In the capital of Iran, Tehran, the annual International Quran Recitation Competition has concluded. Among the participants was a first-year student of the Theology Master’s program at the Bolgar Islamic academy, and the Imam-Khatib of the Muslim Center “Rahman” in the city of Podolsk, Burkhoniddin Rakhimov. The young Quran reciter represented not only the Academy but also our country at the competition.

The competition consisted of 3 stages. Firstly, there was an online qualifying round, in which representatives from 110 countries took part. In the semi-final, where Burhoniddin Rakhimov took 1st place, only 12 countries made it, and their representatives flew to Iran. Only 6 participants reached the final: Russia, Palestine, Nigeria, Algeria, Iran, Saudi Arabia. The contestants also had the opportunity to meet with the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ibrahim Raisi.

The contestants’ knowledge was evaluated by an international commission, consisting of leading specialists and scholars from Iran, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Iraq. A graduate of the Academy shared his impressions of participating in the international competition. According to the student, all the candidates were worthy, but the top three emerged as the best of the best.

“It’s not the first time I’ve participated in such competitions. For example, in 2023 in Libya, I represented Russia and came 5th. I also traveled to Algeria, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. As for the All-Russian Quran recitation competitions, after winning 1st place for two consecutive years (2021 and 2022), I decided to only participate in international competitions,” noted the Academy graduate Burhoniddin Rakhimov.

According to him, such events are a competition and an opportunity for hafizes to recite the Holy Quran, making it sound throughout the world. At the end of all three stages of the competition, our student took 2nd place and received a cash prize of $7,000 from the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ibrahim Raisi.