Doha, September 02 (QNA) - The final stage of the first Rofaqaa International Orphans Branch of the Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani Holy Quran Competition is underway in Doha, in cooperation with Qatar Charity, at Imam Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab Mosque. The competition runs through Thursday.
The first edition features 30 contestants from eight countries, who qualified from more than 300 participants representing 20 countries. They are competing in three categories: memorizing the entire Holy Quran, the last 20 Juz', and the last 10 Juz'.
In statements to QNA, Deputy Chairman of the Sheikh Jassim Quran Competition Committee and Director of the Mosques Department at the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz Al-Thani said the Rofaqaa branch represents a new experience for the competition and targets orphans supported by Qatar Charity.
He said the finalists reached this stage after several rounds of screening and testing, followed by training courses organized by the Ministry in cooperation with Qatar Charity to improve their performance and prepare them for the finals in Doha.
He added that the edition represents a promising start for future cooperation between the Ministry and Qatar Charity, noting that the results will help assess the experience and determine whether the competition should be held annually.
Sheikh Abdulrahman stressed that the orphan branch reflects the Ministry's commitment to expanding Quranic competitions to different groups and strengthening partnerships with institutions supporting orphans.
For his part, Advisor to the CEO of Qatar Charity Ahmed Yousuf Fakhroo, said the association launched the Furqan initiative under Rofaqaa to teach the Holy Quran and Arabic to orphans. A number of countries were selected for the first phase, with Quran memorization centers incorporated into the initiative.
Fakhroo told QNA cooperation with the Ministry led to the launch of a special branch for Qatar Charity's orphans, benefiting from the Sheikh Jassim Competition's diverse branches and wide participation.
He explained that qualifiers and tests were held in participating countries under the supervision of Quran memorization centers, with the best students selected and prepared for the Doha finals.
He said the preparation lasted several months and included Quran revision and assessment of contestants' levels ahead of the two-day final stage. 
In his statements to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Advisor to the CEO of Qatar Charity Ahmed Yousuf Fakhroo said the finals comprise three categories: memorization of 10 Juz', 20 Juz', and the entire Holy Quran, with nine winners to be selected at the end of the competition. 
He expressed hope that the competition would become an annual event, contributing to serving the Holy Quran and expanding the initiative's impact across beneficiary countries.
Fakhroo also revealed a humanitarian initiative accompanying the competition, involving communication with sponsors of orphans and inviting them to attend the competitions, providing an opportunity for sponsors to meet the orphans they support. 
He said such meetings carry significant humanitarian and social value, strengthen ties between orphans and their sponsors, and bring them together in a spiritual atmosphere centered on the Holy Quran.
He stressed that the Rofaqaa and Furqan initiatives seek to create a broader impact in the lives of orphans by combining care with educational and developmental support, as well as teaching the Holy Quran and Arabic, helping build their character and reinforce Islamic values.
He explained that Rofaqaa seeks, alongside social care, to strengthen the Quranic, educational and values-based development of orphans. Qatar Charity, he noted, sponsors around 250,000 orphans worldwide, with support from Qatari donors, and also supports Quran memorization centers and circles in several countries where its sponsored orphans live.
For his part, Chairman of the Examination Committee for the Rofaqaa branch Mohammed Ali Mohammed Al Hammadi said the branch is a new addition to the competition and targets orphans sponsored by Qatar Charity. The second stage involves testing 30 contestants, with 10 contestants in each session.
Speaking to QNA, Al Hammadi said the tests are being held this evening, while Thursday's tests will take place in morning and evening sessions, completing the assessment of all finalists. 
He noted that the Rofaqaa branch is being held for the first time as part of cooperation between the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs and Qatar Charity, which launched the initiative to strengthen their partnership in serving the Holy Quran and supporting orphans.
He said the tests cover memorization of 10 Juz' and the entire Holy Quran according to the competition's categories, adding that not all contestants are tested on the full Quran, as they are distributed among the designated categories.
On the importance of establishing a branch for orphans, Al Hammadi said caring for and supporting this group are deeds of great spiritual merit, stressing that encouraging orphans to memorize the Holy Quran represents a noble humanitarian and religious mission.
He added that involving orphans in Quran competitions encourages their connection with the Holy Quran, develops their memorization and recitation skills, and enhances their participation in Quranic and community activities.
The Rofaqaa International Orphans Branch is the first international branch dedicated to male orphans sponsored by Qatar Charity. 
It targets those aged 12 to 20, encouraging them to memorize the Holy Quran and develop a strong connection with it, while identifying and nurturing promising Quranic talents in an educational environment combining fair competition with intellectual and humanitarian care. (QNA)