Doha, November 01, 2026 : A total of 1,073 Qatari men and women have registered for the Quran Categories division of the 31st Founder Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani Holy Quran Competition, which began on Saturday.
Organised by the Ministry of Endowments (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs, the competition features five levels based on the amount of the Holy Quran memorised by participants: five, 10, 15, 20 or 25 parts.
The qualifying rounds will continue over four days until Tuesday, November 3. Male contestants will sit for evening examinations at Imam Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab Mosque, while female participants will be assessed at the Women’s Activity Center of the Department of Da’wah and Religious Guidance in Al Waab, during morning and evening sessions.
Women make up the larger share of participants, with 619 registered contestants, compared with 454 men.
Deputy Chairman of the Sheikh Jassim Quran Competition Committee, Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz Al-Thani, said the division aims to develop a national generation of Quran memorizers and support Qatari talent.
He explained that the competition goes beyond recognising achievements in individual editions, providing participants with an encouraging environment to strengthen their memorisation skills and work towards completing the entire Holy Quran.
The competition's regulations also allow contestants to progress to higher memorisation categories. Sheikh Abdulrahman noted that previous editions have helped develop accomplished memorizers, some of whom have advanced to the full Quran category and represented Qatar in international competitions. Others have gone on to serve as imams at mosques across the country.
A total of 16 judging panels have been assigned to oversee the examinations, with equal representation for male and female contestants. All judges are Qatari nationals, reflecting the development of local expertise in Quranic assessment.
The competition forms part of Awqaf's wider efforts to promote Quranic culture and nurture national talent, in line with its 2025–2030 strategic plan and Qatar National Vision 2030.
These initiatives aim to strengthen national identity, promote values and develop human capabilities as a foundation for sustainable development.
Source: QNA
