In the quarterfinals of the International Holy Qur’an and Call to Prayer competition, a visually impaired Moroccan contestant Younes Gharbi competed. Younes has spent his life memorizing the Holy Qur’an by listening to it and repeating it, and he has become a strong competitor in Qur’anic competitions.
Gharbi was the first contender in the Holy Qur’an recitation category to reach the semifinals. His performance was notable for its application of tajwid provisions while taking into account the maqams, as well as the employment of sound layers in their proper locations.
He delivered a magnificent recitation that wowed the audience and the jury, which grew to 13 members after the competition’s Secretary-General, Dr. Fahd Al-Andas, joined it in the quarterfinal round.
The Yemeni reciter Osama Abu Zeid, who was born in Madinah and was a pupil of the Imam of the Prophet’s Mosque, Sheikh Ibrahim Al-Akhdar, was Younes’ solitary opponent at this round, which involves two contestants for each round.
He is one of the most well-known contenders in recitation and performance, and he has garnered the votes of many members of the jury, but his Moroccan adversary Gharbi received the most votes on Sunday.
Abdul Fattah Ali Jehider of Libya competed in the Call to Prayer category against Khalil Benshi of Syria, who was a muezzin in several important mosques in Syria and recited the Holy Qur’an in many mosques in Bahrain. He advanced to the semifinals of the competition, which is the first of its type in that it combines the recitation of the Holy Qur’an and the Call to Prayer in one event.
The first of its kind in the world, the Holy Qur’an recitation and Call to Prayer competition has educational aspects because it evaluates contestants and highlights observations related to their participation for the benefit of those interested in reciting the Holy Qur’an and delivering the Call to Prayer.
The quarterfinal qualifiers for the international Holy Qur’an and Call to Prayer tournament began Sunday at 5 p.m. on the Saudi TV channel and the Shahid platform on the Otr Elkalam (Scent of Speech) TV show.
Otr Elkalam is one-of-a-kind international competition is currently taking place in Saudi Arabia, aimed at brilliant persons with lovely vocals who do not have the accompaniment of musical instruments. After the Saudi Arabian entertainment administration established the Scent of Speech competition, more than 40,000 people from 80 countries entered by providing recordings of their voices reciting verses from the Holy Quran (Islam’s holy book) or delivering the Islamic call to prayer (Adhan).
