Islamabad to host international Quran recitation contest later this month
Reciters from 31 countries have been nominated, with judges from Egypt and Iran and Pakistan represented by Qari Syed Sadaqat Ali.
Islamabad will host the second International Qira'at Competition from Nov. 24 to 26, the Ministry of Religious Affairs said in a statement.
A ministry spokesperson said nominations of Quran reciters from 31 countries have been received so far.
The ministry has sought nominations from all 57 member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and from 11 other countries, including Russia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, India, China, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Germany, Tanzania, France, Kenya and the Maldives.
The spokesperson said the event is meant to spread the teachings of the Quran and the art of its recitation while strengthening religious and spiritual ties among Muslim nations.
Qaris from Egypt and Iran will serve as judges, the spokesperson said, while Pakistan will be represented by Qari Syed Sadaqat Ali, whom he described as internationally acclaimed.
The ministry said all travel, administrative and logistical arrangements have been completed to ensure the competition runs smoothly.
Qira'at refers to the recognised traditional methods of reciting the Quran, and recitation competitions are a long-standing feature of religious life across many Muslim-majority countries.
The OIC, headquartered in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, is an intergovernmental body of 57 member states that works on issues affecting Muslim countries and communities.
