• Home

Better to hire Quran teacher than memorise on your own, says contestant

Iranian contestant Reza Nejad Tabrizi has so far competed in 70 Quran local contests and always ranked first or second.

Popularly called the ‘king of Quran contests’, 15-year-old Reza Nejad Tabrizi, who is representing Iran at the 18th edition of the Dubai International Holy Quran Award, is extremely fond of participating in Quran competitions. And not only does he participate in them but also excels in them. “I have so far competed in 70 Quran local contests and always ranked first or second.”

Tabrizi, who started his journey with the Holy Quran at an early age, is doing his master’s in Quran and Hadith sciences at the Quran University in Qom city of Iran. “I started memorising the Holy Quran when I was four years old, and finished six years later at the age of ten with the help of my family, and later at the Quran University.”

Tabrizi has a sister who has also memorised the Holy Quran in full.

“My father and mother always encouraged us to memorise the Holy Quran and attain such a great honour.”

Having full command of the Arabic language, Tabrizi wishes to be a scholar in the future. “I studied Arabic at a specialised institute for languages in Qom.”

To properly recite and memorise the Holy Quran, one should learn it at the hand of a specialised teacher, and it is necessary to start the memorisation at an early age.

This was affirmed by 20-year-old Mohammed Khaled Yaseen, who is representing Yemen at the award. Yaseen started memorising the Holy Quran when he was eight and finished by the age of 12. “It took me four years to memorise the Holy Quran in full.”

A Quran teacher was teaching Yaseen to properly recite and learn two pages of the holy book by heart every day. “It is necessary to seek help from a specialised Quran teacher, preferably at a Quran study centre or at the mosque.”

Reiterating the same, 19-year-old Soukouna Aboubakari from Cote Divoire advised young people to go to a Quran study centre on a regular basis to learn the Holy Quran. “It is better, faster, and more accurate than memorising by oneself.”

Aboubakari started memorisation when he was 10 and finished at 14 at a Quran study centre. “In my family, including 12 brothers and sisters, I am the only one blessed with memorising the Holy Quran.”

Aboubakari has not only learnt the Quran in full, but also studied the Arabic language after finishing his sacred mission. “I wish to be an imam and scholar in the future to impart the gift I am bestowed.”

ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com