The Mohammed VI Foundation of African Oulema Quran competition in its second session online came to an end, on Tuesday, Ramadan 21,1442H, corresponding to May 4,2021, by announcing the names of the winners of the first places in the three categories of the competition.

On the same occasion, a closing ceremony was organized from the city of Fez, in which the Foundation’s sections participated, remotely via Zoom technology, and broadcast live on the Foundation’s Facebook page.

The ceremony began with a Quran recitation by the reciter Muhammad Assafa, professor of readings at the Fatima Al-Fihri Institute in Fez.

After that, a speech was addressed by Sidi Mohamed Rifqi, Secretary General of the Foundation, who praised the discipline and dedication of the Foundation’s sections and the supervisors of the competition in the success of this Quranic competition, expressing his thanks to everyone who contributed to this success. Regarding the readers participating in the competition, the Secretary General mentioned that the Foundation considers all of them to be winners, and that the foundation has assigned a valuable prize to each of them. He also added that competing in the Holy Quran has no winner or loser, but everyone is a winner.

Mr. Musa Al Bahja, Head of the Competitions Department at the Ministry of Habous and Islamic Affairs and the honorary president of the Jury Committee, praised in a speech on behalf of the jury members, and expressed his appreciation for the efforts made by the Foundation, whether scientific or technical, in making this African Quranic event a success.

In the same context, Professor Tijani Al Zubair Rabaa, a lecturer at the Center for Research and Qur’anic Studies at the University of Bairro Keno in Nigeria, considered the competition to be unique and an example to be followed in Africa in order to connect African youth with the Holy Book, noting the technical means provided by the Foundation and made in the service of the Quran.

On the note of the supervisors of the competition, the foundation paid tribute to Sheikh Ahmed Tidjani Magenga, from Gabon, the country in which this Quranic competition was to be held, but the circumstances of the Corona pandemic prevented that.

After that, the winners of the competition were introduced through the final report of the competition, which was presented by Mr. Abdellatif Bakdouri, Chargé de Mission at the foundation and the supervisor of the competition.

The results were as follows:

• Khadijah Yunus Yakub from Nigeria – First Place in the category of memorization of the entire Holy Quran according to Riwayat Warch
• Toure Cheikh Mouhamadou Mahi from Senegal – First Place in the category of memorization of the entire Holy Quran according to a chosen Riwayat by the candidate
• Mwamtoa Huseni Kesi from Tanzania – First Place in the category of recitation and memorization of at least 5 Hizb of the Holy Quran

The ceremony included some Quranic readings of the first winners in the three categories of the competition, as well as prayers for Amir Al Mouminin, His Majesty King Mohammed VI, President of the Foundation.