The 31st edition of the Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani Holy Qur’an Competition commenced yesterday in Qatar, featuring the launch of its Qur’an Categories division geared toward Qatari men and women. Organized by the Ministry of Endowments (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs, the competition has attracted 1,073 participants competing across five levels of Qur’an memorization.

The qualifying rounds are scheduled to continue through Tuesday, November 3, with sessions arranged to accommodate the large number of contestants. Male participants are being tested during evening sessions at the Imam Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab Mosque, while female contestants undergo their assessments at the Department of Da’wah and Religious Guidance’s Women’s Activity Center in Al Waab, with sessions held both in the morning and evening.

Of the registered contestants, 619 are women and 454 are men. The competition’s structure is divided into five categories based on the extent of memorization, ranging from five to 25 parts (juz’) of the Qur’an. This tiered system allows participants to compete at levels aligned with their current memorization capacity, with opportunities to progress to higher stages in subsequent years.

Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz al-Thani, Deputy Chairman of the Sheikh Jassim Qur’an Competition Committee, emphasized that the initiative aims to cultivate a national framework for developing Qur’an memorisers and promoting Qatari talent. He highlighted that the competition’s scope extends beyond a single event, seeking to create a motivating environment that encourages continuous improvement and eventual mastery of the entire Qur’an.

Sheikh Abdulrahman also noted that the competition’s regulations provide pathways for contestants to advance through higher memorization categories. The event has previously produced numerous distinguished memorisers, some advancing to compete in the full Qur’an category and representing Qatar in international forums. Additionally, the competition has contributed to supplying qualified national talent to serve as imams in local mosques.

The judging process involves 16 panels equally divided between male and female judges, all of whom are Qatari nationals. Sheikh Abdulrahman remarked that this reflects the strong presence of national expertise and the successful cultivation of Qur’anic scholarship within the country.

This competition forms part of Awqaf’s broader strategy to promote Qur’anic culture and nurture local talent in alignment with its 2025-2030 strategic framework and the Qatar National Vision 2030. These efforts aim to strengthen national identity, reinforce core values, and leverage human capital as a key driver of sustainable development.