Doha, November 14 (QNA) - The first stage of the third edition of First of the Firsts, the international branch of the Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani Noble Qur'an Competition, wrapped up Saturday, drawing 42 contestants from 19 countries.
HE Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs Ghanem bin Shaheen bin Ghanem Al Ghanem attended the conclusion of the six-day in-person competitions at Imam Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab Mosque, which drew a tremendous public turnout.
The first stage aimed to select the top 10 contestants for the final round after they underwent rigorous tests in memorizing the entire Holy Quran with proper recitation and Tajweed, as well as learning the meanings of Quranic words. The judging criteria covered memorization proficiency, understanding of the approved text, quality of performance, application of Tajweed rules and vocal excellence.
Deputy Chairman of the Sheikh Jassim Quran Competition Committee, Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz Al-Thani, said the previous two editions had robustly augmented the competition's international presence and immeasurably strengthened its standing among Quranic events. He noted that growing participation and mounting inquiries about registration reflected the tremendous success it had achieved.
Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Sheikh Abdulrahman said the previous editions had substantially raised the competition's international profile, making its name widely recognized among participants in Quranic competitions. He emphasized that the current edition had drawn an incredibly strong response, with the organizing panel receiving a plethora of messages and inquiries about registration dates and participation procedures - a testament to the standing the competition had attained.
The committee endeavors to preserve and bolster this international standing through careful planning, close attention to organizational and technical details, and efforts to foster its partnerships, cooperation and agreements, Sheikh Abdulrahman highlighted. 
He asserted that the panel seeks to turbocharge the media's role as an essential partner in ensuring the success of events and conveying the competition's message to audiences at home and abroad.
Sheikh Abdulrahman explained that attracting a contingent of Quran memorizers was a key distinguishing feature, as the contest principally targets winners of first places in accredited international Quran competitions. 
This makes it far more selective than competitions open to Quran memorizers at large, while giving it considerable competitive value and strengthening contestants' desire to take part, he elaborated. 
The QAR 1 million prize for the first-place winner further enhances its appeal, placing it among the competitions offering the most substantial financial awards, Sheikh Abdulrahman recalled.
He stated that this competition does not target Quran memorizers at large, rather, it focuses on an elite group of winners and titleholders of international competitions. He explained that it likewise stands apart through its interpretation curriculum, which covers the entire book, unlike many competitions that limit their coverage to specific portions.
Sheikh Abdulrahman said the judging committee comprises well-versed scholarly figures with principal expertise in Quranic adjudication, stressing that refining selection and judging criteria is central to advancing the competition and bolstering its credibility.
He further suggested that the current edition had witnessed substantial improvements to its online evaluation system, which is characterized by precision and undergoes periodic upgrades.
The system, he assured, allows the swift processing of developmental feedback from the judging committee, thereby fostering transparency and integrity and ruling out human intervention in the evaluation process.
The committee also adopted a preliminary remote screening mechanism to ensure that the strongest contestants reach Qatar. Rather than limiting participation to first-place winners, it endeavors to select the elite from among them, Sheikh Abdulrahman pointed out.
Sheikh Abdulrahman noted that the 40 contestants who arrived in Qatar represent an elite group of participants in international Quran competitions. 
Sheikh Abdulrahman further recalled that the competition is raising the bar in international Quranic competition, with enhanced judging standards, a more rigorous selection process and growing media exposure. 
Organizers say the improvements are already evident, strengthening the competition's credibility and expanding its international reach, he said, emphasizing that the latest refinements to selection and judging may not be immediately apparent to the public. 
Their impact, however, is evidently being felt by judges, organizers and contestants. The committee endeavors to make each edition more advanced and distinctive, he said.
Sheikh Abdulrahman further highlighted the tremendous media attention surrounding this edition, both at home and abroad, noting the massive coverage and live broadcasts on several channels partnered with Qatar Media Corporation that have substantially widened the competition's reach, taking its message to a far broader audience.
Chairman of the Supreme Judging Committee for the third edition of the first of the firsts, Sheikh Dr. Ahmed Eissa Al Masrawi, said the competition stands apart by the nature, number and difficulty of its questions as its format makes it a far more demanding test of Quranic memorization and mastery than an ordinary competition.
He told QNA that contestants must identify similar Quranic passages from the very first word in each question. The task is incredibly challenging, given the plethora of similar passages and the precision needed to pinpoint each one, Al Masrawi said.
Contestants have demonstrated an incredibly high level of preparation and mastery. Their determination to compete for the QAR 1 million prize has fueled a fiercely competitive atmosphere among participants from several countries. Each is dead-set on securing first place and claiming the award, Al Masrawi elaborated.
Al Masrawi remarked that intensive preparation has strengthened contestants' memorization and command of similar Quranic passages, making the questions substantially easier to tackle. Their preparation, he suggested, means they are now as ready as they can be; success remains the final factor.
He asserted that the first of the firsts is, by far, unlike any other Quran competition in the Arab and Islamic worlds. Its number and type of questions demand exceptional levels of memorization, precision and mastery. 
Judges were selected from several countries, with the committee drawing on high-profile academic credentials and massive expertise in Quranic adjudication. This, he said, is worth a great deal in safeguarding the quality of the competition and the credibility of its results.
In essence, the competition began with 98 contestants from 35 countries. Of those, 82 from 33 countries took part in the preliminary rounds. Only 42 contestants representing 19 countries advanced to the in-person stage in Doha.
Results are due Sunday, when the draw for the final stage will also take place. The top 10 contestants will compete on Monday and Tuesday, with the closing ceremony scheduled for Thursday. (QNA)