The Sharjah Noble Quran and Sunnah Establishment has brought together 389 male and female contestants for the final rounds of its 29th annual award dedicated to the Holy Quran and Sunnah. Of those advancing from preliminary stages, 210 are female and 179 are male, the foundation reported. The competition, which spans 12 days, aims to identify and celebrate exceptional talent in memorisation and recitation while promoting Islamic educational values across the emirate.
Sessions are divided with mornings reserved for female participants and evenings for males to facilitate focused judging, the Establishment explained in its update on the event. This structure allows each contestant ample opportunity to demonstrate their proficiency in the required texts. The foundation has emphasised the importance of such events in building a strong connection between younger generations and core Islamic teachings.
Eighteen external judges have been enlisted for the finals to maintain the highest standards of fairness and expertise, according to the Sharjah Noble Quran and Sunnah Establishment. These specialists will evaluate contestants on accuracy of memorisation, adherence to tajweed rules and overall performance quality. The involvement of independent adjudicators underscores the award’s commitment to transparency in every edition.
The 29th edition builds on the success of prior years, when the 28th drew 1,103 participants from across the UAE with 482 advancing to finals, a WAM report on the previous ceremony indicated. That cycle introduced a new recitation category featuring Asim’s reading with the full Al-Jazariyyah text, which continues to feature prominently. Such growth reflects the award’s expanding role in fostering Quranic scholarship within the community.
Categories for the current competition encompass various levels of Quran memorisation, Prophetic traditions study and specialised recitation branches, the Establishment’s description of the programme showed. Participants compete in areas including full and partial memorisation for citizens and residents, as well as categories for imams, mothers and seniors based on historical patterns of the award. The foundation organises accompanying activities to recognise outstanding Quranic centres and circles in Sharjah.
By hosting these finals at the Holy Quran Academy, the Establishment continues a long-standing tradition supported by the patronage of Sharjah Ruler Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, past announcements from the body have noted. The award not only rewards excellence but also motivates continuous engagement with the Quran and Sunnah among residents of all ages. Results from the 12-day event will determine the top performers who exemplify dedication to Islamic heritage.