Filipino wins in 2019 world Qur’an reading championship

COTABATO CITY – The Philippines has resurfaced in the global roster of champions in Qur’an reading contests with the victory of a Maranao qari in this year’s episode of the yearly Islamic event.

Qari (Qur’an reader/reciter) Mohammad Nadhir Asgar Jr. of Lanao del Sur won the championship in the male category of the world Qur’an reading competition held in Doha, Qatar on April 7-12, the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) announced yesterday.

Asgar, an internally displaced person (IDP) from war-torn Marawi City, bested 100 finalists among 2,700 competitors that auditioned for the tilt from 50 participating countries, NCMF spokesman Dumapuno Alonto-Datu Ramos Jr. said.

“Alhamdulillah (praise God), this is another remarkable record for our country under the Duterte government,” Datu Ramos quoted NCMF Secretary Saidamen Pangarungan as saying in reference to Asgar’s feat.

Asgar is namesake son of fellow Maranao qari, who landed three times in top three places of the world Qur’an reading competitions in early 1970s. He is one of three male competitors sent by NCMF-Bureau of Muslim Cultural Affairs Director Laman Piang to the 2019 contest, Datu Ramos said.

The global Qur’an reading contest had been dominated for over a decade by legendary Egyptian Qari Abdulbassit Abdulsamad since the 1950s.

Abdulsamad retired in 1970s, paving the way for the rise of Qari Hassan Noor, another Maranao figure from Lanao del Sur. Noor was an arch rival of Qari Mohammad Nadhir Asgar, father of this year’s champ.

In late 1990s and 2000s, another qari from Lanao del Sur, Abdul Jalil Amerol, won the championship twice. Amerol died last year of lingering illness, unfulfilling a dream to win the top slot for the third time, relatives said.