaries were present, including Hazrath Muhammad Fazil Razvi Kavalakatte, U T Iftikar, former minister Ramanath Rai, Congress leader Padmaraj, Shahul Hameed, S M Rasheed Haji, Nasir Lakkistar and SDPI leader Riyaz Farangipete. On the occasion, Dr Abdul Shakeel was felicitated. The programme was compered by Salah Kuttar, Samran and Shaiban Madannur.
Winners
In a keenly contested competition among talented participants from various parts of the country, the following contestants emerged victorious:
First place: Umar Mukhtar B M (Kasargod, Kerala)
Second place: Muhammad Rashad (Palakkad, Kerala)
Third place: Muhammad Saad (Mysuru, Karnataka)
The first prize winner was awarded a cheque of Rs 1,11,111, the second prize winner received Rs 55,555, and the third prize winner was presented with Rs 33,333.
Ten years of social service
The Dr Abdul Shakeel Charitable Trust has been actively involved in social service activities for the past ten years, including initiatives in education, healthcare, drinking water supply and support for orphaned children. The trust, which has earlier organised Qira’at competitions abroad on three occasions, organised this large-scale competition for the first time in Mangaluru — the native place of its founder Dr Abdul Shakeel — as part of its 10th anniversary celebrations.