ISLAMABAD: A 10-year-old boy from Pakistan’s picturesque Swat Valley earned a $1,500 prize after participating in an international Qur’an recitation competition held by a private channel in Algeria, Pakistani state-owned media reported on Monday.
Pakistani Muslim children are often taught to develop a strong relationship with the Holy Qur’an from a young age. Many are trained in the intricate art of Qur’anic recitation, and some even commit the entire scripture to memory early in life.
This dedication is evident in their success on international stages, where young Pakistani reciters frequently excel in Qur’an competitions, reflecting their deep-rooted cultural and religious ties to the scripture and its teachings.
“Muhammad Bashar, a ten-year-old from Swat, Pakistan, participated in the International Qur’an Recitation Competition, ‘Mazamir Dawood,’ held in Algeria, which was organized by the private media channel ‘Echorouk,’” reported the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news agency.
“Bashar secured the fourth position, earning a prize of $1,500,” it added.
The APP said the Algerian channel annually hosts the competition, bringing young Qur’an reciters from around the world including Pakistan.
Last year, a Pakistani teen named Azam Tariq participated in the 43rd King Abdulaziz International Competition for the Memorization, Recitation and Interpretation of the Holy Qur’an in Makkah and advanced to the final round.
Tariq was awarded SR5,000 and an achievement certificate.
