Doha: The Organizing Committee of the Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani Holy Quran Competition, under the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, has announced the registration of 2,848 male and female contestants for the Buds Branch competitions for the year 1447 AH - 2026. This marks the 31st edition of the competition, highlighting the increasing interest in Quran memorization among community members.
According to Qatar News Agency, the committee stated that participants hail from 45 nationalities, comprising both citizens and residents of Qatar. This diversity underscores the competition's role as a unifying platform that promotes Quranic values across different segments of the society. In the Buds Branch, participants compete in memorizing one part from the last five parts of the Holy Quran, with the age limit set at 12 years for citizens and 8 years for residents.
The committee reported the distribution of registered participants as follows: 369 male citizens, 1,091 male residents, 384 female citizens, and 1,004 female residents. These numbers indicate significant family involvement in the competition, fostering a strong early connection to the Holy Quran among young people.
The Organizing Committee announced that male examinations will begin on Thursday, February 19, at Imam Muhammad ibn Abd Al Wahhab Mosque after Asr prayer, while female examinations will start on Saturday, February 21, after Isha prayer at the Da'wah and Religious Guidance Department's Women's Section in Al Waab. The female examination panels will include qualified female judges skilled in Quran memorization, ensuring accuracy and fairness, while male judging panels will be led by experienced Qatari youth, thus continuing to build national expertise in the field.
Valuable cash prizes have been allocated for winners in the Buds Branch, motivating participants to excel in Quran memorization. The competition is seen as a pioneering educational opportunity that encourages children to memorize and perfect Quran recitation, instilling Islamic values and strengthening cultural and religious identity.
Through this initiative, the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs aims to support Quran memorizers, reflecting Qatar's commitment to nurturing a conscious Quranic generation and reinforcing Islamic identity within a developmental framework that emphasizes human values.