An Afghan reciter has been declared the winner of this year highly anticipated Katara Prize for Quran Recitation 2023, as announced by the cultural village foundation. Muhammad Hassan Hassan Zadeh from Afghanistan impressed the judges with his remarkable talent, earning him the prestigious top prize of QAR 500,000. This annual competition brings together participants from various Arab and Islamic nations, making it a truly representative event.
Taking second place was Iraqi reciter Ahmed Jamal Al Mansrawi, who was awarded a prize of QAR 300,000. The third-place position went to Abdul Razeq Ashraf Salah Al Shahawy from Egypt, who received a prize of QAR 100,000.
Hassanzadeh, the deserving winner, expressed his gratitude for receiving such a renowned prize and mentioned that it was his first time competing in an international competition. Mansrawi, the second-place finalist, acknowledged the exceptional talent of all the participants who made it to the final round and commended the organizers for hosting an event of such high caliber. Al Shahawy, the third-place finisher, expressed his appreciation to the award committee for providing experienced jury members who have judged international recitation competitions before.
This year edition of the Katara Prize for Quran Recitation was particularly notable due to the unprecedented participation of every Arab and Islamic nation. The diversity of nations competing made the sixth edition of the competition stand out, according to the judges.
The jury committee responsible for the Katara Award consists of arbitrators recognized for their expertise in intonation and voice quality. Sheikh Abd Al Rashid Sufi and Sheikh Mahmoud Al Akkawi, both possessing the highest certificates in the ten readings, are the prominent figures among the committee. Additionally, three other committee members specialize in sounds and shrines. They include Professor Muhammad Assem Al Bunni, an esteemed audio engineering master and international arbitrator in Quran and religious chanting competitions, and Sheikh Muhammad Amin Mashali, an expert and professor of Maqamat science who holds certifications in the ten recitations and occupies multiple international arbitration positions.
Qatar commitment to supporting education in Afghanistan was also highlighted recently when the country donated 60 tonnes of educational materials to Afghan students.
