Minhaj Institute for Qirat and Tahfiz-ul-Quran Holds All-Pakistan Quran Recitation Competition

Hafiz Muhammad Umar Saim, Hafiz Muhammad Salar Khan and Shayan Naseem Secure First, Second and Third Positions, Respectively
Establishing an institution like Tahfiz-al-Quran is a great service to the Holy Quran: Qari Muhammad Ibrahim Kassi

The Minhaj Institute for Qirat and Tahfeez-ul-Quran, Aghosh Complex Lahore, organized the All-Pakistan Final Quran Recitation Competition, featuring young Huffaz and Qaris from across Pakistan, along with three Huffaz from Indonesia. The competition was described as the first and unique event of its kind.

A total of 15 young reciters participated in the final round, including Muhammad Hammad Raza Qadri, Noor Sultan, Muhammad Ahmad Muhammad, Ahmad Raza from Dera Ismail Khan, Shayan Naseem from Lahore, Muhammad Siddique from Peshawar, Qari Mahmood Al-Shahad from Chitral, Ahmad Fawzan from Lahore, Muhammad Wajahat Hassan from Mianwali, Qari Muhammad Raza Naeemi from Islamabad, Usman Bilal from Lahore, Hafiz Muhammad Umar Saim from Gujranwala, Muhammad Ubaid from Multan, Hafiz Muhammad Abdullah from Lahore, and Hafiz Muhammad Salar Khan from Swat.

According to the final results, Hafiz Muhammad Umar Saim secured first position, Hafiz Muhammad Salar Khan second, and Shayan Naseem third.

On the occasion, renowned Quran ambassador Fadilat al-Shaykh Qari Muhammad Ibrahim Kassi delivered a special recitation and expressed his views. He said he was immensely pleased and proud to witness the outstanding performances of the children. Their beautiful and skillful recitations, he said, were highly commendable. He paid tribute to Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr. Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri for establishing an institution dedicated to Quran memorization, describing it as a great service to the Holy Quran.

The event opened with recitations from Qari Ali Hussain Kasuri and Qari Ahmad Zain-ul-Abideen, a student of the Department of Tajweed. Muhammad Zaid Mohi-ud-Din presented a Naat in praise of the Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Students of the Department of Tajweed and Quran Recitation also presented a collective recitation. The proceedings were hosted by Rehan Mirza.

An internationally renowned reciter, Fadilat al-Shaykh Muhammad Ibrahim Kassi, along with Qari Dr. Muzaffar Saeed, Professor Dr. Muhammad Afzal Imani, and Qari Khizr Zeeshan Naeemi, served as judges for the competition.

At the conclusion, certificates were distributed among all participants, while the distinguished guests presented special awards to the judges. Special certificates were also awarded to the position holders.

Earlier, Qari Syed Khalid Hamid Kazmi Al-Azhari, Vice Principal of the Minhaj Institute for Quran Recitation and Memorization, delivered the welcome address. He warmly welcomed the distinguished guests, participants, and parents on behalf of the institution. He said that competitions of this nature play an important role in strengthening the younger generation's connection with the Holy Quran and promoting the art of Quranic recitation.

He also expressed his appreciation to Mubashir Iqbal, Director of Aghosh Complex; Muhammad Abbas Naqshbandi, Principal of the Minhaj Institute for Quran Recitation and Memorization; the teaching staff; and the administration for their efforts in organizing the event.

The Quran Recitation Competition was attended by Al-Haj Abdul Ghafoor Qadri, Noorullah Siddiqui, former Punjab Police Inspector General Muhammad Azam Joya, Dr. Mir Muhammad Asif Akbar Qadri, Professor Dr. Muhammad Mumtaz-ul-Hassan Barvi, Ghulam Nabi Joya, Dr. Shafaqat Ali Baghdadi Al-Azhari, Hafiz Khurram Shehzad, Zakaullah Khan, Pir Muhammad Shoaib Naqshbandi Saifi (Dubai), Sardar Bashir Khan Lodhi, Professor Dr. Talat Hussain, Allama Muhammad Javed Noori, Shehzad Rasool, Abid Bashir Qadri, Mohsin Rasool, Hafiz Ghulam Fareed, Allama Mahmood Masood, Hafiz Muhammad Junaid, Salman Shakir, internationally award-winning reciter Qari Abdullah Salman Shakir, Qari Ahmad Shakeel Qadri, Qari Talat, Abdul Ghaffar Khan, Qari Ismail Saeedi, Qari Bashir Haidari, Sardar Inamullah Khan Naeemi, Hafiz Muhammad Musa, Muhammad Naveed Butt, as well as other distinguished personalities, teachers, and students.

The ceremony concluded with a special prayer by Ahmad Nawaz Anjum for the Minhaj Institute for Quran Recitation and Memorization, all affiliated institutions, teachers, students, parents, competition participants, and the Muslim Ummah.