* Emerges third in topmost category
* Smiles home with 400,000 Saudi riyals (N163 million)
By Rasheed Abubakar and Abdullah Abdulganiy
A Nigerian representative, Sanusi Bukhari Idrees has been announced as one of the winners of the 45th King Abdulaziz International Holy Qur’an Competition held at the Grand Mosque in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
Sanusi – a young memorizer of the Holy Qur’an from Kano State, clinched the second runner-up position in the topmost category of the contest and was awarded 400,000 Saudi riyals at a brief ceremony to celebrate the winners on Wednesday, August 20.
Muslim News gathered that this year’s edition featured 179 contestants from 128 countries competing in five branches for a total prize pool of SAR 4 million.
An international judging panel evaluated performances, supported by an upgraded electronic scoring system to bolster fairness and accuracy.
Sanusi contested in the full Qur’an memorisation category (1), with accurate recitation and intonation following the seven rules of recitation.
Chad national, Mohammad Adam Mohammad, came first in the category, earning a whopping prize of 500,000 Saudi riyals.
Anas Majid Abdullah al-Hazmi from Saudi Arabia followed keenly as the first runner up, with 450,000 Saudi riyals as prize.
The prize giving ceremony was attended by all Imams of Masjid al-Haram Makkah along with the Deputy Governor of the Makkah Region, Prince Saud bin Mishal bin Abdulaziz.
Sanusi, Muslim News recalls, emerged the overall winner at the 39th national Qur’anic competition held in Sokoto State in December 2024, giving him the platform to represent Nigeria on the global stage.
Other categories of the 45th King Abdulaziz International Holy Qur’an Competition are:
Memorisation of the entire Holy Qur’an along with interpretation of its terms.
Memorisation of the entire Holy Qur’an with proper recitation and intonation.
Memorisation of 15 juz (parts) of the Holy Qur’an with proper recitation and intonation.
Memorisation of 5 juz (parts) of the Holy Qur’an with proper recitation and intonation.
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