Ukrainian Hafiz will participate in two international competitions of the Holy Quran

"Proclaim in the name of thy Lord and Cherisher, Who created"!

This very ayat from the Sura "The Clot" [96:1] became the beginning of revelation to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) during the month of Ramadan. Therefore in the Muslim world it already became traditional to arrange competitions of readers of the Quran during this Holy Month which is also named "the Month of the Quran”; and the Ukrainian Muslims follow this example too.

Except participation in regional competitions of the readers of this Holy Scripture, our compatriots and coreligionists also represent Ukraine at the international competitions of readers of the Quran, strengthening thereby authority of the country among Muslims of the world and showing high level of Islamic knowledge and their quivering relation to their acquisition.

This Ramadan our state will be presented at prestigious international competitions, in particular, from the AUASO "Alraid" in the competitions will take part two readers. 

Fifteen-year old Ayder Ahtemov will go to Egypt where he will represent our country within the limits of the ninth annual competition of experts on the Quran. It will pass under the patronage of the Ministry of Wakuf of Egypt in August, 19-26th. In the competition there are five levels of preparation of participants; Аyder will compete on the fifth level. 

Seventeen-year old Emir Kurtnezirov will go in the quality of contestant from Ukraine on the 15th international annual competition of reading of the Quran which will pass in August, 8-20th, in Dubai (the United Arab Emirates).

The AUASO "Alraid" pays a great attention to rising generation of Muslims. With the assistance of the Organization Ukrainian hafizes repeatedly participated in various international competitions of readers of the Quran in Egypt, Kuwait, Libya, the United Arab Emirates.

Moreover, in 2010 the Association "Аlraid" in common with the World Islamic Charitable Organization (Kuwait), the World Organization on the Quran Studying, and also the RAM of Crimea, acted as the organizer of the first International Competition in Ukraine, with sponsor's support of the Kuwaiti princess Suad al-Subah. In the competition took part 34 representatives of the CIS countries. 

Also several years ago with the assistance of the Religious Administration of Muslims of Crimea and with assistance of the Association "Аlraid" in Simferopol there was founded a specialized school for preparation of hafizes (the people who memorize the Holy Quran). Since 2003 there took place three graduations with total number of more than 50 persons, among them 18 became hafizes, having memorized the whole text of the Holy Scripture.

For today the Crimean High School of Hafizes is the only in Ukraine Muslim educational institution of the similar profile, which achieved such considerable results for rather short period, and its achievements cannot be overestimated.

Moreover, for possibility of reception of access to the Quranic text for a wide range of persons operates the site http://quran.org.ua/ with convenient navigation functions.

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “The believer reading the Quran, is similar to a tasty fruit with a pleasant smell. The believer who is not reading the Quran is as a fruit with pleasant taste, but flavorless. The hypocrite reading the Quran is similar to a fruit with a pleasant smell, but bitter inside. And the hypocrite who is not reading the Quran, is similar to a bitter fruit with an unpleasant smell”, and also, “The best of you is the one who studied the Quran and taught it to others”.

The Quran studying is extremely important for preservation of confessional identity of Muslims, reception by them of firm and qualitative knowledge about their religion and construction of harmonious mutual relations with representatives of other faiths with whom we live on one earth. There is a hope that the hafizes of Ukraine will spread Islamic knowledge in the society, strengthening and improving it and working for the blessing of our common Motherland.

Let us wish good luck to our contestants, and may the Almighty bless them in both worlds.